Andrew Badstubner, CIO of First Community Mortgage, a subsidiary of First Community Bank of Tennessee that originated $3.5 billion in home loans in 2021, says he is tired of being sold technology rather than solutions to his business problems.
In a recent interview on the "Implement AI in 15 Minutes" podcast, Badstubner, who has nearly 30 years of technology leadership experience including stints at NewRez and Ditech Holding Corporation, discussed the challenge of adopting AI in a heavily regulated industry. He emphasized that many vendors focus on selling flashy new tools rather than understanding the actual needs of mortgage companies.
"I'm being sold technology, not answers to my problems," Badstubner said. His role, he explains, is as much about process optimization as it is about technology, and he urged vendors to focus on solving real pain points in the mortgage lifecycle.
The interview, part of a series exploring AI adoption in financial services, highlighted how regulatory constraints in the mortgage industry demand careful, benefit-driven implementation rather than hasty deployment of AI for its own sake.