One of the key questions in the industry today is: Can small to medium size lenders survive in a market where the big players are getting bigger and if so, how are they going to be able to do that? I think small lenders have the advantage of being nimble and they have sales and marketing distribution in their local markets. If they do a good job on consumer loyalty and retention, they can continue to do well without having to sell out.

"Increasingly, software solutions for small to mid-size lenders are adequate enough to help them operate efficiently."

Increasingly, software solutions for small to mid-size lenders are getting just as effective as some of the largest solutions — not always with all the bells and whistles, but they're certainly adequate enough to help lenders operate efficiently. In addition to technology, vendors can bring experience and perspective to offer ideas that the lender may not have thought about and solutions to fix problems.