PennyMac Financial must be rolling in the dough: the firm is handing out huge stock awards to its top officers.

Compensation for directors at each of the 12 Federal Home Loan Banks increased in 2012, continuing a trend begun in 2011 where a director’s earnings “started to show a wide range across the FHLBanks for similar positions,” according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency.

Overt acts of housing discrimination may have declined significantly but subtle forms of racial bias continue against minority home purchasers or renters nationwide, according to a new study released by the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Urban Institute.

Five different nonbank lenders were asked by Inside Mortgage Finance to name the slowest states in terms of approval times. All cited New York as being among the worst.

The M&A rumor mill continues to spit out names. An offering book is circulating on CashCall and at least one other shop, IMF has learned.

The latest Bexil American Mortgage officer to leave is Jay Fuller, who held the title of national sales manager.

At press time, CashCall founder and president Paul Reddam could not be reached for comment.

Testifying before a Senate panel earlier this year, HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan warned that sequestration would limit the FHA’s ability to provide information and services in a wide range of areas.

Don't put too much stock in the new government figures on mortgage hiring. Some firms are cutting back like Pacific Union Financial.

Raj Date's new mortgage firm bills itself as a consumer finance company and is stacked with former high-level employees of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.