Tom Lopp abruptly suspended a program that accounted for 83% of Sterling Bancorp's mortgage production this year. An ongoing audit of the program and pressure to diversify beyond mortgages are reasons to watch Lopp and Sterling in 2020.
Large banks had huge losses from originating mortgages in 2018 as costs were three times higher than similar-sized independent lenders, according to research conducted by Stratmor and the Mortgage Bankers Association.
Banks are increasingly tightening lending standards for commercial real estate loans and are likewise seeing a drop-off in demand, according to a report released Monday by the Federal Reserve Board.
