Mortgage Banking

Business

Hilltop Holdings Navigates Rate Shifts, Posts Strong 2025 Profit Amid Mortgage Headwinds

Hilltop Holdings capped off 2025 with a 46% surge in net income, fueled by a steeper yield curve and disciplined cost management across its banking and securities units. While the mortgage division remains under pressure, executives point to a robust loan pipeline and shareholder returns as signs of resilience heading into 2026.

Jan 31, 2026

Business

PennyMac Financial Navigates Mortgage Market Crosswinds: Servicing Headwinds Offset Origination Gains in Q4

PennyMac Financial Services reported Q4 2025 net income of $106.8 million, declaring a $0.30 per share dividend. While full-year profits grew on higher loan production, the quarter was pressured by a sharp decline in mortgage servicing income due to accelerated prepayments, highlighting the volatility inherent in its dual business model.

Jan 31, 2026

Business

Trump's Fed Nominee Kevin Warsh Champions Unconventional Path to Cheaper Mortgages

President Trump's pick to lead the Federal Reserve, former governor Kevin Warsh, advocates for a dramatic shift in central bank strategy—shrinking its balance sheet—as the key to lowering mortgage rates, a move that challenges prevailing economic orthodoxy.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Seacoast Banking Sees Strong Momentum After Villages Acquisition, Sets Ambitious 2026 Targets

Florida-based Seacoast Banking Corporation (SBCF) capped off 2025 with robust loan growth and margin expansion, fueled by its recent acquisition of Villages Bancorporation. Management outlined confident guidance for the coming year, forecasting significant earnings per share growth and improved returns.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust Posts Strong Q4 Results, Eyes Growth in Non-Agency Market

PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust (PMT) reported a robust fourth quarter, highlighted by a 13% return on equity and strategic advancements in its securitization business. Executives outlined a confident outlook for 2026, emphasizing disciplined risk management and growth in targeted lending segments.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Jelou Secures $10M to Bring AI-Powered Banking to WhatsApp in U.S. Expansion

Fintech startup Jelou has raised $10 million in Series A funding to scale its AI-driven conversational banking platform, Brain, from Latin America to the U.S., enabling payments, verification, and credit services directly within messaging apps.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Polestar Secures $400 Million Lifeline from Banking Giants, Bolstering EV Ambitions

The Geely-owned electric vehicle maker Polestar has secured a major $400 million equity investment from a consortium led by Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation and Standard Chartered Bank, signaling crucial financial backing as it navigates a competitive market.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Tarabut Bolsters Open Banking Platform with Strategic Acquisition of AI Firm Servable

Bahrain's Tarabut, a regulated open banking platform, acquires AI engineering specialist Servable to embed advanced financial AI capabilities—from risk assessment to fraud detection—directly into its infrastructure for banks and fintechs across the Middle East.

Feb 2, 2026

Mortgage Proposals and Rate Swings: A Housing Market in Search of Real Solutions

As mortgage rates fluctuate and ambitious policy ideas emerge, economists warn that financing tweaks cannot solve the core issue: a chronic shortage of homes.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

The High Cost of Low Scores: Homebuyers in These 5 States Face Steeper Mortgage Payments

A new analysis reveals a stark geographic divide in credit health, with residents in several Southern states facing higher long-term mortgage costs due to lower average credit scores, while Northern states benefit from more favorable rates.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Orchid Island Capital Posts Stellar 2025 Earnings, Fueling Investor Optimism Amid Mortgage Market Shift

Orchid Island Capital, Inc. (NYSE:ORC) reported a dramatic surge in full-year 2025 net income, driven by a strategic expansion of its agency MBS portfolio and disciplined hedging. The results mark a potential inflection point for the mortgage REIT, reshaping its risk-reward profile after years of uneven performance.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

HSBC Doubles Down on Hong Kong Investment Banking Amid Strategic Pivot

HSBC Holdings is aggressively rebuilding its investment banking operations in Hong Kong and key Asian hubs, reallocating senior talent and capital to capture growth in IPOs and capital markets, as its strategic focus shifts decisively eastward.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Invesco Mortgage Capital Rides Agency Wave to Strong Q4 Finish, Eyes 2026 Momentum

Invesco Mortgage Capital (IVR) posted robust fourth-quarter results, buoyed by a calmer interest rate environment and outperformance in agency mortgage-backed securities. Executives detailed strategic portfolio positioning amid spread tightening and signaled cautious optimism for the year ahead.

Jan 31, 2026

Business

Fed Holds Steady, Mortgage Rates Follow Suit: Housing Market Finds Footing Amid Economic Confidence

The Federal Reserve's decision to maintain its benchmark rate signals underlying economic strength, leaving mortgage rates largely unmoved. While affordability challenges persist, a gradual rebalancing of the market offers cautious optimism for buyers and sellers.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

DXC and Ripple Forge Alliance to Bridge Traditional Banking with Digital Asset Infrastructure

In a strategic move to modernize financial services, DXC Technology partners with Ripple to embed digital asset custody and payment solutions directly into legacy core banking systems, aiming to facilitate institutional adoption of blockchain technology.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Banking on Value: One Regional Gem Shines as Sector Outperforms, While Two Others Raise Caution

The banking sector has surged 12.5% in six months, outpacing the broader market. Yet, beneath the headline gains, selectivity is key. We analyze one bank with a unique value proposition poised for sustainable growth and flag two others where the risk-reward appears less compelling for investors.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Lloyds Banking Group's Rally Sparks Valuation Debate: Is the Stock Still a Buy?

Shares in Lloyds Banking Group have surged over 18% in three months, reigniting investor interest. As the stock hovers near analyst targets, a key question emerges: does the UK banking giant still offer value, or has the market run ahead of itself?

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Analysts Revise Target for Invesco Mortgage Capital, Signaling Shift in Market Sentiment

A revised price target for Invesco Mortgage Capital (IVR) is prompting investors to reassess the mortgage REIT's trajectory amid evolving interest rate expectations and housing market dynamics.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Mortgage Math: What a $400K Home Really Costs at Today's 6.1% Rate

While mortgage rates have inched up slightly this week, homebuyers are still facing significantly lower borrowing costs compared to last year's peak. We break down the monthly and long-term savings on a typical home purchase.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Compass Point Raises Price Target on Invesco Mortgage Capital, Sees Opportunity in Wide Spreads

Analyst firm Compass Point reiterates its Buy rating on Invesco Mortgage Capital Inc. (IVR), increasing its price target to $9.50, citing attractive mortgage spreads as a key catalyst for the REIT's potential book value growth.

Jan 30, 2026