The merger between the two retail mortgage businesses will grow the company's footprint, especially in the Pacific Northwest, according to Synergy One's CEO.

Federal Reserve Gov. Michelle Bowman said a lack of banking experience among regulatory officials has led to unintended consequences. She flagged mergers, fintech partnerships and liquidity proposals as prime examples.

Realpha, which currently does business in 20 Florida counties using its AI agent, is buying Be My Neighbor, a mortgage broker active in 26 states.

Homestar Financial began winding down operations last fall, but its capabilities as a Ginnie Mae issuer was attractive for Irvine, California-based OCMBC.

The deal will create liquidity for the lender's shareholders while giving the distillery access to the mortgage company's sales tools, the firms said.

After hikes pinched profits across the industry, a move in the opposite direction could be the start of a more promising trend. But bankers caution that the immediate effects of a September rate cut figure to be small.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said some non-profit hospitals are failing to provide assistance to low-income consumers, while landlords may be illegally charging fees to pay rent through online portals.

REV Federal Credit Union in suburban Charleston, South Carolina, plans to acquire First Neighborhood Bank in West Virginia. It marks the 15th deal this year involving a credit union buying a bank, closing in on 2022's record of 16 deals.

Specialized Portfolio Servicing's sale resolves questions about it that arose when UBS bought the troubled Credit Suisse last year.

The lender says the acquisition will boost its retail run rate to more than $240 million per month.