I am looking for comments back as to what your institution enters on the HMDA LAR as an indentifying number that can be used later to retrieve the loan or application file.

All comments are appreciated!

We use a number that is generated by our loan software at the time of application (or prequalification). We have a working LAR that has this number and the customers name along with the required data. We input the data at least quarterly in the FFIEC submission software, and then print that LAR out in the unlikely event that a customer wants to see it.

Our front end mortgage system (Empower) assigns an application number. That number is the identifier forever. Our consumer loan system converts an application number to a loan number if the action is origination. That way we can still track the decision through HMDA, CRA reporting.

This can be the loan number (incomplete as it excludes the customer number to ID anyone) or a series of numbers on denials and withdrawals identifying the branch where it was accepted and an identification number for that app. It is on the app we hold and on a log they chose to maintain for reference.