Secure Settlements Inc. has announced that it has launched two new lender-subscription fraud tool programs assisting in the evaluation, monitoring and reporting of closing agent risk. Closing Guard is the result of the continuing evolution of the SSI risk management program, designed to help lenders uncover and reduce fraud risks while simultaneously providing better consumer protections surrounding the residential mortgage closing.Click to continue

United States Appraisals has announced that it has joined the Collateral Risk Network (CRN). Composed of chief appraisers, collateral risk managers, regulators and valuation experts, CRN is focused on resolving the risk and compliance challenges facing the collateral risk profession. With over 400 members represented by leading AMCs, lending institutions, Wall Street, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, The Veteran’s Administration, the Federal Housing Administration and appraisers, CRN engages all stakeholders in open dialogue to find solutions to industry issues.Click to continue

Secure Settlements Inc. (SSI) has launched its “Know Your Agent” program which enhances the company's closing agent vetting and risk management service for lenders. Under this program, SSI has been issuing full color ID cards to vetted closing professionals. The ID cards, which are intended to be worn as identification at mortgage closings nationwide, will fulfill several important fraud deterrent goals. The first is to clearly identify to all parties at the closing table, particularly consumers, the identity of the agent handling the mortgage proceeds and documents.Click to continue

Vericrest Financial Inc. has announced that it has appointed Ben Purser as Chief Risk Officer. Purser brings 26 years of experience in financial services to Vericrest, with a focus on risk management, audit, compliance and governance. In his new role, he will be responsible for all risk management efforts, including determination of risk tolerances, and will focus on operational risk practices, compliance with all state and federal agency requirements, as well as measuring and monitoring risk in Vericrest’s portfolios.Click to continue

Lenders Compliance Group has appointed Alan J. Cicchetti, former Deputy Commissioner of the Connecticut Banking Department, to be its director of agency relations of Lenders Compliance Group, as well as the executive director of Brokers Compliance Group, its new mortgage compliance firm that provides compliance support to mortgage brokers.Click to continue

Recently, I spoke with several clients who had attended mortgage industry conferences. Each one of them pointed out the very same fact: Operational risk and regulatory compliance are the most prominent subjects being discussed. Thinking of learning more about new loan products and services when they first attended the conferences, they nevertheless left these conferences wondering about how they would ever be able to implement all the regulatory requirements being placed on them.Click to continue

Capital Markets Cooperative (CMC) has announced a strategic alliance with Secure Settlements Inc., an independent evaluation and risk management firm based in Northern New Jersey. Under the agreement, Secure Settlements will offer CMC members its third-party closing agent risk management program under special terms for them and their agents.Click to continue

Secure Settlements Inc., an independent evaluation and risk management firm focused on the vetting and ongoing monitoring of mortgage closing professionals, announced today the formation of its Advisory Board, a panel of industry leaders who will work with Secure Settlements to share their expert insights on mortgage finance, risk management, law, real estate and other areas of interest to Secure Settlements’ members and associates. The Advisory Board is composed of the following members:Click to continue

Motivity Solutions, a provider of business intelligence software to mortgage firms, has been ranked as the 210th fastest growing company in Inc. magazine’s 31st annual Inc. 500|5000, a ranking of America’s fastest growing privately-held companies. Motivity’s ranking was based on achieving an increase in revenues of 1,736 percent over the three-year period of 2008 to 2011. Motivity is the 17th ranked software company on the Inc. 500 and number five overall in Denver, Colo.Click to continue

Secure Settlements Inc. has launched as an independent evaluation and risk management firm focusing on the vetting and ongoing monitoring of closing professional identity, background and credentials in order to reduce fraud, manage risk, and meet recently mandated federal regulatory requirements. Secure Settlements has developed a closing professional risk management program for the mortgage industry which verifies closing entities and individuals in real-time, and provides a standardized evaluation and reporting platform for mortgage lenders and warehouse banks.Click to continue