Home equity loans and HELOCs

Home equity loans and lines of credit are playing a growing role in the mortgage industry as borrowers look to tap into rising home values amid high interest rates. These products introduce new considerations that can impact lending strategies, portfolio performance, and risk management for financial institutions. As a mortgage professional, it's critical to understand how evolving consumer behavior, the rate environment and broader economic conditions are shaping demand for home equity products. Explore our in-depth coverage, including news, expert analysis, and market research, to stay informed on the latest developments and insights around home equity lending.

Refinance

FHA cracks down on cash-out refinancing

The Federal Housing Administration is aiming to limit the share of borrowers who have been withdrawing money from the value of their homes.

By Hannah Lang

August 1
Reverse mortgages

Ocwen affiliate introduces new proprietary reverse mortgage product

Liberty Home Equity, a subsidiary of Ocwen Financial, is offering a new private-market alternative to Federal Housing Administration-insured reverse mortgages.

By Bonnie Sinnock

July 22
Loan Think Affordability, the FOMC, and the broken link between rates and housing credit

An important traditional tool of monetary policy has been diminished and may even become counterproductive in the future.

July 17

Christopher Whalen

Whalen Global Advisors LLC
Home equity loans

HELOC market has room for growth through consumer education: TD Bank

With nearly half of homeowners renovating in the next two years, HELOCs stand as the most likely form of lending sought out by consumers, according to TD Bank.

By Paul Centopani

July 10
HMDA

CFPB extends comment period for HMDA proposal

The CFPB is giving trade groups and consumer advocates another three months to comment on its proposal to change what data is collected under the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act.

By Kate Berry

June 27
RMBS

FirstKey is sponsoring the first all-HELOC securitization in a decade

Cerberus affiliate FirstKey Mortgage will pool outstanding first- and second-lien loans totaling $277.7 million drawn from 1,732 seasoned and performing HELOCs.

By Glen Fest

June 14
Home equity loans

Will home equity lending ever recover?

It’s the one consumer loan category where balances continue to fall, and disruption from nimbler fintechs is a big reason why. To win back market share, banks will need to beat the upstarts at their own game.

By Laura Alix

June 7

Banks on deck for quarterly earnings amid tariffs mayhem: Live coverage

The first three months of the year coincide with the start of President Donald Trump's second term in office. Investors are likely to be more interested in banks' outlooks amid swings in tariff policy than the first-quarter results.

Live Updates

Multimedia

Resources

The latest American Banker research and discussion on Tariffs

Paul Peterson

June 16
Phil Buffington

June 16
Teraverde, Stratmor clarify no merger took place

By Brad Finkelstein

June 16

Frequently Asked Questions:

What proactive measures are banks using to mitigate the impact of tariffs?

Trade finance services and corporate client advisory on supply chain adjustments allow banks to lessen the impact of tariffs. For example, Citizens Financial’s trade finance unit helped companies accelerate inventory purchases and use letters of credit to secure transactions ahead of new duties. Many banks are also using hedging strategies and leveraging deregulation windfalls to address higher costs.

How should banks recalibrate interest rate forecasting and monetary policy expectations amid tariff-induced economic disruptions?

Banks can incorporate tariff-driven inflation and growth scenarios into their interest rate models and maintain flexibility in policy outlooks. Institutions are closely tracking Federal Reserve signals in this volatile trade environment, as tariffs can both slow growth and raise prices. This can put the Fed “in a quandary,” requiring banks to update their asset-liability strategies to account for potential rate cuts or even hikes.

What advanced compliance and technology strategies are banks using to optimize cross-border payments and trade finance?

Banks are deploying sophisticated payment analytics and real-time treasury tools to manage cross-border flows amid shifting tariffs. BNY Mellon, for example, notes clients are using predictive cash-flow analytics to navigate uncertainty. Institutions can also improve compliance automation by integrating systems for instant sanctions/tariff list updates. This can ensure cross-border transactions meet changing trade rules.

What are best practices in risk modeling and scenario analysis for banks to navigate tariff-related risks?

Leading banks can look to bolster scenario analysis capabilities to account for tariff shocks. Banks can run stress tests on portfolios with heavy exposure to tariff-impacted sectors such as automotive manufacturing and agriculture as well as model multiple trade war outcomes. Analysts also advise enhancing “playbooks” for varied economic scenarios and properly pricing new loans for added risk. For example, this could mean using forward-looking models to adjust credit loss provisions and capital plans.

How can banks prepare for long-term industry trends driven by tariffs and trade uncertainty?

Banks can prepare through incorporating trade policy shifts into growth investments as well as technology investments. This includes diversifying supply chain financing, investing in local manufacturing projects, and strengthening presence in resilient markets. Industry leaders like JPMorgan’s Jamie Dimon are watching the “restructuring of trade and tariffs” as an inflationary force shaping future strategy.

Which banking operational units should banks prioritize for tariff exposure assessments?

Commercial lending divisions, including those that finance manufacturers, agriculture, and exporters are a priority. These units will most directly face clients impacted by tariffs. Other units to review exposure risks include specialized trade finance and supply chain finance.

How is artificial intelligence (AI) helping banks address tariff-related challenges?

AI enables banks to respond faster and more efficiently to tariffs. Machine learning models can recalibrate pricing and supply chain finance strategies as trade policies shift. Generative AI tools can shorten the time needed to update payment systems for new tariff rules update payment systems for new tariff rules. AI-enabled platforms can make compliance a proactive function by automating real-time screening of transactions against changing trade restrictions.