Feature Enhancements in Version 20.1.0.14 Server Patch 10 (Banker Edition)
This section discusses the updates and enhancements to existing forms, features, services, or settings that are provided in this release.
New Release Notes and Online Help
With this Service Pack release we are introducing a new look and user experience for release notes and online Help. We’ve made the new design easier to navigate and more user-friendly. Plus, we’ve added many feature upgrades that you have suggested, including:
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New colors and styling aligned with Ellie Mae branding
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Wider layout that allows for larger screen examples
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Improved organization and grouping of menus and side navigation links
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Easy to consume “at a glance” views of release notes items
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Links to Persona-based release notes
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Links to short videos on new features
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And more…
While the look and feel of the release notes and the Help is different, the overall process you should follow to locate and read the release notes and find Help topics will not change. We look forward to your feedback about your experience with the new release notes and online Help.
Update to the Encompass Server
(i.e., Server Patch 10) and Client Machines (20.1.0.14)
The Encompass 20.1 September Service Pack release includes the following feature enhancements. In order for these enhancements to be fully integrated into your Encompass system, both the Server Patch and the client-side update provided with this release must be applied. The Server Patch included with this release is applied to the Encompass Server automatically and cannot be controlled manually via the Encompass Version Manager tool. The client-side update in this release can be controlled manually via the Encompass Version Manager tool. If the tool has been configured to always apply client-side updates to users’ computers automatically, users will receive the client-side updates upon their initial log in of Encompass following the release.
Again, the feature enhancements listed below will not be fully implemented until both the Server Patch and the client-side updates are applied to your Encompass system.
New Encompass Alert
Since the LIBOR index will no longer be supported in GSE pools after 10/1/2020 (due to the transition to the SOFR index announced by the FHFA on February 5, 2020), a new informational alert will now be triggered for loans with an application date (field ID 745 and 3142) after 9/30/2020 that use any LIBOR for the ARM Index Type (field ID 1959). This alert is intended to notify loan team members for loans that will not be eligible for purchase by the GSEs. Since this alert is informational only, loan team members can still proceed with the loan.
This alert has been added to the Alerts setting. Administrators can use this setting to enable or disable this alert. The pop-up notification functionality in the setting is not supported. This pop-up notification option in the Encompass Alert Settings window will be removed in an upcoming Encompass release.
Encompass Settings
The following updates have been made to settings for the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Special Feature Codes (SFC) that were introduced to the Field Triggers business rules setting with the Encompass 20.1 June Service Pack.
New Persona Setting for Special Feature Codes Settings Table
A new option has been added to the Personas settings that enables administrators to control user access and edit the Special Feature Codes table in Encompass Settings. In order to provide access to this table, update the user’s persona as follows:
To Provide Persona Access to the SFC Table Setting:
- On the menu bar, click Encompass, and then click Settings.
- On the left panel, click Company/User Setup, and then click Personas.
- Select the persona you want to update.
- Click the Settings tab.
- In the Company Settings panel, expand the Tables and Fees option, and then select the Special Feature Codes option.
- Click the Save icon.
Users who have been granted with this persona access can then access this Special Feature Codes table.
Special feature codes (SFC) are defined and published by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and may be required by the GSEs as part of the delivery for certain single-family mortgage loans. Administrators and authorized users can select one or more Fannie Mae (DU) or Freddie Mac (LPA) special feature codes to add to Field Triggers business rules, and then apply to rules to applicable loan files. However, first, authorized users can create and set up the special feature codes they want to use with Field Triggers business rules. This is done using the Tables and Fees > Special Feature Codes table. Once created, these codes will then be available to add to the Field Triggers business rule.
New Warning Messages When Editing or Deleting an SFC Code
When an authorized user is managing special feature codes in the Special Feature Codes table, new warning messages are now provided when editing or deleting an SFC code that is currently being referenced in Field Triggers business rule.
- When a user attempts to edit an SFC (whether it is active or inactive) that is currently being referenced in a Field Triggers business rule, a confirmation message is now presented to enable the user to confirm the updated SFC or to cancel the changes that were made.
"The original Special Feature Code and Source is currently referenced in a field trigger business rule. Any corresponding field trigger business rules must be updated if edited. Would you like to continue saving edits?"
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When a user attempts to delete an SFC (whether it is active or inactive) that is currently being referenced in a Field Triggers business rule, a confirmation message is now presented to enable the user to confirm the deletion or to cancel the deletion.
"This Special Feature Code is currently referenced in a field trigger business rule. Are you sure you would like to delete?"
Providing these warning messages helps ensure that SFCs that are currently referenced in a Field Triggers business rule are not inadvertently edited or deleted. If the update or deletion is intentional, these messages serve as a reminder to them to update the Field Triggers business rule as needed.
NICE-31180, NICE-31134, NICE-31079
Due to Nevada introducing a new Mortgage Company license type (effective January 1, 2020) that replaces Mortgage Lender and Mortgage Broker license types, a new Mortgage Company License type option for the state of Nevada is now available to select in the Company/User Setup > Company Information settings and the Company/User Setup > Organization/Users settings. Administrators can now select this license option for applicable organizations and users.
Some users reported receiving Fail messages from the Encompass Compliance Service (ECS) or Mavent Compliance Service (MCS) when submitting loans for compliance reviews due to issues with their Nevada lending license. Now that this Mortgage Company License option is available, administrators can update to this license type and these ECS/MCS Fail messages may be addressed.
NICE-27619
Updates to the Encompass Client Machines
The Encompass 20.1 September Service Pack release includes the following enhancements, which are client-side updates that are applied to users' Encompass client machines. This client update can be controlled manually via the Encompass Version Manager tool. If the tool has been configured to always apply new releases to users’ computers automatically, users will receive this update upon their initial log in of Encompass following the release.
Warehouse Lending
(Updated on September 17, 2020)
A new Warehouse Bank Funding Response (Investor Connect) section has been added below the Funding Source / Warehouse Bank section on the Funding Worksheet Tool in Encompass to enable lenders to import funding request information that has been returned from a warehouse lender via Encompass Investor Connect. This section is enabled only for lenders who are partnering with Encompass Investor Connect warehouse lenders who have enabled the functionality for returning funding request data via Encompass Investor Connect.
The new section includes the following read-only fields, which are used for Encompass Investor Connect warehouse lending purposes:
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Warehouse Lender (field ID VEND.X1042)
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Warehouse ID (field ID VEND.X1043)
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Warehouse URL (field ID VEND.X1044)
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Funds to Title (field ID VEND.X1045)
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Fed Reference # (field ID VEND.X1046)
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Wire Amount (field ID 4660)
All the fields listed above are new fields, except for the Wire Amount (field ID 4660), which was previously located in the Funding Source / Warehouse Bank section.
The Warehouse Bank Funding Response (Investor Connect) section also includes an Import Funding Details button.
The functionality for the Import Funding Details button will be available on September 20, 2020.
When a lender who has enabled the Encompass Investor Connect Investor Services feature clicks the button, the Import Funding Details window opens and displays the funding details that can be imported. The fields that display in this window have been updated to correspond to the fields in the new Warehouse Bank Funding Response (Investor Connect) section.
After the funding details have been imported, the information displays in the Additional Information window, which is accessible from the Loan Delivery Status window. The field have also been updated on this window.
Prior to the Encompass 20.1 September Service Pack release, the Import Funding Details button was in the Funding Source / Warehouse Bank section and the data would be populated to fields in that section. After the release of the Encompass Investor Connect 20.1 September Service Pack, the Import Funding Details button is disabled for earlier versions of Encompass, and the following message displays when a user clicks the button in earlier versions of Encompass.
After updating to the Encompass Investor Connect 20.1 September Service Pack release, data previously imported or manually entered in the Release #/Fed Ref # (field ID 2000) is not migrated to the new Fed Reference # field (field ID VEND.X1046).
CBIZ-32409, DND-9346
Encompass Settings
(Updated on September 17, 2020)
The functionality for the Batch Delivery feature will be available on September 20, 2020.
A new option has also been added to the Investor Connect Settings in Encompass (Encompass > Settings > Investor Connect Settings) to enable Encompass administrators to enable or disable the batch delivery workflow for Encompass users with access to the Encompass Investor Connect feature. For detailed information about the new batch delivery workflow, refer to the Encompass Investor Connect 20.1 September Service Pack release notes.
To Enable Batch Deliveries:
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On the menu bar, click Encompass, and then click Settings.
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On the left panel, click External Company Setup, and then click Investor Connect Settings.
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Click the Batch Delivery tab, and then select the Enable Batch Loan Delivery checkbox.
DND-6688
A new Persona option is now available for administrators to control which users can access the Freddie Mac LPA Batch feature from the Pipeline menu. In order to provide users with access to this feature in the Pipeline menu, administrators must update the user’s persona with this new option.
To Update a Persona to Provide Access to This Pipeline Menu Option:
- On the menu bar, click Encompass, and then click Settings.
- On the left panel, click Company/User Setup, and then click Personas.
- Select the persona you want to update.
- Click the Pipeline tab.
- In the Pipeline Tasks panel, expand the GSE Services option, and then select the Freddie Mac LPA Batch option.
- Click the Save icon.
By default, users assigned with the Administrator or Super Administrator persona will have access to this feature in the Pipeline menu. (The Freddie Mac LPA Batch persona option is automatically selected.) Only users enabled with this persona access will see the Freddie Mac LPA Batch option in the Pipeline.
NICE-27542
(Added on 9/4/2020)
A new Allow Active Relock Requests during lock desk shut down setting has been added to the Lock Desk Schedule/ONRP tab of the Lock Desk Setup. This setting will enable active relock requests when the lock desk is temporarily shut down.
- The Shut Down Lock Desk (Temporary) setting must be selected to enable the Allow Active Relock Requests during lock desk shut down setting.
- If the Allow Active Relock Requests during lock desk shut down setting is enabled, lock requests will be processed only when the Request Type = “Relock” and Request Lock Status = “Active Lock”.
To Access the Allow Active Relock Requests During Lock Desk Shut Down Setting:
- On the menu bar, click Encompass, and then click Settings.
- On the left panel, click Secondary Setup, and then click Lock Desk Setup.
- Click the Lock Desk Schedule/ONRP tab.
Encompass Forms and Tools
In the upcoming Encompass 20.2 Major Release, Ellie Mae is planning to deliver the next step in the automation of residential lending by providing enhanced functionalities for electronically closing your loans.
This new eClosing functionality will be provided in phases. The first phase is a series of updates to various closing package documents that is being provided in the planned Encompass Service Pack releases leading up to Encompass 20.2. In this 20.1 September Service Pack release, a number of closing documents have been updated in order to facilitate a hybrid eClosing with partners already on the Marketplace and pave the way for additional partners to be added. This update provides the ability for Encompass users to move forward with eClosing their loans by providing partners with signature coordinates and associated metadata for Encompass generated documents. Visit the Market Place for additional details about partners offering electronic closing services.
To understand which forms have been updated for eClosing in this release, please review the “eClosing Planned Forms List” document (KA #36276), which lists the form and accompanying targeted release phase schedule. There is no action required to enable this- it will now be a part of each applicable document generated by Encompass Docs. As further described in the eClosing Planned Forms List, the initial release includes forms that are a part of the core closing documents package which includes both generic and state specific disclosures along with the 100 most commonly used lender generic forms for closing. The initial release does not contain any forms that require signatures or initials of individuals or entities other than borrowers and non-borrowing owners. In addition, notes, security instruments, riders, documents requiring acknowledgments, notarization, or recordation are not included in the initial phase. The eClosing Planned Forms List will be updated regularly and can be revisited at any time to obtain the ongoing status of these form updates.
NDE-14926
The Encompass ZIP Code database has been updated with the latest available ZIP Code data.
CBIZ-32985
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