2025 ICE Innovation Award winners

By ICE Mortgage Technology
February 26, 2025 • 6 min

The ICE Innovation Awards recognize industry leaders who are creating extraordinary solutions with ICE Mortgage Technology® to achieve their business goals. The winners for 2025 were selected by the ICE executive selection committee who reviewed key data points and identified customers who utilized our solutions in revolutionary ways to improve the end-to-end digital mortgage experience from loan production to servicing.

Focusing on growth in a challenging market, these organizations leveraged automation and data-driven insights to improve operations and overall consumer engagement. Read on for more details about how they have harnessed their potential for success and how your own organization can be on the forefront of innovative technology.

The 2025 ICE Innovation Award winners are:

Innovative Technology Partner of the Year: Down Payment Resource

Down Payment Resource (DPR) is transforming homebuyer assistance by making it easier for lenders to connect borrowers—especially those in underserved markets—with the financial resources they need to achieve homeownership. Bridging the long-standing operational divide between loan teams and program information, DPR’s integration with Encompass® automatically matches borrowers with eligible homebuyer assistance programs and seamlessly supports lenders through processing, underwriting, closing and beyond.

Built on the Encompass Partner Connect framework by developer partner TSP Consulting, DPR’s integration was approved in May 2024. By the end of last year, DPR had successfully onboarded its first seven Encompass subscribers, and the integration continues to build momentum. As the only partner in our network providing this critical service, DPR is making homeownership more accessible and achievable for first-time and entry-level buyers.

Their innovation and impact in expanding access to homeownership make them a deserving recipient of this year’s Innovative Technology Partner of the Year award.

Excellence in Servicing Innovation: Navy Federal Credit Union

A long-standing leader in mortgage servicing, Navy Federal Credit Union has been leveraging ICE’s servicing system since 1978 to support its unwavering commitment to a member-first mission. By utilizing a suite of ICE solutions—including Servicing Digital, Customer Service, Loss Mitigation and the default technology suite—Navy Federal continues to drive efficiency and enhance the member experience.

As one of our longest-tenured MSP clients, Navy Federal remains dedicated to innovation in servicing. We are proud to recognize their commitment to operational excellence and their ongoing partnership.

Their forward-thinking approach and dedication to member service make them a deserving recipient of this year’s Excellence in Servicing Innovation Award.

Excellence in Origination Innovation - HELOC: Park National Bank

As Park National Bank continues to grow, senior leadership challenged their mortgage lending team to improve customer experience and maximize efficiency and scalability by leveraging automation and technology. In their efforts to streamline the HELOC process, they recognized an opportunity to redefine their workflow. While auto loans could be closed in hours, HELOCs were taking 25-30 days—leading to the question: Why the disparity?

The answer came with the implementation of ICE’s Validate AVM, which has become the cornerstone of their HELOC process transformation. In less than six months, Park National Bank has already seen remarkable results:

A 30% reduction in the average time to close a HELOC (a 9-day decrease)
Their ultimate goal is to close HELOCs in 10 days or less, and with ongoing improvements to the ICE Validate/AVM platform, they are well on track to achieve this
ICE’s Validate AVM was the first major hurdle they tackled, and its success will continue to have the largest impact on reaching the 10-day close goal

Park National Bank’s innovative use of ICE technology to redefine their HELOC process makes them a deserving recipient of this year’s Excellence in Origination Innovation - HELOC Award.

Excellence in Origination Innovation - Efficiency: Vision Bank

As a dedicated ICE client utilizing Encompass Consumer Connect and ICE PPE, Vision Bank has demonstrated outstanding innovation in enhancing their mortgage loan operations. Despite being a smaller organization with a single underwriter, they have adopted a forward-thinking strategy to fully leverage Encompass and ICE’s suite of Mortgage Analyzers.

By embracing these technologies, Vision Bank has successfully increased in-house loan processing, reduced reliance on brokered loans, and streamlined operations through advanced automation. These efforts have not only improved borrower satisfaction with faster turn times but also driven significant growth in loan volume—true indicators of their commitment to efficiency and innovation in the mortgage industry.

Vision Bank’s smart, scalable approach to optimizing their processes makes them a deserving recipient of this year’s Excellence in Origination Innovation - Efficiency Award.

Excellence in Origination Innovation - Automation: Carrington Mortgage Services LLC

As Carrington Mortgage Services LLC continues to grow, leadership challenged their mortgage lending team to maximize efficiency and scalability by leveraging automation and technology. In their efforts to streamline the loan manufacturing process, they identified opportunities to redefine their Encompass® workflow and implement advanced automation solutions. Over the past 12 months, these innovations have become the foundation of their loan manufacturing transformation, delivering impressive results.

By returning to ICE Mortgage Technology’s mortgage lending platform, Carrington has successfully digitized the entire loan lifecycle—from application to closing—significantly reducing processing times and improving operational efficiency. Their automation advancements include:

A significant reduction in loan processing times, driven by workflow engine automation that streamlines service ordering and eliminates manual steps
Enhanced risk assessment and compliance, ensuring regulatory standards are consistently met through automated tools
Improved borrower satisfaction, driven by enhancements to Consumer Connect that provide a more seamless experience

Carrington Mortgage Services’ commitment to automation and continuous innovation has positioned them as a leader in mortgage industry efficiency. As they further expand their automation initiatives, they continue to leverage ICE’s Innovation Journey Playbook to push the boundaries of what’s possible. Their dedication to transforming loan manufacturing makes them a deserving recipient of this year’s Excellence in Origination Innovation - Automation Award.

Excellence in Servicing & Origination Innovation: Webster Bank

As Webster Bank approaches its 20-year milestone on ICE’s servicing system, MSP, they continue to set the standard for innovation in both servicing and originations. By leveraging ICE’s borrower-facing Servicing Digital solution, Webster Bank provides borrowers with a seamless experience to make payments and access key mortgage details, achieving outstanding borrower adoption and feedback.

In 2025, Webster Bank will fully embrace ICE’s ecosystem by implementing Encompass to originate loans across multiple channels, including home equity, and adopting the Data & Document Automation (DDA) solution to optimize their workflows. These advancements, along with their ongoing use of MSP and Servicing Digital, highlight their commitment to delivering a cohesive and efficient borrower experience.

Webster Bank’s strategic use of ICE’s integrated solutions and dedication to innovation make them a deserving recipient of this year’s Excellence in Servicing & Origination Innovation Award.