Thrift institutions originated $42.2 billion of single-family loans in the fourth quarter, up nearly 17% from the prior period, according to figures released by the Office of Thrift Supervision.
For the entire year, thrifts originated $136.2 billion of single-family loans, down 39% from 2009.
Due to failures and mergers, OTS ended 2010 with 731 thrifts under its supervision compared to 765 the year prior. The agency is due to be merged into the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency this summer.
Meanwhile, the thrift industry posted earnings of $6.6 billion for 2010, including $1.75 billion in the fourth quarter. "Although the thrift industry continues to face headwinds, the first yearly profit since the onset of the final crisis represents a welcomed signal of how far we have come," said OTS acting director John Bowman.
The thrift (or 'savings and loan') industry boasted $932 billion of assets at yearend, including $320 billion of one- to four-family mortgages, and $158 billion of mortgage-backed securities.
Thrifts increased their holdings of MBS during the year by 12% and reduced their holdings of whole loans by 4%.
OTS reported that 5.4% of the thrift single-family loans are 90 days or more past due or considered uncollectible, down 23 basis points from 2009.
