Lead Actions Explained

Once a Lead has been created in Ascent — either when a borrower starts an application or when one is manually entered — a range of actions become available to users with the appropriate permissions. These actions allow you to guide the application through its lifecycle, manage communication, and record internal decisions.

The actions available for a given Lead depend on whether or not the application form has been submitted. Below is a breakdown of all Lead actions and when they are available.

Available for All Leads (Submitted or Not)

Assign

Assigns the Lead to a specific internal user. This is useful for workload distribution, ownership tracking, and ensuring follow-up by the appropriate team member.

Make Request

Allows the lender to request additional information or documents from the applicant. These requests are separate from the original application form and may be used to collect supporting documentation or clarify submitted information.

Requests will appear in the applicant's portal (if registered) and can be sent with email notifications. If the applicant is not registered, they will receive an email containing a short-lived link that allows them access to an ephemeral portal where they can respond to the request.

Notes

Adds a free-text internal note to the Lead. Notes are visible only to internal users and are used for documenting observations, decision rationale, or next steps.

More

Opens a modal with a Lead summary and gives quick access to the other actions listed here. It’s a convenient way to review or perform multiple actions without switching screens.

Archive

Puts the Lead into an archived state, which removes it from active workflows and prevents further edits. Archiving is useful for abandoned or irrelevant applications.

Available for Submitted Leads Only

In addition to the above actions, once a Lead’s application form has been submitted, the following actions become available:

Approve

Marks the application as approved and allows the lender to create an associated Product for the borrower (e.g., a loan or financial account). The Product can then be tracked and serviced within the Ascent platform.

Close

Marks the application as declined and closes the Lead. A reason for closure must be provided.

If your organization has Adverse Action Notices enabled, closing a Lead may trigger the automatic generation and delivery of a compliant notice to the applicant.

Accessing Lead Actions

Lead actions are accessible in two main places:

• From the Leads Table, using the "More" menu for each row

• From within the Member Profile, on the Lead’s detail view

In both cases, the full set of applicable actions will be available, depending on the Lead's status.

By understanding and correctly using Lead actions, you can ensure that applications are processed efficiently, decisions are well-documented, and applicants receive timely and appropriate responses.