The merger of equals, which received a chilly reception from investors when it was announced in July, closed faster than analysts had expected.

Following the resignation of CEO Patrick Donlon as the result of a settlement, Yield Solutions Group has taken operational control of Trusted American Mortgage.

New Jersey-based OceanFirst Financial slid in its planned $579 million acquisition of Flushing Financial just before the end of the year. The private equity firm Warburg Pincus is also participating in the transaction.

The latest announcement comes two months after an initial round of staff reductions following approval of Rocket's acquisition of the company.

National Mortgage News takes a look back at some of the major or unique transactions which went on, or in some cases didn't happen, in the past 12 months.

The announcement follows Realpha's two previous mergers with mortgage brokerages, as well as its purchases of AI firms and title businesses.

Proxy advisory firm Institutional Shareholder Services recommended approval of Fifth Third's $10.9 billion proposed acquisition of Comerica.

The Dallas bank turned down another offer because it thought it could get a higher price from Fifth Third, and also could ink an agreement faster, according to Comerica's latest regulatory filing.

The deal significantly grows United Wholesale Mortgage's servicing portfolio, and it will increase the float on its common stock, making it more investable.

The provider of actuarial-related services is bringing a company that provides mortgage servicing rights analytics and risk management into the fold.

Hildene, which partners with Crosscountry Mortgage for non-QM securitizations, is doing this deal as part of its buy of an annuity provider, SILAC.

The all-stock acquisition of Mountain Commerce Bancorp in Knoxville marks the Arkansas-based company's first M&A foray since 2022.

Absolute will add Fidelity Digital Mortgage's 55 producing loan officers to its team of roughly 190.

Lancaster, Pennsylvania-based Fulton Financial said Monday it will pay $243 million in stock for Blue Foundry Bancorp, which has lost more than $20 million since converting to a public company in 2021.

An activist investor is seeking more information on how, and when, the largest bank deal of 2025 came together.

The acquisition agreement is the latest example of merger activity this year focused on the recapture potential held within servicing pipelines.

Recent merger activity also includes the purchase of an Alabama title company by technology firm Propy, as experts see ongoing consolidation through 2026.

While all six companies were profitable in the third quarter, most had earnings which were down from the prior periods, with MGIC setting a milestone.

More profitable companies are weighing deals because they're bullish on their leverage or are simply eying today's big price tags, the expert said.

All five publicly traded title insurance companies reported a year-over-year increase in earnings during the third quarter, but only two had higher orders.