John Walsh, the chief of staff at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, told community bankers Wednesday that borrowers will likely turn to them for help as the subprime mortgage crisis continues.
"Even though you may not have originated payment-option adjustable rate mortgages and subprime … [adjustable-rate mortgages] with teaser rates, many borrowers now experiencing problems repaying these mortgages or finding new ones may turn to their community-based lending institutions for help," he said in a speech to the National Bankers Association. "Your combination of local expertise and commitment to the community enable you to reach out to individuals in ways that mortgage brokers and distant services cannot."
