Company Announcements

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr. 21, 2025-- CrossCountry Mortgage, the nation’s number one distributed retail mortgage lender, and Blend, a leading origination platform for digital banking solutions, today 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.

"We’re proud to partner with Blend to develop purpose-built solutions and advanced tools that empower our loan officers to better serve borrowers," said Jennifer Stracensky, Chief Operating Officer, CrossCountry Mortgage. "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 tailored 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.

Blend Strengths Support for IMBs with A Seasoned Leader & Dedicated Business Unit

As part of Blend’s initiative to better serve the unique 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.

“Having spent more than a decade at a mortgage lender, I’ve experienced the challenges our customers face firsthand,” said Venhousen. “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.”

Blend’s IMB-Focused Enhancements in Partnership with CrossCountry Mortgage

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.
  
• Enhanced 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.
  
• Rapid 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.

A Leader in Digital Origination

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, 7 of the top 10 home equity lenders use the Blend platform to improve the digital customer experience across their home equity products.

About CrossCountry Mortgage

CrossCountry Mortgage (CCM) is the nation’s number one 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. Our company has been recognized ten times on the Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing private businesses and has received many awards for our standout culture. We 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 we are a direct lender and approved seller and servicer by Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and Ginnie Mae (NMLS #3029). Through our dedication to getting it done, we make every mortgage feel like a win.

About Blend

Blend Labs Inc., (NYSE: BLND) is the leading origination platform for digital banking solutions. Financial providers— from large banks, fintechs, and credit unions to community and independent mortgage banks—use Blend’s platform to transform banking experiences for their customers. Better banking starts on Blend. To learn more, visit blend.com.

Forward-Looking Disclaimer

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements generally relate to future events, future performance or expectations and involve substantial risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements in this press release may include, but are not limited to, our expectations regarding our product roadmap, future products/features, the timing of new product/feature introductions, market size and growth opportunities, macroeconomics and industry conditions, capital expenditures, plans for future operations, competitive position, technological capabilities and strategic relationships, as well as assumptions relating to the foregoing. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes to differ materially from the outcomes predicted. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “could,” “would,” “intend,” “target,” “project,” “contemplate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology that concern Blend’s expectations, strategy, plans or intentions. You should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by which such performance or results will be achieved, if at all. Further information on these risks and uncertainties are set forth in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to Blend and assumptions and beliefs as of the date hereof. New risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all risks and uncertainties that could have an impact on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Except as required by law, Blend does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250421887383/en/

Press Contacts
Chloé Demeunynck
Corporate Communications
press@blend.com

Natalie Lonjak
Director, Corporate Communications
CrossCountry Mortgage
natalie.lonjak@ccm.com

Source: Blend