Mortgage technology

Banks frequently blame "the rules" in shunning partnerships with fintech startups. However, compliance can be a positive force, not something that inhibits growth.

Although the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau doesn't mandate doing so, lenders' best chance to stay compliant with future data initiatives and regulatory changes is to implement standards set by the Mortgage Industry Standards Maintenance Organization.

Compliance and documentation technology provider Docutech has formed a partnership with San Francisco-based private equity firm Serent Capital.

Good intentions won't lower costs, improve workflow or maintain compliance. Decision-makers need to put their money where their mouths are when it comes to implementing technology to keep costs down, improving workflow and maintaining compliance.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recently dressed down the mortgage industry for failing to innovate. Here are 10 tech ideas from the National Mortgage News team that could improve efficiency, margins and the industry's image among growing demographics. Some might sound farfetched, but so do most great inventions at first. Dream big.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency wants mortgage servicers reaching out to delinquent borrowers to be exempt from tough restrictions on robo-calling. But the idea is being panned by consumer groups, who say it would give a free pass to mortgage servicers that have a record of consumer-protection violations.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is keeping lenders in the dark about how it will ensure borrower data is secure and private under the expanded Home Mortgage Disclosure Act reporting requirements.

The deadline has arrived for mandatory submissions to the Federal Housing Administration's Electronic Appraisal Delivery portal, but as many as one-third of lenders that originate FHA-insured mortgages have yet to use the new system.

Fannie Mae has delayed the roll out of its new automated underwriting system that will require mortgage lenders to use trended data for the first time in submitting their loans for approval.

Black Knight Financial Services, in its second deal as a publicly traded company, has bought business analytics firm Motivity Solutions.

Mortgage servicers have failed to make significant investments in technology and compliance systems, resulting in substantial harm to consumers, according to a report issued Wednesday by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Bank of America's newest service allows consumers to track their loan status online.

Optimal Blue will be acquired by private equity firm GTCR in a deal that makes Mortgagebot founder and tech veteran Scott Happ CEO of the Texas-based product and pricing engine software vendor.

Sales growth was the top reason lenders gave for investing in new technology, according to a new study from sales automation software firm Velocify.

Mortgage lenders that embrace social media are going to great lengths to ensure their activities remain compliant with truth in lending regulations. But even lenders that shun social media must take steps to avoid marketing compliance risks.

Longstanding mortgage advertising rules are taking on new meaning in the age of digital marketing.

ICBA Mortgage has expanded its relationship with DH Corp. to offer Independent Community Bankers of America members access to the MortgageBot loan origination system.

Without the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau setting specific debt collection guidelines — including what technology agencies can use — the industry will continue a practice that harms consumers: lawsuits.

The Mortgage Industry Standards Maintenance Organization plans to simplify its membership structure, the Mortgage Bankers Association said.

Bank of America will move its mortgage servicing back onto Black Knight Financial Services' LoanSphere MSP servicing system of record.