By minimizing the number of times data needs to be entered or maintained, the use of CREDITSTREAM can greatly improve the overall accuracy and integrity of information. This can be attributed to three primary CREDITSTREAM facilities: import data templates, checklists, and rules.

Import Data Templates
A Data Template defines the mapping of data from an imported file to the Pipeline Tables. A Template is used during the data import process to move or translate data values on imported files. An imported file is a file containing deal information. It comes to CREDITSTREAM from a credit origination system, a document preparation system or other external source. Any flat, positional file may be used in the import process. There can be multiple entities for a deal (e.g., 3 loans, 2 commitments, 6 additional signers, etc.) in one file.

The Pipeline Tables are used to store the imported data. The import process moves data from the imported file into the Pipeline Tables without human intervention or the rekeying of data. If the data was accurate in the donor system, the chances are very good that the data will be accurate in the CREDITSTREAM pipeline. Only data that is desired or required in the boarding process, but is not available on the import file, needs to be entered.

Checklists
A checklist permits the user to define, by product,

• The type of data that must be included in the deal
  • Customer
  • Commitment
  • Loan
  • Collateral
• Remind the operator to look for specific documents in the deal
  • Appraisals
  • Employment verification
  • Insurance certification
• Remind the operator of follow up that is required
  • Annual financial statements
  • Required signatures
  • Schedule Escrow disbursements

CREDITSTREAM’s Activities and Reminder Items greatly facilitate the tracking of follow-ups that need to take place. Activities and Items are available in either CREDITSTREAM’s pipeline or tracking component.

Rule and Rule Sets
Rule and Rule Set functionality provides a user-defined edit process for all Deals that are available during import and boarding in Pipeline. A Rule may be defined as an instruction that can compare data and perform certain actions as a result of the compare. For example, if every imported deal is required to have an e-mail address, Rules can flag a deal where the e-mail is missing. A Rule could be set up that would give an error message if the e-mail field is blank.

A Rule Set is a collection of one or more rules. Rule sets may be invoked during the import and/or boarding process and, when the Rule Set is invoked, each Rule in the set is processed. An Import Rule Set is one that is invoked during import and a Validate Rule Set is a Rule Set that is invoked during boarding.