Texas Business
FirstClose Caps Transformational 2025 With Faster Closings, Platform Expansion and Strong Market Momentum
AUSTIN, Texas — FirstClose™, a leading fintech provider of data and workflow solutions for mortgage and home equity lenders nationwide, today announced 2025 results showing faster closings and measurable efficiency gains as lenders used its technology to meet rising home equity demand in a high-interest-rate environment. The company reduced closing timelines, expanded key integrations and strengthened its operating foundation to support scalable growth in 2026….
Optimal Blue report: December lock volume closes 2025 on a firm footing
PLANO, Texas — Optimal Blue today released its December 2025 Market Advantage mortgage data report, showing that mortgage rate-lock activity ended the year on a firm footing, bucking typical holiday-driven seasonality. Total lock volume rose 2% month over month (MoM) from November and finished 30% higher year over year (YoY), driven primarily by rate-and-term refinances, which climbed 13% from November and more than 170% compared with December 2024….
Nyle Maxwell Collision Center Brings on Collision Industry Veteran, Tammie Harper, as Collision Center Director
AUSTIN, Texas — Nyle Maxwell Collision Center, Austin’s highly respected automotive collision repair center located at 13581 Research Blvd., Austin, Texas 78750, has appointed Austin native and collision industry veteran, Tammie Harper, as the company’s Collision Center Director, Brent Rayfield, General Manager at Nyle Maxwell Supercenter, has announced….
Education Specialist Warns Math Learning Gaps Allow Students to Advance Without True Understanding
SAN ANTONIO, Texas — MindBridge Math Mastery, a U.S.-based educational services organization specializing in conceptual math instruction, is issuing new guidance regarding widespread math learning gaps that allow students to advance academically without developing true understanding. Founded and led by educational clinician Susan Ardila, M.Ed., the organization reports that these gaps frequently remain undetected for years….
FirstClose Appoints Adam Nicholson as Director of Professional Services
AUSTIN, Texas — FirstClose™, a leading fintech provider of data and workflow solutions for mortgage and home equity lenders nationwide, today announced the appointment of Adam Nicholson as director of professional services. Nicholson will lead the company’s implementation operations, including project delivery, process optimization and cross-functional coordination to enhance the customer experience….
Lake Michigan Credit Union selects FirstClose Equity Order Management for automated home equity settlement workflows
AUSTIN, Texas — FirstClose™, a leading fintech provider of data and workflow solutions for mortgage and home equity lenders nationwide, announced today that Lake Michigan Credit Union (LMCU) has implemented FirstClose’s Equity Order Management to automate settlement workflows for its home equity lending operations….
Velocity Credit Union Introduces ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ to Give Members Greater Financial Flexibility
AUSTIN, Texas — Velocity Credit Union (Velocity) has announced the launch of a new Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) program designed to give members greater financial flexibility and control over their everyday spending. A financial institution with over $1 billion in assets and serving over 80,000 members, Velocity is introducing this program to further its commitment to offering comprehensive financial services to its members for every stage of their life….
Optimal Blue report: October lock volume holds second-highest level in three years
PLANO, Texas — Optimal Blue today released its October 2025 Market Advantage mortgage data report, showing that rate-lock activity remained strong despite seasonal cooling and continued to outpace last year’s levels. Total lock volume fell 4.2% month over month (MoM) from September’s peak but was still up 18% year over year (YoY) as borrowers responded to improving affordability and narrower rate spreads….
Click n’ Close triples warehouse line capacity to support growing One-Time Close demand
ADDISON, Texas — Click n’ Close, a multi-state mortgage lender, today announced a significant expansion of its warehouse line capacity dedicated to its growing One-Time Close (OTC) construction-to-permanent wholesale lending business. The expansion, supported by Merchants Bank and other warehouse partners, triples Click n’ Close’s OTC capacity and follows a record fiscal year performance, reinforcing the confidence of its capital partners in the company’s financial strength and specialized business model….
FirstClose celebrates 25 years of mortgage and home equity innovation
AUSTIN, Texas — FirstClose™, a leading fintech provider of data and workflow solutions for mortgage and home equity lenders nationwide, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this month. This marks a quarter-century of innovation in modernizing lending processes for residential mortgage and home equity lenders nationwide….