Mortgage Banker

A mortgage banker is a person, company or firm that originates and funds loans for primary and secondary residential mortgage loans. Normally, a mortgage banker uses its own funds for the loan but sometimes may use financial support from larger institutions to help with the initial outlay of cash. At closing or within a matter of days, the mortgage banker typically sells the mortgage to a secondary market such as insurance companies, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or Ginnie Mae. After the sale, the mortgage banker usually continues to service the loan, inspect the property and handle escrow for the secondary investor until the loan is paid in full. Essentially a financial middleman, they are responsible for introducing the borrower and lender, making the initial loan and then repackaging the loan for sale to other investors.