How Everwise Credit Union Strengthens Trust in Every Project

Video Transcript

Tammie Wyatt
Director of Mortgage Operations at Everwise Credit Union

Before we had Land Gorilla, our process was more manual. It would take generally a week on an average for the initial draw request to be fulfilled. One of our primary goals was to implement a solution that enhanced efficiency for members, builders, and staff. The key requirements included reducing draw timelines, improving operational consistencies, and providing a robust reporting capability to support better oversight and decision-making.

We selected Land Gorilla because it best aligned with our goals and offered the most comprehensive solution to get us to where we wanted to go. The two key features that stood out during our evaluation of Land Gorilla were the platform’s intuitive design, which simplifies the use for our team, builders, and members, and its ability to automate services while allowing customization of the construction draw templates.

When we onboarded Land Gorilla, that transition process was seamless. We successfully imported all of the data and maintained constant communication with the Land Gorilla team throughout. For our builders, we ensured a smooth onboarding experience by sending a detailed email outlining new features and providing a comprehensive knowledge article using the platform that was supplied by Land Gorilla. This proactive approach enabled builders to begin utilizing Land Gorilla for their next draw immediately and with ease.

We have already seen measurable improvements. Human errors have been significantly reduced as loans are imported directly from our LOS system, eliminating manual entry and balancing. Additionally, team capacity has increased, allowing more staff to access and perform tasks within the platform thanks to intuitive design and ease of learning.

If I were to share one key takeaway with a peer in the industry, it would be the impact Land Gorilla has on transparency and efficiency. The platform not only streamlines communication between all stakeholders, but it also builds trust by providing real-time visibility into every stage of the project. Land Gorilla has helped provide the bandwidth to itemize our costs and budgets in a way we were unable to before. We have detailed budgets, which has become essential for tracking project progress.

We also require itemized budgets to ensure that the funds are disbursed only for work that’s been completed, improving accuracy and accountability. This allowed the builders to obtain their funds faster, continue making progress on their project they’re working on. Additionally, the reporting capabilities provide real-time visibility into construction projects. It allows us to reconcile data with our servicing platform seamlessly.

The product automation has eliminated manual ordering, allowing requests to process immediately and significantly reducing turnaround times. This efficiency enables us to reallocate resources to other tasks throughout the department. Land Gorilla has also improved the turnaround times in things like inspections, title updates, which has had a positive effect on everything we’ve done from the start of the build to completion.

Our turn times now—we’re at like 2.25 days on an average with Land Gorilla. The improved visibility and transparency for both builders and members using OneSite allows for more open communication and the clear path to the use of the funds, all in one transactional place. This alignment ensures everyone stays informed and engaged throughout the project. As a result, it not only enhances builders’ credibility but also strengthens our own. The level of clarity reduces risk, and ultimately, Land Gorilla supports our strategic goal of strengthening relationships, improving operational efficiencies, and reinforcing Everwise’s reputation as a trusted partner in construction lending, making it a game changer for any credit union looking to lead in the construction and renovation lending space.

Learn more about Land Gorilla solutions.