New mortgage applications increased 5.3% for the week ending August 2, according new figures released by the Mortgage Bankers Association. The refi share inched up to 53.9% of new business from 50.5% the week prior.

“Expansive datasets about people’s social connections, the kinds of websites they visit, where they shop and how they talk do not have the same simple intuitive connection to each individual’s ability to repay a loan,” said Aaron Rieke, managing director at Upturn...

A political appointee, Eric Blankenstein worked at the CFPB for 18 months as policy associate director of supervision, enforcement and fair lending. He resigned in May of this year and now works at HUD...