The 2026 Awards Calendar
This year PROGRESS in Lending will continue its rich tradition of recognizing true excellence in mortgage lending. This industry is filled with people and companies dedicated to making the process better, faster and cheaper for all involved. To honor their hard work, we will be offering our existing prestigious awards and adding brand new awards as follows …
The lending industry is filled with executives and companies that are trying every day to benefit the industry and the world. These individuals and companies are industry humanitarians, and they deserve to be recognized for their efforts. Being a humanitarian means actively working to promote human welfare, reduce suffering, and protect human dignity. It’s about compassion in action. Recipients of the first-ever PROGRESS in Lending Industry Humanitarian Award will be those that are trying to help their staff, the lending industry and/or the world.
We are accepting applications for this award right now. The last day to apply is Friday, January 23, 2026. DON’T MISS OUT! APPLY FOR THIS AWARD HERE.
Winners will be announced in February 2026.
Our other awards all acknowledge the good work that executives are doing, but we think it’s critically important to recognize separately those people that are making a difference that have been in the business 15 years or less. We need new leaders that are not afraid to step forward and blaze a new trail. We need creativity. We need bold new ideas. As such, for the 6th year PROGRESS in Lending is honoring the Next Gen Leaders.
Applications will be accepted from Monday, January 26, 2026 to Friday, February 20, 2026.
Winners will be announced in March 2026.
Sales, marketing and public relations executives are blazing a trail that is determining the biggest winners in financial services. On the sales side, research from the University of Pennsylvania shows that more than 50% of buyers still seek advice from sales, marketing and public relations executives when making a purchase. These executives work tirelessly to ensure their company/client is a true leader, but they themselves don’t always get recognized. That ends today. For the 7th year in a row, PROGRESS in Lending is recognizing the Top Sales, Marketing and Public Relations Executives that are making the biggest impact.
Applications will be accepted from Monday, February 23, 2026 to Friday, March 20, 2026.
Winners will be announced in April 2026.
In today’s hyper-connected world, organizations must constantly evolve to offer quick, convenient, and reliable service. The financial services industry is no exception. The rise of Innovative Fintech is a perfect example of how this new reality is reshaping the way we think. And women are playing a pivotal role. Women are not just influencers, they are leading the way. To celebrate these executives, for the 8th year, PROGRESS in Lending is honoring The Most Powerful Women in Fintech today.
Applications will be accepted from Monday, March 23, 2026 to Friday, April 17, 2026.
Winners will be announced in May 2026.
In the mortgage industry you cannot be successful alone, so we want to recognize those groundbreaking pairings between companies that are advancing mortgage lending. Specifically, PROGRESS in Lending is recognizing the top partnerships, integrations and mergers and acquisitions that have improved our space. To celebrate these achievements, for the 3rd year, PROGRESS in Lending is offering The Connections Award.
Applications will be accepted from Monday, April 20, 2026 to Friday, May 15, 2026.
Winners will be announced in June 2026.
In the mortgage industry technology providers are working tirelessly to resolve industry problems for their clients. As a result, we are recognizing new products or updates of existing products that solve a real industry sticking point and improve the mortgage process for the better. Specifically, PROGRESS in Lending is recognizing new solutions and new advances to existing solutions that reshape the mortgage industry and improve the lending process. To celebrate these advances, for the 2nd year, PROGRESS in Lending is honoring industry Game Changers.
Applications will be accepted from Monday, May 18, 2026 to Friday, June 19, 2026.
Winners will be announced in July 2026.
We are very honored to have been approached by lenders to expand our awards program. They say that they turn to our winners when they are looking to invest in technology and now the lenders that are talking to us are looking to invest in technology. However, they want to know the tangible and intangible return on investment that they will get from choosing a new technology partner. As such, for the 2nd year, we are offering the Lending Tech Titan Award to honor technology that truly benefits its users. We are honoring technology that is making a clear difference in the lending space with this award.
Applications will be accepted from Monday, June 22, 2026 to Friday, July 17, 2026.
Winners will be announced in August 2026.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is significant due to its potential to revolutionize various aspects of life and work by enhancing efficiency, automating tasks, and generating valuable insights according to the University of Cincinnati. AI’s ability to process vast amounts of data and learn from it enables it to improve decision-making, personalize experiences, and solve complex problems across diverse fields. Today AI is helping improve lending, but those companies that are using this technology are not getting recognized. That changes now. For the 2nd year, we are offering the AI Pioneer Award to honor those that are using AI to better mortgage lending.
Applications will be accepted from Monday, July 20, 2026 to Friday, August 14, 2026.
Winners will be announced in September 2026.
A luminary is defined as “a person who inspires or influences others.” And that type of person is exactly who PROGRESS in Lending is honoring. Right now the market is filled with uncertainty but these true Lending Luminaries are handling and navigating the constantly fluctuating market conditions. These mortgage bankers, lenders, servicers, technology executives, consultants, etc. are helping their companies and this industry thrive. These executives deserve to be recognized for their industry vision and leadership with the 8th Annual 2026 Lending Luminary Award.
Applications will be accepted from Monday, August17, 2026 to Friday, September 18, 2026.
Winners will be announced in October 2026.
Our existing awards all acknowledge the good work that executives are doing now, but we think it’s time to reward future work and initiatives. We need thought leaders that are not afraid to step forward and share new ideas. The mortgage industry can’t advance without the efforts of these executives. As a result, for the 7th year in a row PROGRESS in Lending is honoring industry thought leaders.
Applications will be accepted from Monday, September 21, 2026 to Friday, October 23, 2026.
Winners will be announced in November 2026.
The Innovations Award is the Gold Seal when it comes to recognizing true industry innovation. This is the 17th year that PROGRESS in Lending will be offering this award. All applications are scored on a weighted scale. We look for the innovation’s overall industry significance, the originality of the innovation, the positive change the innovation made possible, the intangible efficiencies gained as a result of the innovation, and the hard cost and time savings that the innovation enables industry participants to achieve. These technologies are reshaping mortgage lending.
Applications will be accepted from Monday, October 26, 2026 to Friday, December 18, 2026.
Winners will be announced January 2027.
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