News

MMBA 2023 Beacon Hill Day

On June 12, 2023 members of the MMBA participated in Beacon Hill Day at the State House in Massachusetts. Members included (pictured Left to Right): Front Row: Amy Wortzman (First Republic Bank), Debbie Sousa (MMBA), Estelle Chaves (Bank of Canton). Second Row: Chip Coveney (Eastern Bank), Thomas Babagian (Guaranteed Rate), Adam Faria (US Alliance Financial), Sarah Blake (DCU), Sarah Lagattolla (DCU), Ashley Campbell (DCU), Danielle Suech (DCU), Ashley Solares-Depaz (DCU), Marianne Phillips (DCU), Emma Ouellette (DCU), Brittany Howe-Deutsch (DCU), Donna Miller (Truist). Back Row: Bryan Brown (Guaranteed Rate), Stephanie White (DCU), Carol Parker (DCU), Michael Kelleher (Easy Mortgage Apps), Tim Kickham (HFG Mortgage), Brett Kirkpatrick (Federal Savings Bank), Darryl Caffee (Webster Five), Nicholas Lynch (Webster Five), Pete Seguin (DCU), Nick MacDonald (Guaranteed Rate).

We met with 37 legislator offices with 6 more scheduled for the following week. Important issues discussed were: Reverse Mortgage Counseling (support H.1086), Defining Subprime Loans (support H.974), Funding Through Transfer Taxes (oppose), Credit Triggers (support H.1049), FTHB Savings Accounts (support H.2727/S.1787) and New Housing Production (support H.233)

Click here for the MMBA Talking Points

MMBA Advocacy in Washington DC

On April 19, 2023 members of the MMBA travelled to DC as part of the MBA's National Advocacy Conference. Members included (Pictured left to right) Elizabeth Camara (New England Title & Escrow), Darryl Caffee, (Webster Five), Sarah Blake (Digital Federal Credit Union), David Fifer (Rocket Companies), Greg Korn (MGIC -seated), Angel Hernandez (Stavvy), Michael Kelleher (Easy Mortgage Apps), Debbie Sousa (MMBA) and Michelle Smee (CBRE -not in photo)

The MA contingent met with 9 legislator offices with 3 more scheduled for the following week. Important issues discussed were: Affordable Housing, FHFA Pricing, Regulatory Clarity, Remote Online Notarization and Trigger Leads.

Click here for the MMBA Talking Points.

MMBA Announces 2023 Officers

We are pleased to announce the 2023 Officers who will guide our organization throughout the year, advance our organization’s mission and support our members.

Chair: Greg Korn, MGIC
Chair-Elect: Ryan Hayes, Movement Mortgage
Treasurer: Ben Guimarra, Embrace Home Loans
Secretary: Rich Hogan, CATIC
Immediate Past Chair: Phil Tocci, Academy Mortgage

MMBA Names 2023 Rising Stars

Congratulations to the MMBA’s 2023 Rising Stars! The Rising Star Award was created to recognize exceptional up-and-coming association member professionals. Individuals are selected based on their business success, community and professional leadership, work ethic and drive. Rising Stars will participate in a leadership development program for emerging leaders working in the residential mortgage lending industry. The program provides opportunities to develop advanced industry expertise, have access to direct mentor opportunities with local industry leaders, meet and collaborate with peers, build leadership skills, and participate in the MMBA. This year’s recipients include:

Dominic Brancato, Salem Five
Jordan Mezoian, Academy Mortgage
Ryan Richards, Northpoint Mortgage
Peter Seguin, DCU
Ashley Solares-Depaz, DCU
Janessa White, Academy Mortgage
Stephanie White, DCU
Dustin Wirzburger, Security First Mortgage Funding
Katherine Zeliff, MassHousing

Learn more about each Rising Star.

April 14, 2020

MMBA Urges FHFA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to Make Changes to Support Homeowners and Lenders During COVID-19

The MMBA is urging the Federal Housing Authority (FHFA), Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to make three important changes to policies impacting consumers seeking mortgage refinances or forbearances:

Expand the use of a desktop appraisal or an exterior-only appraisal for all refinances and/or allow appraisers to use technology for obtaining interior inspections in alternative ways.
Honor purchase commitments for mortgages for consumers experiencing COVID-19 financial distress after loan closing who have applied for a forbearance.
Support the Federal Reserve using its authority under Section 13(3) of the Federal Reserve Act to provide liquidity for the residential and commercial mortgage servicing sector.

February 5, 2020

MMBA Hosts Annual Dinner & Installation of Officers
Quilty of Residential Mortgage Services Installed as Chair

On January 23 more than 180 members of the MMBA attended the Massachusetts Mortgage Bankers Association’s Annual Dinner & Installation of Officers at the Blue Hills Country Club in Canton, MA. Mary Gallagher, Commissioner of the Division of Banks for Massachusetts, was the guest speaker and shared information about the Division’s priorities and initiatives. During the dinner, the MMBA’s 2020 officers and directors were elected. These individuals will be instrumental in developing and implementing the MMMBA’s strategic initiatives throughout the year. Read the press release for list of newly installed officers and the newly elected directors, as well as highlights from the event.

February 3, 2020

MMBA Recognizes the 2019/2020 Class of Rising Stars in the Mortgage Industry

The Massachusetts Mortgage Bankers Association celebrated the 2019/2020 Rising Stars in the mortgage industry. The MMBA celebrated seven young professionals whose passion and ingenuity are an inspiration in the workplace and in the mortgage lending field. These leaders were recognized at the MMBA Annual Dinner on January 23rd at the Blue Hills Country Club in Canton, MA. The individuals selected as 2019/2020 Rising Stars include:

Catherine Becerra, Secondary Market Team Member, Digital Federal Credit Union
Justin Raymond Coscia, Residential Lending & Technology Consultant, Spillane Consulting Associates, Inc.
Andrew Edwards, Financial Analyst I, Residential Mortgage Services, Inc.
Ashley Flynn, Senior Loan Processor, Bridgewater Savings Bank
Ingrid Han, Quality Assurance Associate, Embrace Home Loans, Inc.
Thomas Ireland, Mortgage Operations Assistant Manager, Digital Federal Credit Union
Morgan Sebastian, Processing Manager, Shamrock Home Loans

The Rising Star initiative was created to recognize exceptional up-and-coming association member professionals who, in the eyes of their Manager, Supervisor or Co-worker, possess the professional characteristics that represent an MMBA Rising Star. Learn more about the 2019/2020 Rising Stars.

October 15, 2019

Nominations Open for “Rising Stars of the MMBA”

Nominations are open for the “Rising Stars of the MMBA.” The award, created to recognize exceptional up-and-coming association members, provides opportunities for future leaders to develop advanced industry expertise, have access to direct mentor opportunities with local industry leaders, meet and collaborate with peers, build leadership skills and participate in the MMBA. More information, including eligibility requirements, is available here.

August 9, 2019

The MMBA Rebuts Study on Discriminatory Lending Practices in the LGBTQ Community

We thank The Boston Globe for bringing a recent study from Iowa State University to our attention. The study, based on nationwide lending patterns from 1990 to 2015, suggests that same-sex couples are more likely to be denied mortgages and that they pay higher interest rates than other similarly qualified borrowers. The MMBA respectfully disagrees with the results of the study.

May 22, 2019

The Massachusetts Mortgage Bankers Association Files Amicus Brief in Thompson v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

The Massachusetts Mortgage Bankers Association (MMBA), the largest mortgage association in New England, announces it filed an amicus brief in Thompson v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., a U.S. Court of Appeals decision handed down by the First Circuit. The Thompson case involved the notice of default sent to the Thompsons (the borrowers) by JPMorgan Chase Bank when the borrowers failed to make their mortgage loan payments. The Court held that the notice was “potentially deceptive” and declared the foreclosure invalid.

May 21, 2019

The Massachusetts Mortgage Bankers Association Hosts Affordable Lending Summit

The Massachusetts Mortgage Bankers Association (MMBA), the largest mortgage association in New England, announces it hosted an Affordable Lending Summit on May 16 at Webster Federal Credit Union in Worcester, MA. The Summit provided lending institutions with insight and information to help increase LMI Lending to meet the needs of its consumers.