Equifinance has released its new broker portal, ECHO, giving introducers an end-to-end process for second charge mortgage applications from enquiry to completion.

The lender said the system was designed to reduce uncertainty and improve efficiency, with the aim of increasing the number of successful applications.

ECHO includes instant credit decisioning, allowing introducers to identify which product a case fits at an early stage.

The portal also provides an instant Hometrack valuation, designed to give advisers clarity on loan-to-value, alongside a fast affordability calculation to show within seconds whether a case can progress.

Tony Marshall, chief executive of Equifinance, said: “We are very proud of ECHO. This is the result of a ground up collaboration between us, our developers and our loyal introducers to produce what we believe is the most user friendly and effective broker portal in the second charge sector.

“At Equifinance, while our philosophy remains committed to the primacy of human underwriting, ECHO offers greater automation of the process and gives advisers greater certainty at the earliest stage that their applications are approved in principle before they reach our underwriters.”

Marshall added: “Feedback has already been very positive with an overwhelming number delighted with the simplicity of the user interface and the speed of the process.

“ECHO demonstrates that technology can work hand in hand with the human touch to produce better and faster outcomes for customers and their advisers.”