Mortgages

Credit unions are honoring veterans, helping their local schools and encouraging their employees to live a healthy lifestyle.

The Arizona-based CUSO returned $6.2 million in cash rewards to its credit union members for 2018.

The Mortgage Bankers Association, National Association of Realtors and 26 other groups warned the agency not to pursue steps reducing the scope of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that could upset the mortgage market.

The conventional market recaptured a lot of the first-time homebuyers it lost during the financial crisis, but service members instead have increasingly stuck with loans insured by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Community banks and credit unions fear a Senate plan and other legislative ideas will nullify steps taken by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that have made it easier for smaller institutions to compete.

The Washington-based credit union has set aside $1 million to help members with down payments for mortgages.

Figure, the startup headed by Mike Cagney, uses blockchain technology to provide home equity loans in as little as five days. It intends to use the newly raised funds to offer other services, including wealth management.

The Seattle company has a letter of intent to sell its home loan centers to Homebridge Financial Services.

If confirmed to lead the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Mark Calabria would have a central role in any efforts to reform the government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac

The Badger State's institutions also saw earnings and allowance for loan losses increase.