Committed to offering best-in-class banking products, Kansas City's locally owned, award-winning financial institution, Lead Bank, recently implemented an innovative new Banking as a Service (Baas) client, ClosingCostHelp.com. Aiming to make US Veterans more competitive home buyers, ClosingCostHelp.com streamlines the home loan process by providing closing cost support through short-term loan payment options. As their only Kansas City area financial partner, Lead Bank is the first to create a partnership with a fintech of this kind-one of their strategic initiatives.
 
Digital conversations involving fintechs and the mortgage industry typically revolve around fintechs who automate the mortgage lending process, those who've created an integrated user experience to speed up the buying process, and those who handle data processing, alleviating extensive amounts of paperwork. What is not being addressed are closing costs and how they can make or break someone from becoming a homeowner and getting their offer accepted. However, ClosingCostHelp.com empowers Veterans to make the best financial decisions around their most significant asset, their home, helps buyers streamline their closing costs through short-term payment options. Historically, housing has been one of the best ways for Americans to build wealth, yet many Americans are prevented from being homeowners due to economic barriers, closing costs being one of those. 

"The upfront costs when buying a home is the biggest barrier of entry to homeownership – no doubt a reason why the VA created the 100% financing benefit," says Josh Kaplan, CEO of ClosingCostHelp.com. "What was overlooked, though, is closing costs, which average about 3-5% of the purchase price. Many veterans and just your average American, in general, can't afford $10,000 out of pocket but could easily afford it every month. We cannot be more excited to partner with Lead Bank and to help get more Veterans into homes, setting them up for long-term financial success."
 
"Having the ability to streamline closing costs directly through Lead Bank's banking platform bolsters our digital lending expertise by providing another real-time financial service. ClosingCostHelp.com provides an additional Banking as a Service solution allowing us to support the client and the fintech while continuing to deliver on the specialized needs of our clients," said Brooke Clouse, SVP, Deputy Chief Operating Officer.
 
About Lead Bank
Lead Bank is a community-minded, independent commercial bank recognized for its innovative approach to community banking and unique banking solutions that allows real people, real businesses, and their communities to thrive. Serving communities with treasury management and lending services, consumer client products, digital consumer banking, and innovative financial technology services, Lead Bank is the first choice for those looking for a future banking partner. Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, yet serving clients digitally throughout the United States, Lead Bank is known for being a small business advocate, having outstanding client service, and creating financial pathways for those, who in the past, have been financially unhealthy. 2020 member of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV), an international network of banking leaders worldwide committed to advancing positive change in the banking sector. For additional information, call (816) 220.8600 or visit http://www.lead.bank/.
 
About ClosingCostHelp.com
ClosingCostHelp.com is filling the funding gap with VA loans, empowering veterans financially, and giving our partnered VA buyers, realtors, and lenders a competitive edge in a dense market. For more information, visit https://www.closingcosthelp.com.