How a National Mortgage Lender Turned PTO Into a Strategic Financial Wellness Lever.

Most organizations that adopt PTO Exchange are solving a balance sheet problem. One national mortgage lender saw an opportunity to go a step further, using the platform not just to manage PTO liability, but to actively nudge employees toward smarter long-term financial decisions..

The Challenge


One of the largest independent mortgage retailers in the United States, deeply grounded in a people-first culture, with core values that guide everything from daily operations to how they build their benefits programs, wanted to create an amazing experience.

This organization was facing steadily growing PTO liabilities, driven by large year-over-year accruals across its national workforce. Leadership wanted a solution that would contain balance sheet risk without diminishing the value of unused time off for employees.

The workforce needed an approach that fit it's entire organization, spanning across investment professionals, call center agents, and branch-based retail employees, each with different financial needs and priorities. Beyond flexibility, the organization wanted to go further than a standard program to encourage smarter, more future-focused financial decisions among employees.


The Solution

This organization partnered with PTO Exchange and implemented a tiered service charge structure designed to drive both engagement and outcomes:

  • 7.5% for charitable donations, to encourage giving with minimal cost

  • 10% for retirement contributions, education expenses (student loan or tuition payments), and HSA contributions, reinforcing long-term financial wellness

  • 20% for direct exchanges, creating a financial nudge toward more strategic uses of PTO value

The structure gave employees broad flexibility in how they used their earned time off, while steering choices toward benefits that build financial stability over time.

 

The Impact

By using PTO Exchange not only as a benefit platform but also as a strategic financial lever, Fairway Mortgage effectively reduced balance sheet risk, optimized spending, and delivered meaningful value to employees at every level of the organization. 


  • Since 2022 over 15% of employees have used the platform, completing over 2,000 exchanges totaling $3.5M value.
  • Fairway saw above-average employee participation in 401(k) and HSA contributions, suggesting the tiered service charges are working as intended.
  • The company achieved a 14.54% return on investment in its PTO program, translating to $327,508 in cost savings.
  • Among its workforce, employees who made a PTO exchange had a 57.2% lower turnover rate than those who didn't.
  • PTO Exchange is providing Fairway Mortgage employees an additional avenue to leverage a company benefit and turn into real financial value.

In Their Words

"With PTO Exchange, employees are in complete control of their unused PTO, allowing them to convert it into something that works best for them — whether that’s building retirement savings, paying down debt, or simply adding financial breathing room. That kind of flexibility isn’t just a benefit. It’s a reflection of how we care for our people." VP TOTAL REWARDS

 

"I was able to add to my 401K and set more money aside for retirement. I have also used it to contribute to my HSA account, which is a nice way to add to my savings! Really happy with the decision to exchange!”  EMPLOYEE

Why It Works for Financial Services Companies


This organization's results show that PTO Exchange can be more than a benefit, it can be a strategic financial lever. By pairing flexibility with thoughtful incentive design, this mortgage lender reduced balance sheet risk, optimized spending, and measurably improved retention, all while giving employees more control over the value of their earned time.

 

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