--- title: "Handelsblatt Interview: The Digital Mortgage Process | Oper" description: Geert van Kerckhoven speaks to Handelsblatt on the Digital Mortgage Process future image: https://www.opercredits.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/6960c1948a8a1fcde571800a_pexels-pixabay-357514.jpg --- [Skip to the main content.](https://www.opercredits.com/blog/geert-van-kerckhoven-interviewed-by-handelsblatt-q3-2025-#main-content) [From 3 Days to 3 Minutes: How banks integrate AI into existing credit processes → Download new whitepaper](https://www.opercredits.com/whitepaper-from-3-days-to-3-minutes-ai-in-credit-processes?hsLang=en) [![Oper Credits logo blue](https://www.opercredits.com/hs-fs/hubfs/20260714_Oper%20Credits%20logo%20blue%20transparent.png?width=588&height=164&name=20260714_Oper%20Credits%20logo%20blue%20transparent.png "Oper Credits logo blue")](https://opercredits.com?hsLang=en) [![Oper Credits logo blue](https://www.opercredits.com/hs-fs/hubfs/20260714_Oper%20Credits%20logo%20blue%20transparent.png?width=588&height=164&name=20260714_Oper%20Credits%20logo%20blue%20transparent.png "Oper Credits logo blue")](https://opercredits.com?hsLang=en) - Products - [Herman](https://www.opercredits.com/herman-ai) - [Origination Platform](https://www.opercredits.com/origination-platform) - [Use Cases](https://www.opercredits.com/use-cases) - [Customers](https://www.opercredits.com/case-studies) - [Compliance](https://www.opercredits.com/compliance) - Resources - [Blog](https://www.opercredits.com/blog) - [Reports](https://www.opercredits.com/reports) - [Webinars](https://www.opercredits.com/webinars) - Company - [About](https://www.opercredits.com/about-us) - [Careers](https://www.opercredits.com/careers) - [Partners](https://www.opercredits.com/partners) - [Contact](https://www.opercredits.com/contact) [Book a demo](https://www.opercredits.com/contact?hsLang=en) Toggle Menu Toggle Menu [Book a demo](https://www.opercredits.com/contact?hsLang=en) - Products - [Herman](https://www.opercredits.com/herman-ai) - [Origination Platform](https://www.opercredits.com/origination-platform) - [Use Cases](https://www.opercredits.com/use-cases) - [Customers](https://www.opercredits.com/case-studies) - [Compliance](https://www.opercredits.com/compliance) - Resources - [Blog](https://www.opercredits.com/blog) - [Reports](https://www.opercredits.com/reports) - [Webinars](https://www.opercredits.com/webinars) - Company - [About](https://www.opercredits.com/about-us) - [Careers](https://www.opercredits.com/careers) - [Partners](https://www.opercredits.com/partners) - [Contact](https://www.opercredits.com/contact) 1 min read # Geert van Kerckhoven Interviewed by Handelsblatt - Q3 2025 [Geert Van Kerckhoven](https://www.opercredits.com/blog/author/geert-van-kerckhoven) : September 3, 2025 [Press](https://www.opercredits.com/blog/tag/press) ![Geert van Kerckhoven Interviewed by Handelsblatt - Q3 2025](https://www.opercredits.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/6960c1948a8a1fcde571800a_pexels-pixabay-357514.jpg) ## "Digital processes offer numerous advantages, but they also only serve specific target groups" ‍ In a recent interview with Handelsblatt, our CEO and Co-Founder Geert van Kerckhoven explored how we see the future of digital mortgage processes and the role of artificial intelligence in banking. Speaking about the rapid shift to digital, he emphasized that while technology brings clear efficiency and usability gains, it does not fully replace human advice in every situation—especially in complex, emotionally charged, or highly individualized cases. Geert underlined that digital workflows and AI-driven tools are particularly powerful for streamlining document checks and improving the overall customer experience. As he put it, “digital processes have many advantages, but they only serve certain target groups,” and “humans still have an important role when it comes to subsidies, renovations and trust.” In other words, our approach is not “AI instead of people,” but “AI and people together”: we use technology to handle repetitive, error-prone steps so that advisors can focus on nuanced conversations, long-term planning, and building trust with borrowers. The conversation positions Oper as a partner for banks that want to combine cutting-edge digital capabilities with the human expertise their customers still value. It reflects our core belief that the best mortgage journeys are both intelligent and personal: powered by AI in the background, guided by people where it matters most. [Listen to the interview in German](https://live.handelsblatt.com/interview-mit-geert-van-kerckhoven-ceo-co-founder-oper-credits/)   - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ## Stay up to date with mortgage technology news Subscribe to our list and be the first to receive industry insights straight to your inbox [![Oper Coverage in IO - making mortgages faster, clearer, more accessible](https://www.opercredits.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/69958cf25d46c016a8018583_LP_118.jpg)](https://www.opercredits.com/blog/oper-coverage-in-io-making-mortgages-faster-clearer-more-accessible?hsLang=en) 1 min read #### [Oper Coverage in IO - making mortgages faster, clearer, more accessible](https://www.opercredits.com/blog/oper-coverage-in-io-making-mortgages-faster-clearer-more-accessible?hsLang=en) [Geert Van Kerckhoven](https://www.opercredits.com/blog/author/geert-van-kerckhoven) : Oct 16, 2025, 12:00:00 AM Mortgages made easy: Oper’s AI guides you IO+ profiles how we’re working to make mortgages faster, clearer, and more accessible at a time when demand... [Press](https://www.opercredits.com/blog/tag/press) [Read More](https://www.opercredits.com/blog/oper-coverage-in-io-making-mortgages-faster-clearer-more-accessible?hsLang=en) [![Oper Coverage in “InFinance” - Why Decision Speed Now Wins the Dutch Mortgage Market](https://www.opercredits.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/69a18ffcc6dd7537c0f6672d_infinance.png)](https://www.opercredits.com/blog/oper-coverage-in-infinance-why-decision-speed-now-wins-the-dutch-mortgage-market?hsLang=en) 1 min read #### [Oper Coverage in “InFinance” - Why Decision Speed Now Wins the Dutch Mortgage Market](https://www.opercredits.com/blog/oper-coverage-in-infinance-why-decision-speed-now-wins-the-dutch-mortgage-market?hsLang=en) [Geert Van Kerckhoven](https://www.opercredits.com/blog/author/geert-van-kerckhoven) : Jan 15, 2026, 12:00:00 AM In its coverage of our Mortgage Trends 2026 report, InFinance highlights a structural turning point in the Dutch mortgage market that aligns closely... [Press](https://www.opercredits.com/blog/tag/press) [Read More](https://www.opercredits.com/blog/oper-coverage-in-infinance-why-decision-speed-now-wins-the-dutch-mortgage-market?hsLang=en) [![Oper coverage in Handelsblatt - 4 hours vs. 4 weeks: How challenger banks are putting pressure on German mortgage lenders](https://www.opercredits.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/6960bf2d7a591527bc74c8bb_pexels-jessbaileydesign-917293.jpg)](https://www.opercredits.com/blog/oper-coverage-in-handelsblatt-4-hours-vs-4-weeks-how-challenger-banks-are-putting-pressure-on-german-mortgage-lenders?hsLang=en) 1 min read #### [Oper coverage in Handelsblatt - 4 hours vs. 4 weeks: How challenger banks are putting pressure on German mortgage lenders](https://www.opercredits.com/blog/oper-coverage-in-handelsblatt-4-hours-vs-4-weeks-how-challenger-banks-are-putting-pressure-on-german-mortgage-lenders?hsLang=en) [Geert Van Kerckhoven](https://www.opercredits.com/blog/author/geert-van-kerckhoven) : Aug 25, 2025, 12:00:00 AM Oper Features in Handelsblatt - Q3 2025 In a guest commentary for Handelsblatt Live, our CEO and Co-Founder Geert van Kerckhoven contrasts the... [Press](https://www.opercredits.com/blog/tag/press) [Read More](https://www.opercredits.com/blog/oper-coverage-in-handelsblatt-4-hours-vs-4-weeks-how-challenger-banks-are-putting-pressure-on-german-mortgage-lenders?hsLang=en) [![big\_logotype-1](https://www.opercredits.com/hubfs/big_logotype-1.png)](https://www.opercredits.com/?hsLang=en) [Linkedin](https://www.linkedin.com/company/opercredits/)[YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@OperCredits) Products Products - [Herman](https://www.opercredits.com/herman-ai) - [Use Cases](https://www.opercredits.com/use-cases) - [Customers](https://www.opercredits.com/case-studies) - [Compliance](https://www.opercredits.com/compliance) - [Origination Platform](https://www.opercredits.com/origination-platform) Resources Resources - [Blog](https://www.opercredits.com/blog) - [Reports](https://www.opercredits.com/reports) - [Webinar](https://www.opercredits.com/webinars) Company Company - [About](https://www.opercredits.com/about-us) - [Careers](https://www.opercredits.com/careers) - [Partners](https://www.opercredits.com/partners) - [Contact](https://www.opercredits.com/contact) - [Privacy Policy](https://www.opercredits.com/privacy-policy) - [Cookie Policy](https://www.opercredits.com/cookie-policy) - [Terms of Use](https://www.opercredits.com/terms-of-use) - [Legal Notice](https://www.opercredits.com/legal-notice) - [Data Processors](https://www.opercredits.com/data-processors) - [Reporting a Security Issue](https://www.opercredits.com/reporting-a-security-issue) © 2026 Oper Credits ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Geert Van Kerckhoven", "url" : "https://www.opercredits.com/blog/author/geert-van-kerckhoven" }, "dateModified" : "2026-08-20T17:33:31.109Z", "datePublished" : "2025-09-03T22:00:00.000Z", "headline" : "Handelsblatt Interview: The Digital Mortgage Process | Oper", "image" : [ "https://www.opercredits.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/6960c1948a8a1fcde571800a_pexels-pixabay-357514.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.opercredits.com/blog/geert-van-kerckhoven-interviewed-by-handelsblatt-q3-2025-", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.opercredits.com/hubfs/20260714_Oper%20Credits%20logo%20blue%20transparent.png" }, "name" : "Oper Credits" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://www.opercredits.com/#organization", "@type" : "Organization", "address" : { "@type" : "PostalAddress", "addressCountry" : "BE", "addressLocality" : "Antwerp", "postalCode" : "2000", "streetAddress" : "Lange Gasthuisstraat 29" }, "description" : "Oper Credits builds Herman, the AI credit analyst for mortgage lending at regulated European banks and lenders.", "founder" : [ { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Geert Van Kerckhoven", "sameAs" : "https://www.linkedin.com/in/geertvankerckhoven" }, { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Wouter Lachat" } ], "foundingDate" : "2018", "legalName" : "Oper Credits BV", "logo" : "https://www.opercredits.com/hubfs/20260714_Oper%20Credits%20logo%20blue%20transparent.png", "name" : "Oper Credits", "sameAs" : [ "https://www.linkedin.com/company/opercredits/", "https://www.youtube.com/@OperCredits", "https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/oper-781f" ], "url" : "https://www.opercredits.com", "vatID" : "BE0719676454" } ```