Conversational generative AI chat assistant to provide easy-to-understand, interactive insights and graphical representations to help lenders maximize profitability 

SAN DIEGO – Feb. 4, 2025 – Optimal Blue today announced Ask Obi, an AI assistant designed to provide mortgage lending executives with instant, actionable insights from their Optimal Blue products and data. Unveiled during Optimal Blue’s inaugural Summit user conference in San Diego, Ask Obi gives lenders the power to view their operations holistically with data aggregation across Optimal Blue’s comprehensive capital markets platform.

Ask Obi enables executives to inquire about intricate profitability metrics with simple, conversational queries – such as, “What markets had the greatest change in average margins from Q3 2024 to Q4 2024?” or “Which loan officers issued the most concessions over the second week of January 2025?” – and get easy-to-understand answers at a granular level to improve strategic decision-making.

“Our clients operate in a time when speed and accuracy matters, so having to wait for reports to be generated – only to then spend more time poring over those reports to get to the insights needed to make decisions – doesn’t make sense,” said Joe Tyrrell, CEO of Optimal Blue. “With Ask Obi, those hours of generating, compiling, and analyzing reports are replaced with accurate, real-time, personalized information, designed specifically for decision-makers, by delivering the data that matters most to their profitability. While other companies are talking about AI, but in reality are still trying to catch up to our accuracy and core capabilities, Optimal Blue has already embraced generative AI to solve real operational and capital markets challenges, all at no additional cost to our clients.”

“Ask Obi demonstrates the unique value clients realize by working with Optimal Blue, a provider of comprehensive capital markets technology,” said Erin Wester, chief product officer of Optimal Blue. “Through the power of generative AI, users can have an interactive conversation to better understand the data that drives their business. In contrast to other tools that may require filters and manual selections, Ask Obi is designed for ease of use and conversational interactions, while conveniently building off a user’s previous inquiries and suggesting preloaded questions.”

Available to Optimal Blue clients for beta testing later this month, Ask Obi offers complete access to a lender’s PPE data, with development work underway to expand access across Optimal Blue’s complete capital markets platform. This initiative aligns with Optimal Blue’s larger vision to deliver comprehensive interoperability among its end-to-end capital markets products, allowing clients to benefit from synthesized data and machine learning for enhanced margin management and profitability oversight.

Ask Obi is one of several innovations the company announced at its Summit, demonstrating its commitment to continuous investment in its products to help its clients maximize lending profitability.

About Optimal Blue
Optimal Blue effectively bridges the primary and secondary mortgage markets to deliver the industry’s only end-to-end capital markets platform. The company helps lenders of all sizes and scopes maximize profitability and operate efficiently so they can help American borrowers achieve the dream of homeownership. Through innovative technology, a network of interconnectivity, rich data insights, and expertise gathered over more than 20 years, Optimal Blue is an experienced partner that, in any market environment, allows lenders to optimize their advantage from pricing accuracy to margin protection, and every step in between. To learn more, visit OptimalBlue.com.

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Media Contact
Olivia DeLancey, Optimal Blue
904.854.5459
Olivia.DeLancey@OptimalBlue.com

PLANO, Texas – March 1, 2024 – Today, Optimal Blue announced its vice president of finance, Mike Schommer, has been honored as a 2024 HousingWire Finance Leader. The award program celebrates senior finance executives who have exhibited exceptional leadership in corporate finance, capital markets, and accounting within the mortgage and real estate sectors.

Schommer is a veteran financial professional with over 30 years of experience operating in the housing finance industry. His significant contributions to Optimal Blue include leading the company’s spin-off from Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) and constructing a best-in-class financial planning and analysis function. Schommer’s proficiency in managing third-party audit relationships and his skill in engaging with the investment community have set him apart as a leader in his field. A valued member of Optimal Blue’s executive team, Schommer is relied on as a steady source of advice and counsel.

“Mike Schommer’s impact on Optimal Blue cannot be overstated. His strategic financial management, coupled with his unwavering dedication to our team and values, has been a driving force behind our success,” said Optimal Blue interim CEO Scott Smith. “This recognition by HousingWire is a testament to his hard work, expertise and leadership. We are incredibly proud to have Mike as part of our executive team and are excited to see his continued influence on our growth and innovation.”

“Even the best business operators, innovators and entrepreneurs have no chance at winning or growing without creative, diligent and strategic financial management and execution,” said Clayton Collins, CEO of HW Media. “The executives recognized in the 2024 HousingWire Finance Leaders program represent the strategic finance leaders that unlock and empower progress. They navigate capital markets, execute strategic growth initiatives and facilitate accretive M&A deals. The 2024 Finance Leaders exemplify excellence.”

About Optimal Blue

Optimal Blue is a market leader in mortgage secondary marketing technology. The company facilitates transactions among mortgage market participants through its Marketplace Platform, actionable data, and technology vendor connections. The platform supports a range of functions for originators and investors to automate and optimize core processes related to product, pricing, and eligibility, hedge analytics, MSR valuation, loan trading, social media compliance, and counterparty oversight. The company’s premier products are used by 68% of the top 500 mortgage lenders in the U.S. For more information on Optimal Blue’s end-to-end secondary marketing automation, visit OptimalBlue.com.

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Media contact:
Olivia DeLancey
904.854.5459
Olivia.DeLancey@OptimalBlue.com