Today, Rocket Pro launches a new partners rewards program called Orbit, designed to reach more of its broker partners by adjusting production requirements to a wider range of company sizes.
“It's important for us that this is for everyone — whether you're a small broker, a medium broker, a large broker, or an extra-large broker — and that's how we built it,” said Austin Niemiec, head of Rocket Pro and chief revenue officer of Rocket Mortgage.
Niemiec expects more of its partners to qualify under Orbit compared to its Pinnacle rewards program, though he did not give a specific estimate. Existing Pinnacle partners will automatically transition into Orbit and receive its new benefits.
Orbit’s eligibility combines production with loan performance. Niemiec said its partners must maintain a scorecard rating of at least 3 over a 90-day average, with measures including lock pull-through, overall pull-through, and the quality of initial underwriting submissions. Production requirements vary by brokerage size, which Rocket Pro reviews quarterly.
Benefits include:
- Early payoff protection: Rocket Pro will waive eligible EPO fees that fall under its normal EPO guidelines. The benefit excludes cases in which the broker pays off the loan.
- Purchase Priority: Eligible purchase loans receive same-business-day conditional approval and a clear to close within 12 business days. Rocket Pro previously offered Purchase Priority through a monthly Power Play promotion and is making it a permanent Orbit benefit.
- Padlock Exchange: Brokers can exchange available Padlock days for pricing credits on loans in their pipeline, giving them another way to use days earned for rate-lock extensions. Niemiec said potential uses include reducing a borrower’s funds needed to close, addressing certain regulatory or qualified mortgage pricing issues, and obtaining a lower rate on a locked loan when rates decline sufficiently.
- Loan officer placement: Rocket Pro will help connect newly licensed loan officers and those transitioning between companies with participating broker partners licensed in at least five states. The benefit expands placement support Rocket Pro has already been providing.
- Partner perks: Brokers receive access to more than 30,000 offers across categories including travel, technology, electronics, and events.
Qualifying partners receive an “Orbit Badge” they can use to identify their Orbit status.
Rocket Supports Multistate Licensing As LO Population Shrinks
Orbit’s Loan Officer Placement benefit connects newly licensed LOs and those transitioning between companies with participating broker partners licensed in at least five states.
“There's a lot of movement of LOs in this market right now,” Niemiec told NMP. “We have an incredible team here at Rocket that's speaking to LOs every day [who] are looking to make moves or change companies.”
Niemiec said Orbit will expand those existing placement efforts.
The offering comes as the originator population contracts slightly while individual license counts continue to grow.
According to the 2025 NMLS Mortgage Industry Report, the number of unique state-licensed mortgage originators fell 1.3% to 195,039, while individual licenses increased 7.5% to 770,525. Across state-licensed and federally registered MLOs, the unique population declined approximately 0.9% to 549,294 at year-end.
The number of individuals holding one license declined 4%, while those holding 11 to 20 licenses increased 9.3% and those holding 21 or more rose 20.2%.
The figures suggest LOs are expanding their potential market reach even as the state-licensed population shrinks.
Compass Credit Extended Through Year-End
Alongside Orbit, Rocket Pro is extending its Compass credit through the end of 2026 at 20 basis points. The credit had been scheduled to expire Oct. 6.
Niemiec said the extension supplements Rocket Pro’s base pricing, which the company revised by incorporating several temporary incentives into its base price.
Since the Compass credit launched in February, Niemiec said it has generated more than $3 billion in loan locks, with nearly 2,000 broker shops connecting with Compass agents and using the credit.
He said the decision to extend the offer reflected its use by brokers both to win purchase business and build longer-term relationships with agents.
A new dashboard in Rocket Pro’s partner portal allows partners to see whether they qualify for Orbit, which benefits they’ve earned, and what requirements they still need to meet. The dashboard will also be available to partners who haven’t yet qualified, Niemiec said.
