NBS Cuts Underwriting Time by 50% and Boosts Submission Reviews via Heron Data Integration
By Lauren Towner · 30 July 2026

Quick Summary
Nationwide Broker Services (NBS) has successfully integrated Heron Data to automate its financial analysis, resulting in a 50% reduction in underwriting time. This efficiency allows the firm to process 25-40% more daily submissions, significantly accelerating SME credit decisions for their broker network.
How Does Heron Data Reduce Underwriting Time for NBS?
NBS solves the problem of manual data bottlenecks by deploying Heron Data’s automated bank statement processing. By eliminating the need for manual entry, underwriters can now halve underwriting time, shifting their focus to complex risk analysis rather than administrative tasks. This shift ensures that SME loan applications move through the pipeline with unprecedented speed.
- 50% reduction in total time spent per case.
- Automated data categorization of bank transactions.
- Elimination of spreadsheets for primary financial analysis.
What Results Has Heron Data Delivered for NBS Operations?
The implementation has delivered a scalable growth model for NBS, allowing the team to review 25-40% more submissions every single day. This increase in throughput is achieved without adding headcount, demonstrating how AI-driven financial tools can optimize existing resources. The accuracy of the automated credit assessment provides a more granular view of cash flow, reducing the risk of human error in high-volume environments.
How Does This Partnership Benefit the SME Lending Market?
For brokers and small business owners, this technology means faster funding access and more reliable credit decisions. By utilizing real-time financial data, NBS can provide answers to applicants in hours rather than days. This responsiveness is critical in the competitive fintech landscape, where speed of execution is a primary differentiator for commercial lenders.
FF NEWS TAKE:
This partnership between NBS and Heron Data clearly moves the needle by proving that specialized AI tools can solve the oldest problem in lending: the manual bottleneck. A 50% time saving is not just an incremental gain; it is a transformative operational shift. As more lenders adopt automated underwriting, the industry standard for 'fast' will move from days to minutes, forcing legacy players to adapt or lose market share.
Companies in this story: NBS, Nationwide Broker Services, Heron Data