Mortgage servicing appeared to become more profitable last year – especially for larger operations – according to a new study released by the Mortgage Bankers Association of America. With direct costs of servicing holding steady at about $71, profitability was buoyed by significant gains in revenue and net operating income between 1999 and 2000, the MBA reported. Revenues increased from an average of $425 per loan to $465 last year. At the same time, net