In a bid to diversify its product offerings, New York Community Bank is merging with the mortgage-centric Flagstar. Three other depositories are engaged in M&A deals as well.

It would appear mortgage job security is at an all-time high these days. Credit the pandemic and lower interest rates.

A group of 21 banks reported a combined $3.75 billion in mortgage banking income for the first quarter of 2021. While that was a modest 1.7% gain from the fourth quarter, it represented a huge 63.3% gain from the first three months of last year. (Includes data chart.)

The smart money says it’s time to buy MSRs again. Meanwhile, Texas Capital Bank tries to figure out its future.

Rates are rising and that means fewer applications. Yet, mortgage bankers and brokers are still hiring.

With refi business expected to decline later this year, a number of shops are rethinking their hiring plans. Lenders are set to face margin compression, excess capacity and consolidation.

Subservicing has been a growth business the past several years but now some mortgage bankers, flush with cash from the refi boom, are bringing the task inhouse.

Venture capital investors remain optimistic about the prospects for mortgage digitization, funneling $31 million to two technology vendors.

Federal regulators may secretly worry about nonbanks’ viability, but institutional investors continue to buy the debt of top-tier NBs.

Nonbanks’ performance amid disruptions caused by the pandemic supports growth. Moody’s increased its operating environment score for nonbank mortgage companies.