CrossCountry Mortgage, the distributed retail mortgage lender, and Blend, an origination platform for digital banking solutions, announced an expanded partnership aimed at driving innovation for independent mortgage banks (IMBs).
As part of this collaboration, the two companies are “introducing new solutions that enhance the Blend experience for all IMBs.”
Jennifer Stracensky, Chief Operating Officer, CrossCountry Mortgage said:
“We’re proud to partner with Blend to develop purpose-built solutions and advanced tools that empower our loan officers to better serve borrowers. By working together to develop solutions like branch-level configurability and seamless disclosures within Blend, we’re not just optimizing our own operations—we’re helping set a new standard for the home lending process, making it easier and more accessible for borrowers and communities across the U.S.”
These solutions reinforce Blend’s commitment to empowering IMBs with purpose-built technology that “support their need to compete and thrive in an evolving mortgage landscape, ultimately benefiting home buyers with faster, more efficient services.”
As part of Blend’s initiative to better serve the “needs of IMBs, the company has launched a dedicated business unit focused on delivering tailored technology and support.”
Leading this effort is Justin Venhousen, a mortgage industry veteran and newly appointed General Manager of Blend’s IMB Division.
Prior to joining Blend, he spent more than 12 years at Compass Mortgage as Chief Operating Officer, “where he experienced firsthand the challenges IMBs face, from operational pressures to the need for greater branch-level flexibility.”
Venhousen said:
“Having spent more than a decade at a mortgage lender, I’ve experienced the challenges our customers face firsthand. I understand the operational pressures and the importance of supporting branch-level efficiency within a compliant framework. That perspective helps guide our approach as we design technology solutions that are adaptable, scalable, and built to support the way IMBs operate—while maintaining consistency and control across the organization.”
Newly developed enhancements—some already live at CrossCountry Mortgage and others launching in early 2025—include:
- Branch-Level Configurations – New branch- and LO-level configurations allow CrossCountry to tailor workflows, branding, and operational settings at the branch level, while maintaining consistency across their 7,000 employees and more than 700 branches nationwide.
- Increased Disclosure Functionality for Loan Officers – Enables loan officers to generate Loan Estimate disclosure packages directly within Blend’s interface, streamlining workflows and reducing the need to use multiple systems or manual processes.
- Hybrid Closings – New safeguards ensure borrowers complete all eligible paperwork digitally, reducing reliance on wet signatures. Improved eSign document visibility and a one-click download feature simplify retrieval, accelerating closing times and minimizing administrative work.
- Refi / Home Equity – A highly personalized, automated experience that turns refinance opportunities into funded loans faster by leveraging connected data and pre-approved offers for a seamless, one-session process.
In 2024, Blend powered nearly “$1.2 trillion in loan applications across hundreds of banks, credit unions, and independent mortgage banks (IMBs).”
According to 2023 HMDA data, “18 of the top 50 U.S. mortgage originators by loan volume rely on Blend.”
In addition, home equity lenders “use the Blend platform to improve the digital customer experience across their home equity products.”
CrossCountry Mortgage (CCM) is the “distributed retail mortgage lender with more than 7,000 employees operating over 700 branches and servicing loans across all 50 states, D.C. and Puerto Rico.”
They reportedly offer more than “120 mortgage, refinance and home equity solutions — ranging from conventional and jumbo mortgages to government-insured programs from FHA and programs for Veterans and rural homebuyers — and they are a direct lender and approved seller and servicer by Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and Ginnie Mae.”