Getting a bank loan approved online

The other day, I accompanied a girlfriend to the bank. She was looking for a housing loan. Banks are really doing a roaring business, as from the time we set foot inside the bank, we noticed that the queues got longer and longer with each passing minute. We were on queue at the loan division and that too was a long wait. I thought then, how nice if it was as easy as getting a california mortgage rate where you just need to go online and get the loan approved (online).