pmuolo@imfpubs.com
With declining residential loan production expected to challenge lending franchises far and wide over the next few quarters, the rush to scale back mortgage platforms continued unabated this week, with New York Community Bancorp leading the charge.
NYCB’s restructuring notice follows recent retrenchments unveiled by Wells Fargo — once the 600-pound gorilla of mortgage banking — and First Bank of the Internet, the latter of which is folding its mortgage tent in its entirety.
Rest assured, additional restructuring moves and departures are in the works.
“There is a lot of discussion around eliminating mortgage platforms in large and regional credit union and community bank circles,” said industry consultant Rick Roque of Menlo Companies. “The cost of closing a loan is too high.”