“Equally important, there must be substantive small lender protections to protect community independent mortgage banks (IMBs) and community banks – to ensure that a level playing field is created. This is essential for rigorous competition, which benefits borrowers through lower rates and more choices.”

Unbeknownst to many, there’s another factor significantly contributing to the housing affordability crisis in this country – it’s called the credit scoring industry. 

IMBs join associations such as CHLA for another reason. The big IMBs — like the big banks — have the economies of scale to support direct lobbying efforts on their behalf in Washington and to hire a phalanx of outside lawyers and consultants to track what is going on. Small and mid-sized IMBs do not. So CHLA makes advocacy efforts on behalf of small and