Get to Know: Ben Miller, CEO of SimpleNexus, an nCino Company

Hi, Ben! Thanks for taking the time to chat with us. Congratulations on your recent elevation to CEO of SimpleNexus! What excites you most about taking on this position?

Thank you! I’m excited not only about serving as CEO of SimpleNexus, but also for our integration with nCino. It’s always hard when you blend two families together, but it’s a fantastic opportunity to become one incredible company. Knowing that we’re driving innovation forward and creating a better homeownership journey for lenders and borrowers makes it so rewarding. I’ve been with SimpleNexus since its founding, and to serve as CEO as we move forward on this journey with nCino is a real privilege.

Along with the entire US economy, the mortgage industry is going through a lot of change right now. How can lenders make sure they remain successful and serve their customers in the midst of so much change?

You know, we’re at such a turning point in the mortgage industry. We’re almost to the bottom of a cycle of retracting in the space, and what’s interesting to me is thinking about how companies are going to react. Who has prepared for this moment? No one can react as quickly as the market is changing, but at the same time, we do have to be able to change when it’s necessary and thrive in any given situation.

That’s why nCino and SimpleNexus are so valuable, and why leveraging our best-in-class solutions can put institutions in a more poised position for these swift shifts in the market. When you’re prepared for change, you can react to change more efficiently.

What sets SimpleNexus apart from the competition?

SimpleNexus is special because we don’t just have a fantastic product—we also have amazing people with real empathy for our customers and a true desire to solve hard problems. At SimpleNexus, we live by four values: we are hungry, we are innovative, we are vibrant, and we are empathetic. I believe our success is due, at least in part, to our scrappy go-getter attitudes and by always assuming the best of each other and our customers.

What is the biggest challenge lenders face today?

I think the most apparent challenge right now is sizing your organization. Going into the pandemic, the average profit for a loan was, say, $500. Now, it’s come down to more like under $100, and sometimes, the lender could even be losing money. Loans are becoming more costly to process, and companies need to size with that shift in mind. In an environment where there is a massive pullback in the loan volume, which creates more competition and reduces profits of lenders, lenders need technology like SimpleNexus to solve these issues. We’re creating a revolutionary experience for the lender as well as the borrower.

With mortgage volumes decreasing, what advice would you offer to lenders? How can they capitalize on this opportunity?

Borrowers are more mobile than ever before. If lenders aren’t quick to respond, that borrower is going to look for their loan somewhere else—and they’re going to find someone who can reply immediately. I think my biggest piece of advice is to be bold and be brave: be willing to make some changes. You can’t do what you did yesterday and expect it to work just as well today. Each of us has to constantly evaluate if we’re doing the right thing with the right technology, if we have the right strategy, and if we have the right attitude to constantly question the process and make improvements. I believe change and reinvention is how financial institutions will find success in this environment, and I’m excited for all the ways SimpleNexus can be a partner on that journey.

Thanks so much, Ben! To learn more about SimpleNexus, an nCino company, visit http://www.simplenexus.com/.