Today, most reverse mortgages are closed by non-bank mortgage lenders across the U.S. But going back a few years, most reverse mortgage volume was conducted by big, national banks.  Among those lenders was MetLife Bank, which used to be operated by the large national insurance provider MetLife.

In fact, at one time, MetLife was the largest Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) lender by volume, prior to exiting the business in 2012.  If you know someone who has a reverse mortgage today, it’s very possible that he or she worked with MetLife on that loan.

Summary:

• MetLife Bank, operated by national insurer MetLife, was once the top lender by volume in the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) market.
• MetLife exited the reverse mortgage originations business in April 2012
• Today, there are many remaining non-bank lenders and small banks that continue to offer reverse mortgages

MetLife ramped up its reverse mortgage presence following its acquisition of EverBank Reverse Mortgage in 2008.

At that time, the bank’s president noted that the transaction would “enhance MetLife’s capabilities to help consumers meet their needs for a secure retirement.”  Over the next four years, the company rose to the top position for reverse mortgage closings, closing more than 900 reverse mortgages in April 2012.

MetLife Pros and Cons

MetLife Reverse Mortgages Originated

Why did MetLife quit reverse mortgages? 

MetLife’s decision to exit the reverse mortgage came on the heels of similar announcements from other large, national lenders, including Bank of America and Wells Fargo.  When the company announced its exit, it cited that MetLife’s banking business accounted for just a small fraction of its operations and that the reverse mortgage business no longer made sense.

Industry publication Reverse Mortgage Daily also learned at the time that the regulatory environment made it difficult for the bank to operate various channels.  Prior to its reverse mortgage exit, MetLife made other changes to a similar effect: it sold its depository bank business to GE Capital Financial Inc. in 2011, wound down its forward mortgage business in 2012, and finally announced it had agreed to sell its warehouse finance unit, including its reverse mortgage warehouse lines, also in early 2012.

Market timeline leading up to MetLife exit in 2012:

• December 2007 — Great Recession begins with market crash and multi-trillion-dollar impact to the U.S. housing market
• July 2010 — The Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act  is enacted, changing the landscape for banking regulation
• February 2011 — Bank of America exits reverse mortgages
• June 2011 — Wells Fargo exits retail reverse mortgage business and later wholesale

What about existing borrowers?

MetLife ultimately sold its loan servicing business to Nationstar, which later changed its company name to Mr. Cooper.  Mr. Cooper continues to service reverse mortgage loans through Champion Mortgage and most likely is managing the servicing for borrowers who got reverse mortgages through MetLife prior to its exit from the business.

Will MetLife Bring Back Reverse Mortgages? 

Given that MetLife is no longer in the banking business, it is unlikely — although not impossible — that MetLife will get back into reverse mortgages. However, MetLife continues to offer a wide range of products, including insurance and employment benefits.

There are also many active lenders still offering reverse mortgages.  Some non-bank lenders include All Reverse Mortgage Inc., Longbridge, and Finance of America Reverse.  There are also many existing banks in the reverse mortgage space today; they tend to be regional banks or small national banks with a federal charter.  Banks such as University Bank, The Federal Savings Bank, Magnolia Bank, and Bank of Utah, among many others, continue to offer reverse mortgages.

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