Progress has been made in recent years, from the launch of the Mortgage Trading Exchange 20 years ago to decisions in principle (DIPs) that could be generated from third-party systems.

But the real-life experience was limited to certain brokers, on limited platforms and stopping short of the full application.

This time it’s different.

As part of our commitment to the broker market, Halifax Intermediaries has invested heavily in building out APIs to link our submission system to third parties, including sourcing systems, submission platforms and CRM systems.

This move from DIP to full mortgage application marks a huge shift with some real tangible benefits for brokers.

The benefits are clear, immediate and practical.

Time savings: a journey that used to take up to half an hour is now measured in minutes. A DIP can be generated in four minutes, and an FMA in just five. If you’ve already got the information in CRM from your factfind, it will be even quicker. This frees you up to serve more clients and spend time on advice and building your business, rather than admin.

Certainty at speed: A faster process gives you quicker answers, even when they’re not the ones you hoped for. In our conversations with brokers, one theme comes up time and again: the quicker you can give your client a clear answer, the better. APIs now make that possible.

No rekeying: Rekeying information is one of brokers’ biggest frustrations in the mortgage process, and now it’s eliminated.

Fewer errors: With information flowing directly from the factfind in your CRM, you cut down the risk of mistakes.

Stay in your system: You can work entirely within your own CRM platform, without the hassle of switching systems.

Every minute you save, rekey you avoid, and error you eliminate adds up to more time with your clients or growing your business.

The Smartr365 and Mortgage Brain FMA integration with Halifax Intermediaries is one step in a longer journey to a full end-to-end process, with a fully connected digital ecosystem with brokers, distributors, lenders and other parties all linked in real-time.

We may be one of the first lenders to enable this, but we won’t be the last. More lenders and more platforms will soon be part of the same connected process.

And we’re continuing to invest and work with other tech partners to make sure that every part of the mortgage journey can be faster, smoother and more certain for brokers as we strive to become the most connected lender in the market.

We know you might feel cautious about adopting new technology and changing your current processes. Unfamiliar systems always feel a bit tricky at first, until you get used to them. Then the benefits become apparent.

But you’re already using APIs in other parts of the process, from address finders to Open Banking. Even when you use our own submission system today, we already pull in energy performance certificate (EPC) data automatically from the government register through APIs.

This change is simply the next step, and it’s designed to make your life easier: faster, more accurate and less frustrating.

However you work, on whatever system, you can take advantage of our new API technology:

Smartr365 users: Once brokers have completed their fact find within their Smartr365 CRM, within a few clicks brokers can generate a DIP and convert to FMA via SmartrConnect, pre-populating and submitting the full application using the data already entered. Distribution partners with access via Smartr365 include L&G Mortgage Club, Sesame Bankhall Group, Just Mortgages Direct, and OpenWork.

Mortgage Brain users: Complete your fact find in CRM Brain, where you can generate a DIP and simply click a button to convert to FMA. The system pre-populates the full application with the client and property data you’ve already entered. Brokers also have the ability, where they don’t use CRMBrain to use Submission Brain, which is a standalone application form, no prepopulation, which can then be submitted to us via the DIP and FMA API.

Other platforms: Networks and partners, including Primis, Stonebridge and OMS are already integrating with Mortgage Brain to enable the same journey, effectively using the tech provider’s underlying ‘cabling’.

All brokers: Even if you don’t use a CRM system, you can still generate a DIP and convert to a full Halifax application through Mortgage Brain’s standalone Submission Brain.

With each of these options, the only time you’ll need to touch Halifax Intermediaries’ system is to pay fees and/or upload supporting documents.

We know this is a big shift, but we’re here to support you as always. Our business development managers (BDMs) and support teams are here to talk you through the process and help you make the most of this technology.

For the use of mortgage intermediaries and other professionals only

The information contained in this article is the property of Lloyds Banking Group plc and may not be reused or publicised without our prior permission. The information provided is intended to be for information only and is not intended to be relied upon. This information is correct as of November 2025 and is relevant to Halifax products and services only. If you do not have professional experience, you should not rely on the information contained in this communication. If you are a professional and you reproduce any part of the information contained in this communication, to be used with or to advise private clients, you must ensure it conforms to the Financial Conduct Authority’s advising and selling rules.

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