--- title: "Real-Time Loan Program Matching Engine | FunnelFi" url: https://funnelfi.ai/guides/real-time-loan-program-matching description: "FunnelFi's program matching engine evaluates SBA 7(a), MCA, LOC, BNPL (Affirm, Klarna, Afterpay), Conventional, FHA, and VA eligibility simultaneously in under 3 seconds, from a name, phone, and email. No application required." lang: en --- Decision Engine # Real-Time Loan Program Matching in Under 3 Seconds FunnelFi's matching engine evaluates every lead against SBA 7(a), MCA, LOC, term loan, equipment leasing, Conventional, FHA, VA, and BNPL financing simultaneously, from a name, phone, and email, before the first call. No application. No SSN. Schedule Demo: https://funnelfi.ai/schedule-call See pricing: https://funnelfi.ai/pricing - < 3s Matching engine response - 8+ Loan programs evaluated per lead - 1 input set Name · Phone · Email - Zero Score impact Mechanics ## How FunnelFi's Program Matching Engine Works When a lead is submitted to FunnelFi, the matching engine runs three steps inside a single API call. 1. 01 Identity resolution The engine resolves the lead's credit file from name, phone, and email using a proprietary matching algorithm. No SSN or address is required. The match returns FICO score, tradelines, revolving balances, DTI, and payment history. 2. 02 Parallel program eligibility evaluation The credit file is evaluated against every program in the lender's configured product set at once, minimum FICO, maximum DTI, minimum available credit, time in business, and revenue proxy where applicable. Programs are checked in parallel, not sequentially, which is why adding programs does not add response time. 3. 03 Verdict + matched program list The engine assembles a structured JSON response: a Qualified or DNQ verdict, the matched program list, and a specific reason for every program the lead missed. Sample matched response ``` Status: QUALIFIED FICO Score: 698 DTI: 31% Avail. Credit: $22,400 Matched: SBA 7(a) ✓ | LOC ✓ | Equipment ✓ BNPL: Affirm ✓ Klarna ✓ Afterpay ✓ Not matched: MCA, revenue proxy below program floor Response time: 2.4s ``` Coverage ## Every Program Evaluated in a Single Call | Category | Programs | Primary signals | | --- | --- | --- | | SMB lending | SBA 7(a), term loan, LOC, equipment financing | FICO, DTI, available credit, time in business | | Alternative funding | MCA, revenue-based financing | Revenue proxy, payment history, derogatory presence | | Mortgage | Conventional, FHA, VA, HELOC | FICO band, DTI, tradeline depth | | BNPL | Affirm, Klarna, Afterpay | Available revolving credit, FICO band, income signals | Because programs are evaluated in parallel, a lead agency sourcing for both SMB lenders and mortgage lenders receives matches for both categories from one pre-qualification run, no second call, no second charge, no second wait. Comparison ## Program Matching vs Instant Pre-Approval Letters | | FunnelFi program matching | Instant pre-approval letter tools | | --- | --- | --- | | Input required | Name, phone, email | Full application + SSN + address | | Who runs it | Lender, before calling the lead | Loan officer, after the lead applies | | Output | Program match + Qualified/DNQ verdict | Pre-approval letter for the borrower | | SSN required | No | Yes | | Score impact | Zero | Hard pull | | Use case | Pre-screen leads before first contact | Generate borrower documentation post-application | | Best for | ISOs, SMB lenders, mortgage LOs screening raw leads | Mortgage LOs who need a borrower-facing document | Accuracy ## How VectorIQ Improves Program Match Accuracy Over Time FunnelFi's base matching engine applies standard program criteria, minimum FICO thresholds, DTI caps, available credit minimums, to evaluate eligibility. But every lender's funded portfolio tells a different story. An ISO that funds HVAC business loans has a different set of winning credit profiles than an ISO that funds restaurant equipment financing. VectorIQ is FunnelFi's model training layer. Lenders upload two sets of historical data: funded deals (Winners) and declined files (Losses), minimum 200 of each. FunnelFi retrains the matching engine's eligibility thresholds on that portfolio, so the Qualified verdict becomes calibrated to the lender's actual credit box rather than generic bureau benchmarks. Reported impact Lenders who complete full VectorIQ training report up to 80% improvement in matching accuracy, fewer DNQ leads that later funded elsewhere, and fewer Qualified leads that fell through underwriting. ## Frequently Asked Questions About Real-Time Program Matching - What is loan program matching in lead pre-qualification? Loan program matching is the process of evaluating a lead's credit profile against a lender's specific loan product eligibility criteria and returning a list of programs the lead qualifies for, before any application is submitted. FunnelFi's program matching engine evaluates SBA 7(a), MCA, LOC, term loan, equipment financing, Conventional, FHA, VA, and BNPL programs simultaneously from a name, phone, and email, returning a matched program list in under 3 seconds. - How does FunnelFi's matching engine differ from instant pre-approval letter tools? Pre-approval letter tools generate instant documents for mortgage borrowers who have already submitted a full application with SSN and address, they are borrower-facing document tools. FunnelFi's matching engine pre-qualifies raw leads from a name, phone, and email before any application, returning a program match and Qualified/DNQ verdict to the lender. FunnelFi runs before first contact; letter tools run after the application is submitted. - Can FunnelFi match leads to both SMB and mortgage programs in one call? Yes. A single FunnelFi API call evaluates all configured programs simultaneously, SMB programs (SBA, MCA, LOC, equipment) and mortgage programs (Conventional, FHA, VA, HELOC) are evaluated in parallel in the same call. A lead agency that sources leads for both SMB lenders and mortgage lenders can receive matches for both categories in one pre-qualification run. - What credit data does FunnelFi use for program matching? FunnelFi's program matching engine uses FICO score, available revolving credit, debt-to-income ratio, tradeline data, payment history, and income signals where available from bureau data. For SMB program matching, business verification signals, time in business indicators, industry category, and revenue proxy, are layered on top of the personal credit profile. - How does BNPL program matching work? BNPL pre-qualification (Affirm, Klarna, Afterpay) is evaluated based on available revolving credit, FICO score bands, and income signals that indicate BNPL approval likelihood. FunnelFi returns a BNPL pre-qualification signal alongside the standard program match, so a high-ticket sales team running FunnelFi's Agency tier receives both the credit score signal and BNPL eligibility flags in a single pre-qualification call. - What is VectorIQ and how does it improve program matching? VectorIQ is FunnelFi's model training feature. Lenders upload historical funded deals (Winners) and declined files (Losses), minimum 200 of each, and FunnelFi retrains its program matching eligibility thresholds on the lender's specific portfolio. The result is a matching engine calibrated to the lender's actual credit box, not generic bureau benchmarks. Customers report up to 80% improvement in matching accuracy after full VectorIQ training. - How quickly does the matching engine return results? FunnelFi's program matching engine returns a complete response, including identity resolution, credit pull, FICO calculation, program eligibility evaluation for all configured programs, and structured JSON response assembly, in under 3 seconds under normal conditions. This benchmark reflects API response time; total time from lead submission to CRM record update depends additionally on webhook routing and CRM processing time. - Can I configure FunnelFi's program criteria to match my specific lending guidelines? Yes. FunnelFi's program criteria are configurable per lender account. Minimum FICO thresholds, maximum DTI caps, minimum available credit requirements, and other eligibility parameters are set per program based on the lender's specific underwriting guidelines. VectorIQ further refines these thresholds by training on the lender's actual funded portfolio. - Does FunnelFi return a reason for program-level DNQs? Yes. When a lead does not qualify for a specific program, FunnelFi returns the specific reason, for example, "FICO 583 below program minimum of 640" or "DTI 52% exceeds program maximum of 45%." This allows lenders to route DNQ leads to appropriate nurture sequences, offer alternative products the lead currently qualifies for, or provide credit-improvement guidance targeted at the specific threshold the lead needs to meet. - Is FunnelFi's program matching the same as an instant pre-approval letter? No. A pre-approval letter is a document issued to a borrower confirming that a lender has reviewed their application and is likely to approve them for a specific loan amount. FunnelFi's program matching is a lender-facing pre-qualification signal, it tells the lender which products a lead qualifies for before the lead has applied. FunnelFi does not produce a borrower-facing letter; it produces a lender-facing verdict that determines whether the lead is worth engaging. ## Know which program every lead qualifies for before the first call. Under 3 seconds. No SSN. No application. 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FunnelFi's program matching engine evaluates SBA 7(a), MCA, LOC, term loan, equipment financing, Conventional, FHA, VA, and BNPL programs simultaneously from a name, phone, and email, returning a matched program list in under 3 seconds." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How does FunnelFi's matching engine differ from instant pre-approval letter tools?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Pre-approval letter tools generate instant documents for mortgage borrowers who have already submitted a full application with SSN and address, they are borrower-facing document tools. FunnelFi's matching engine pre-qualifies raw leads from a name, phone, and email before any application, returning a program match and Qualified/DNQ verdict to the lender. FunnelFi runs before first contact; letter tools run after the application is submitted." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Can FunnelFi match leads to both SMB and mortgage programs in one call?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes. A single FunnelFi API call evaluates all configured programs simultaneously, SMB programs (SBA, MCA, LOC, equipment) and mortgage programs (Conventional, FHA, VA, HELOC) are evaluated in parallel in the same call. A lead agency that sources leads for both SMB lenders and mortgage lenders can receive matches for both categories in one pre-qualification run." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What credit data does FunnelFi use for program matching?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "FunnelFi's program matching engine uses FICO score, available revolving credit, debt-to-income ratio, tradeline data, payment history, and income signals where available from bureau data. For SMB program matching, business verification signals, time in business indicators, industry category, and revenue proxy, are layered on top of the personal credit profile." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How does BNPL program matching work?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "BNPL pre-qualification (Affirm, Klarna, Afterpay) is evaluated based on available revolving credit, FICO score bands, and income signals that indicate BNPL approval likelihood. FunnelFi returns a BNPL pre-qualification signal alongside the standard program match, so a high-ticket sales team running FunnelFi's Agency tier receives both the credit score signal and BNPL eligibility flags in a single pre-qualification call." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What is VectorIQ and how does it improve program matching?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "VectorIQ is FunnelFi's model training feature. Lenders upload historical funded deals (Winners) and declined files (Losses), minimum 200 of each, and FunnelFi retrains its program matching eligibility thresholds on the lender's specific portfolio. The result is a matching engine calibrated to the lender's actual credit box, not generic bureau benchmarks. Customers report up to 80% improvement in matching accuracy after full VectorIQ training." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How quickly does the matching engine return results?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "FunnelFi's program matching engine returns a complete response, including identity resolution, credit pull, FICO calculation, program eligibility evaluation for all configured programs, and structured JSON response assembly, in under 3 seconds under normal conditions. This benchmark reflects API response time; total time from lead submission to CRM record update depends additionally on webhook routing and CRM processing time." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Can I configure FunnelFi's program criteria to match my specific lending guidelines?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes. FunnelFi's program criteria are configurable per lender account. Minimum FICO thresholds, maximum DTI caps, minimum available credit requirements, and other eligibility parameters are set per program based on the lender's specific underwriting guidelines. VectorIQ further refines these thresholds by training on the lender's actual funded portfolio." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Does FunnelFi return a reason for program-level DNQs?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes. When a lead does not qualify for a specific program, FunnelFi returns the specific reason, for example, \"FICO 583 below program minimum of 640\" or \"DTI 52% exceeds program maximum of 45%.\" This allows lenders to route DNQ leads to appropriate nurture sequences, offer alternative products the lead currently qualifies for, or provide credit-improvement guidance targeted at the specific threshold the lead needs to meet." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is FunnelFi's program matching the same as an instant pre-approval letter?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "No. A pre-approval letter is a document issued to a borrower confirming that a lender has reviewed their application and is likely to approve them for a specific loan amount. FunnelFi's program matching is a lender-facing pre-qualification signal, it tells the lender which products a lead qualifies for before the lead has applied. 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