South Dakota-based IMB gains access to over 300 loan products and nationwide infrastructure
AnnieMac Home Mortgage has entered into a partnership with UNIFY Home Lending, extending its footprint into Montana for the first time and expanding operations in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming.
The deal is aimed at scaling UNIFY’s operations by integrating AnnieMac’s national infrastructure and product access into UNIFY’s local lending platform.
As part of the partnership, UNIFY will now offer AnnieMac’s portfolio of more than 300 loan products, including the Cash2Keys program, a private equity-backed financing solution. AnnieMac will also provide operational and sales support to UNIFY, giving the regional lender broader capacity in a range of mortgage offerings.
AnnieMac CEO Joe Panebianco said the partnership reflects a model of growth for independent lenders.
“This partnership reflects AnnieMac’s commitment to helping high-performing IMBs like UNIFY scale sustainably while staying rooted in their communities,” Panebianco said. “We’re proud to offer the infrastructure, products, and strategic support that allow local lenders to thrive without sacrificing what makes them special.”
The announcement comes at a time when independent mortgage banks are beginning to recover after two years of losses. IMBs and mortgage subsidiaries of chartered banks posted an average profit of $443 per loan, reversing the $1,056 average loss per loan recorded in 2023, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association.
Founded in 2018 and based in Rapid City, South Dakota, UNIFY is the state’s only independently-owned IMB and operates across the Dakotas, Montana, and Wyoming. It has been named “Best Mortgage Lender of the Black Hills” by the Rapid City Journal for four consecutive years, an award based on local community voting.
“We felt great about AnnieMac right from the start—the culture, support, and especially the unique and out-of-the-box product offerings really stood out,” UNIFY president Cody Work said in a press release. “This partnership will allow us to continue serving our communities while offering even more tools to help people achieve their dream of homeownership.”
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