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.)

Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae reported sharp declines in all delinquency categories during the first quarter of 2021, when loan performance typically improves. (Includes data chart.)

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

There are signs that the “adverse market refinance fee” is pushing some business away from Fannie and Freddie toward government mortgage insurance programs. (Includes two data charts.)

Led by Rocket Mortgage, the $4.6 billion earned by nine nonbank lenders in the fourth quarter of 2020 topped the $3.6 billion in mortgage banking income reported by 20 banks. (Includes data chart.)

Although production and loan sales fell in the fourth quarter, 2020 was a banner year for mortgage banking operations at commercial banks and thrifts. (Includes two data charts.)

Banks continued to allow their portfolios of servicing for others shrink during a year when MSR production levels set records. (Includes data chart.)

After an anomalous spike in the third quarter, bank repurchase volumes returned to normal levels in the final three months of 2020. (Includes data chart.)

Banks reported $22.5 billion in mortgage banking income in 2020, according to call reports. Long-time industry leader Wells Fargo had a rough ride. (Includes data chart.)

Most publicly held banks reported substantial declines in mortgage banking income in the fourth quarter. But earnings for the full year were stellar, up about 78% from 2019. (Includes data chart.)