MQube has introduced an AI-powered digital underwriting feature to its Origo platform in a move the firm says will cut the time taken to assess a mortgage case by around 25 minutes.

The technology uses artificial intelligence to replicate part of a human underwriter’s workflow by generating policy-based rationales in plain language and recommending case requirements for brokers.

MQube says the tool performs this task instantly, reducing manual workloads and supporting faster decision making for lenders.

Stuart Cheetham, chief executive of MQube, said the potential time savings were striking, particularly against the backdrop of rising mortgage activity.

He cited September’s 65,900 net approvals for house purchase, adding: “With 25 minutes per day saved per case the time this could save in-house underwriting teams is demonstrably significant creating huge cost and operational efficiencies for lenders as well as importantly a better customer and broker experience.

“Other operational efficiencies include better auditability, increased productivity and an improved risk profile. This is undeniably a ‘groundbreaking’ development in mortgage technology as we enter 2026, a time when mortgage lenders revisit their business strategies.

“The adoption of new technologies will dominant this industry in 2026 as lenders look to streamline their business models.”

Origo is already used by some of the UK’s largest building societies and lenders, with its existing functionality capable of analysing data and documents such as identification and bank statements in real time.

MQube says the new feature strengthens its aim of compressing underwriting times by automating more of the early assessment work while still leaving decision-making in human hands.

Cheetham said MQube planned to build further on its AI-driven approach. He pointed to Criteria Genius, the firm’s chatbot designed to give brokers near-instant policy answers, and highlighted work under way to create an architecture that would allow mortgage debt to be traded on-chain. He said: “We look forward to using our market-leading expertise in AI to bring even more technological advancements to this industry in 2026.”