Mortgage Forward Announces Strategic Partnership with Pivot Lending to Expand CUSO Mortgage Capabilities
Bannockburn, IL (May 7, 2026) — Mortgage Forward is excited to announce that it has entered into a strategic partnership agreement with Pivot Lending, a mortgage service provider to credit unions and borrowers nationwide headquartered in Littleton, Colorado. Through the partnership, the organizations will work closely together with the shared goal of pursuing an acquisition later this year by GLCUs owned CUSO, Mortgage Forward.
The partnership is designed to help both teams collaborate more closely to align operations and culture, and explore opportunities to create greater value for members, partners, and employees. Mortgage Forward team and Pivot Lending will begin increased collaboration in the months ahead, starting this week with funding support.
“This strategic partnership with Pivot Lending is an important step forward for Mortgage Forward and our Mortgage Forward team,” said Michael Abraham, Chief Strategy Officer at GLCU. “By working side by side, we can better align how we serve members and partners, learn from one another, and move with purpose toward the possibility of combining our strengths later this year—while keeping our focus on delivering an exceptional mortgage experience.” Abraham is tapping Mortgage Forward’s President, Chip Adkins to lead the consolidation efforts. Adkins will work closely in the coming months with Pivot CEO Byrant Ottaviano. “We can’t wait to get started and couldn’t think of a better partnership for our business and employees,” said Ottaviano. “At Pivot, we’ve always believed credit unions deserve a mortgage platform that lets them stay front and center with their members and this partnership is a natural fit—it brings together shared values, complementary strengths, and a real opportunity to build something meaningful at scale.”
Adkins added, “Partnering with Pivot is a meaningful step in scaling Mortgage Forward’s national platform. They bring a strong team, complementary capabilities, and a shared commitment to serving credit unions at a high level. Together, we’re expanding our ability to deliver consistent, high-quality mortgage experiences—both directly to consumers and through our credit union partners.”
Coming off the heels of a 2025 acquisition of Fit Mortgage, the Pivot partnership once finalized will increase Mortgage Forward’s reach to 38 states.
About Mortgage Forward
Mortgage Forward, LLC is a credit union service organization of Great Lakes Credit Union specializing in nationwide mortgage solutions. The organization helps credit unions expand mortgage offerings, strengthen operational efficiency, and deliver exceptional member experiences across the full lending lifecycle. Learn more at www.mortgagefwd.com.
About Pivot Lending
Pivot Lending is a nationwide mortgage services platform built to operate behind the scenes or forward facing, on behalf of credit unions, enabling them to deliver a best-in-class mortgage experience under their own brand. Headquartered in Littleton, Colorado, Pivot specializes in providing deep product breadth—including agency, jumbo, non-QM, and specialized lending solutions—while maintaining competitive pricing and operational efficiency. Pivot currently supports credit union partners across the country and is known for its flexibility, deal-saving capabilities, and commitment to delivering consistent outcomes in all market conditions.