GMH Communities is a tech-forward multifamily owner and operator known for adopting innovative solutions that improve operations and resident experience. Across its conventional multifamily portfolio, GMH partnered with Whale to modernize the way security deposits are collected, managed, and returned — replacing manual workflows with a seamless, system-integrated experience.
GMH is currently live with Whale at three conventional multifamily properties, with additional properties scheduled to launch in 2026. The results to date demonstrate how modern deposit infrastructure can reduce administrative burden, integrate cleanly with existing systems, and create meaningful value for residents — without disrupting day-to-day operations.
This case study highlights how GMH Communities uses Whale to simplify deposit workflows, reduce friction for onsite teams, and offer residents a differentiated financial amenity that extends beyond the apartment itself.
The Operational Challenge
In conventional multifamily operations, security deposits are a constant source of administrative work. Site teams must collect funds, manage compliance requirements, track balances, process refunds, handle forwarding addresses, and field resident questions — all while juggling leasing, maintenance, and resident service.
Even outside of peak turnover periods, deposit management creates friction:
Manual exceptions and reconciliation
Paper checks and returned mail
Disconnected systems and reporting
Time-consuming questions from residents about deposit status
GMH’s leadership team sought a solution that would reduce operational overhead, integrate directly with their in place system, and enhance the resident experience — without adding complexity for site or accounting teams.
Why GMH Selected Whale
Whale is a modern, no-fee security deposit platform that allows residents to earn interest on funds held securely in their own accounts, while giving operators automated workflows and built-in compliance.
GMH selected Whale for several key reasons:
Seamless PMS integration
Whale’s native integration with various systems eliminated duplicate data entry and manual reconciliation. Deposit activity flows cleanly between systems, giving teams confidence that records are accurate and up to date.
Operational simplicity for admin teams
From onboarding to refunds, Whale automated the most time-consuming parts of deposit management. GMH’s administrative and accounting teams quickly adopted the platform due to its clarity, reliability, and minimal exception handling.
A differentiated resident amenity
Rather than holding deposits in non-interest-bearing accounts, Whale allows residents to earn interest automatically. GMH viewed this as a simple but powerful way to offer added value to residents — reinforcing the idea that the company provides more than just a great place to live.
Alignment with a tech-forward culture
As an organization that embraces innovation, GMH saw Whale as a natural fit: modern infrastructure solving a legacy operational problem.
Implementation: Strong Adoption, Immediate Impact
GMH rolled out Whale across three conventional multifamily properties, totaling over 1,000 units. Adoption was fast and intuitive, driven by Whale’s renter-led onboarding flow and clear communication from site teams.
Within the first three months:
99% of residents selected Whale
Over $100,000 in deposits were processed
More than 100 hours of manual administrative work were eliminated
Residents began earning interest automatically on their deposits
With additional properties planned for launch in 2026, GMH is scaling Whale as a standardized deposit solution across its portfolio.
Impact on Site and Accounting Teams
Beyond adoption metrics, GMH saw meaningful day-to-day operational improvements:
Fewer manual exceptions and edge cases
Reduced back-and-forth with residents regarding deposit status
Faster, cleaner reconciliation for accounting teams
Elimination of paper checks, returned mail, and address errors
Increased predictability and confidence in deposit workflows
Deposits flowed through a single, unified system — removing the need to track checks, update ledgers manually, or reconcile mismatched records across platforms.
The result: less administrative noise and more time for teams to focus on residents and operations.
Financial Benefits for Residents
Whale transformed the security deposit from a static requirement into a value-added financial feature. Instead of tying up hundreds or thousands of dollars in non-interest-bearing accounts, residents earned interest automatically — without changing their behavior or taking on risk.
For GMH, this became an easy-to-communicate amenity that resonated with residents and reinforced the company’s commitment to thoughtful, resident-first innovation.
What’s Next for GMH and Whale
GMH plans to continue expanding Whale across its conventional multifamily portfolio while exploring deeper functionality around renewals, refunds, and automated exception cleanup.
For Whale, the partnership with GMH reinforces the platform’s ability to support modern multifamily operators who value clean integrations, operational efficiency, and differentiated resident experiences.
About Whale
Whale is the modern security deposit solution that turns the traditional model upside down. Whale places renters’ funds in lockable high-yield savings accounts while automating every step of deposit collection and return. Built for property managers and operators of all sizes, Whale integrates directly with property management systems and delivers a better experience for both operators and residents. Get in touch with the Whale team here.
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