CALABASAS, Calif. - (02/01/06) -- Countrywide Financial Corp., theworld's biggest mortgage bank, continued to ride the home loan boomin the fourth quarter, helping push its mortgage loans to a newindustry record of $491 billion for 2005. That increased thecompany's loan servicing portfolio up 33% for the year to $1.1trillion--the industry's largest. Fourth quarter revenues rose 30%to $2.6 billion, compared to the same period in 2004. As a result,the company reported a 73% surge in fourth quarter earnings to $639million, or $1.03 a share. Pre-tax earnings for the company'smortgage banking sector soared 67% to $434 million for the fourthquarter. For the full year, revenues rose 17% to $10 billion andnet income climbed 14% to $2.5 billion, or $4.11 ashare.
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Strong loan and deposit growth led to a double-digit increase in revenues and an even bigger jump in profits at the Columbus, Ohio-based regional bank.
October 17 -
Flagstar shareholders approved a plan to merge its holding company into the bank; Huntington tapped a new chief auditor, along with two new business leaders; First Foundation hired a new chief credit officer; and more in this week's banking news roundup.
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In a tough quarter for the auto industry, the Detroit-based lender posted earnings that sped past Wall Street's expectations.
October 17 -
Approximately three years after the one-time non-depository bought Roscoe (Texas) State Bank, Cornerstone Capital Bancorp agreed to purchase Peoples Bancorp.
October 17 -
Regional banks say their asset quality is solid amid skittish investors. The KBW Nasdaq Regional Banking Index was largely stable Friday after falling by as much as 7% the day before.
October 17 -
Coordinated sanctions target two networks behind so-called pig butchering scams, human trafficking and money laundering for North Korean cybercrime groups.
October 17