Mortgages made easy: Oper’s AI guides you

According to the Netherlands Land Registry and Mapping Agency, 22% more mortgages have been taken out in the first half of 2025 as compared to the same period of 2024. Applying for a mortgage can become a lengthy process.

Oper Credits is all in for changing this paradigm. The Belgian company is helping banks digitize their mortgage journey, eventually offering a better customer experience. The firm has developed software that guides customers through the process and assists bankers in making informed decisions about mortgage requests, centralizing all documents in one platform. 

The idea for Oper originates from a problem that Geert Van Kerckhoven, the founder and CEO, noticed during his time as a consultant for banks. “For the most part, banks were slow in delivering technology in mortgage borrowing. I can recall examples of banks needing five years to build a mortgage process.” 

Therefore, the founder saw an opportunity to develop technology that financial institutions could just adopt. As of today, the Belgian startup is serving 21 banks in six European countries, and has raised €14.5 million. Forty people work for the firm, which has branches in Antwerp, Amsterdam, Vienna, and Zurich. 

From contact to contract

Nowadays, Oper works on the journey from ‘contact to contract’, following the customer experience from the first exploring talks until the mortgage is signed. “What we offer is a single platform that guides everyone through the process, from the first conversation to signing the contract. On top of it, we have developed an AI that can read and verify documents like payslips, tax returns, and bank statements. Then, it can give intelligent recommendations based on this input,” he explains.

On the customer side, users can access the borrower portal straight from their bank mobile app. Starting with an affordability assessment, Oper guides the customer through the journey, allowing them to upload and sign documents. On the bank side, a dedicated portal displays incoming cases and assists consultants in making decisions based on the first-hand assessment performed by the software. 

The human factor

If the procedure were to happen entirely through Oper, the whole mortgage application process would take no more than ten minutes. “At the moment, there is still a need for lots of human intervention. Furthermore, the length of the process depends on each application.” 

Despite the capabilities of technology, Van Kerckhoven acknowledges the paramount importance of human contact during the mortgage process. “Our bank partners consistently tell us that despite how much we can automate and streamline, their customers still value the personal touch. Even when the outcome is exactly the same, many borrowers prefer having that conversation face-to-face with an advisor. It's about trust and reassurance as much as information,” he explains. 

G

Geert Van Kerckhoven

CEO at Oper Credits

Since graduating from university, he has worked in the intersection between banking and technology, working for consultancies and startups in the lending space. Oper is the second startup he founded.

The path to open finance

Parallel to startup innovative efforts, European legislation is also stepping up its efforts to digitalize the finance sector. Brussels is currently discussing the adoption of the Financial Data Access (FiDA) regulation. The directive aims to facilitate access to financial data and establish a framework for responsible access to individual and business data.  Under the regulation, data holders (such as banks and insurance companies) must provide their customers with immediate, continuous, and real-time access to their data. 

The regulation aims to enhance interoperability between financial institutions while enabling users to manage their information effectively. Also dubbed the ‘open finance’ directive, the norm also intends to improve competition. Having access to data is critical for a company like Oper, which uses this information to refine its calculations. 

In Van Kerckhoven’s view, FiDA will accelerate mortgage journeys, although adoption across the EU varies, as was the case for the Payment Services Directive (PSD). The PSD is the framework for harmonizing payment services across the bloc. 

Fluid, dynamic mortgage experience

Oper’s founders foresee mortgage experiences becoming more fluid and dynamic in the years to come. Moreover, as more banks become more digital, in his opinion, it will be easier to modify mortgage contracts. 

Mortgage lending is defined as a ‘static product’. Simply put, a user goes through a sales process, signs a contract, and then pays the due amount each month for the following 30 years. “Changing the conditions is tough and time-consuming. If more banks migrate towards intelligent systems, it becomes easier to customize borrowing. Let’s say one receives a bonus at work, so can pay off more than the due amount that month. Conversely, one might need more flexibility if their financial situation is unstable,” he adds. 

Most of Oper R&D’s expenditure is going into AI. “Large-language models are inherently good at solving slow yet simple tasks in the mortgage process, such as processing documents and helping credit advisors move forward,” Van Kerckhoven explains, as the company is leveraging their potential. More AI in the future of Oper, then, and in the future of mortgages.