Tag Archives: Legends of Lending award

FirstClose CEO Tedd Smith named to 2026 National Mortgage Professional Legends of Lending

AUSTIN, Texas, June 12, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — FirstClose™, a leading fintech provider of data and workflow solutions for mortgage and home equity lenders nationwide, announced today that Tedd Smith, chief executive officer, has been named to the 2026 National Mortgage Professional Legends of Lending. The honor recognizes mortgage professionals who have made enduring contributions to the industry through innovation, leadership and long-term impact.

Image caption: FirstClose CEO Tedd Smith.

Smith is a co-founder of FirstClose and has led the company since its inception. Under his leadership, FirstClose has grown to serve more than 225 financial institutions and supports $129 billion in funded loans. The company’s platform enables lenders to close home equity and second mortgage loans in seven days or less through workflow automation and deep LOS integrations.

“This recognition reflects the work of an exceptional team and the lenders who have trusted us to reimagine what the closing process can look like,” Smith said. “We started FirstClose because we believed technology could fundamentally change the economics of home equity lending, and that belief drives every decision we make.”

Smith’s career in mortgage and housing finance spans more than 30 years. He previously co-founded Flood Zones, Inc., a nationwide automated flood zone certification firm acquired by TransUnion Corporation and now part of Cotality, and Home Equity Loan Corporation, which was sold in 1999.

This year’s Legends of Lending honorees are featured at nationalmortgageprofessional.com.

About FirstClose

Headquartered in Austin, Texas, FirstClose, Inc. provides fintech solutions to HELOC and mortgage lenders nationwide. The company’s mission is to increase profitability and reduce costs for mortgage lenders. FirstClose makes this possible through offering systems and relationships that enable lenders to assist their borrowers more effectively, reduce closing costs, and ultimately shorten closing times. For more information, visit firstclose.com.

NEWS SOURCE: FirstClose

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To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/firstclose-ceo-tedd-smith-named-to-2026-national-mortgage-professional-legends-of-lending/

Mortgage Banker Magazine Names Curtis Richins on Legends of Lending List

SAN DIEGO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Mortgage Capital Trading (MCT®), a leading mortgage hedge advisory and secondary marketing software firm, announced that Curtis Richins, President of MCT, has been selected to Mortgage Banker Magazine's inaugural "Legends of Lending" list. The magazine's inaugural class was compiled to highlight the most talented, ambitious, and legendary individuals who are achieving excellence and making a difference in the mortgage industry.

As part of the selection, Mr. Richins was asked to share what he views as his most "legendary" value, which he described as being a "learn-it-all" rather than a know-it-all. "I am constantly seeking input and advice from the people around me to gather all the facts before coming to a decision," he continued. "I value a team-oriented approach rather than an individual one when it comes to matters both at work and in my personal life," stated Richins. This approach is what inspires him to continually seek out new ideas that will push MCT forward.

Mr. Richins was also asked to offer his thoughts on the main problems facing the mortgage industry today and how he hopes to address them, which he identified as bouts of illiquidity and price dislocation that can have a dramatic and negative impact on market participants.

"In response to this market dislocation, MCT created a digital whole loan marketplace to connect buyer and seller regardless of approval status, creating an important new pool of liquidity for sellers," he explained. "Out of the crisis, BAM Marketplace was born and has now become the largest digital whole loan marketplace with more than $1 billion in whole loans auctioned on the platform."

"The mortgage industry continues to make huge strides in automating and digitizing all aspects of the mortgage value change," explained Richins. When asked for his thoughts on the future of the industry, he hopes the same innovation will translate to the secondary market in the coming years. Those interested in learning more about the features and benefits of MCT's award-winning technology, services, and leadership team are encouraged to contact MCT for more information.

About MCT:

Founded in 2001, Mortgage Capital Trading, Inc. (MCT) has grown from a boutique mortgage pipeline hedging firm into the industry's leading provider of fully integrated capital markets services and technology. MCT offers an array of best-in-class services and software covering mortgage pipeline hedging, best execution loan sales, outsourced lock desk solutions, MSR portfolio valuations, business intelligence analytics, mark to market services, and an award-winning comprehensive capital markets software platform called MCTlive! MCT supports independent mortgage bankers, depositories, credit unions, warehouse lenders, and correspondent investors of all sizes.

Headquartered in San Diego, California, MCT also has offices in Philadelphia, Healdsburg, and San Antonio. MCT is well known for its team of capital markets experts and senior traders who continue to provide the boutique-style hands-on engagement clients love.

For more information, visit https://mct-trading.com/ or call (619) 543-5111.

RELATED LINKS:

https://mct-trading.com/bam-marketplace-loan-exchange/

https://nationalmortgageprofessional.com/magazine/mortgage-banker-magazine/legends-lending/digital-edition

Mortgage Capital Trading (MCT®), a leading mortgage hedge advisory and secondary marketing software firm, announced that Curtis Richins, President of MCT, has been selected to Mortgage Banker Magazine's inaugural "Legends of Lending" list. The magazine's inaugural class was compiled to highlight the most talented, ambitious, and legendary individuals who are achieving excellence and making a difference in the mortgage industry.

Related link: https://mct-trading.com/

Mortgage Banker Magazine Honors DocMagic’s Dominic Iannitti with Inaugural Legends of Lending Award

TORRANCE, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- DocMagic, Inc., the premier provider of fully-compliant loan document generation, regulatory compliance, and comprehensive eMortgage services, announced that its president and CEO, Dominic Iannitti, has been selected by Mortgage Banker magazine as a 2022 Legends of Lending award recipient.

The Legends of Lending award evaluates the most talented, ambitious and legendary individuals in the mortgage industry. The inaugural class is comprised of executives who have made an extraordinary impact on the mortgage industry over the course of their careers and highlights each winner on a personal level.

Mortgage Banker magazine stated that all nominations were reviewed carefully by a panel of judges, arriving at an elite list of 29 winners for the first-time accolade. Nominees were evaluated based on the significant contributions they have made to the mortgage industry along with their accomplishments and leadership characteristics that define them as legends.

"I am truly honored to win an award that acknowledges the achievements of industry leaders throughout their careers, and I thank the judges at Mortgage Banker magazine for the time they took to review the many nominations received," stated Iannitti. "There is something truly special about being recognized for making a difference across an entire industry. I humbly accept this distinguished award and congratulate each of this year's winners."

Mr. Iannitti founded DocMagic in 1987 and has since grown the company into one of the industry's most dominant fintech providers. Under Iannitti's leadership, the award-winning software firm has developed high-impact digital mortgage solutions that lead the industry in innovation and early adoption. He is committed to digitizing critical areas of the mortgage process, and has created many of the solutions required to facilitate an end-to-end paperless eMortgage.

DocMagic's ongoing success is, in part, attributed to Dominic's long-term vision, passion for innovation, and nimble leadership style. He has helped tackle some of the industry's most pressing problems, bringing all of the necessary members of the supply chain together to collaborate on issues and arrive at solutions.

Iannitti has earned over 100 awards and accolades over the course of his mortgage career. He is a well-known figure in the industry and has a reputation for his unwavering dedication and energy to always move the industry forward through creativity and digitization.

The complete list of Mortgage Banker magazine's inaugural Legends of Lending class can be found by accessing the digital edition, which includes a one-on-one Q&A interview with each winner: https://nationalmortgageprofessional.com/magazine/mortgage-banker-magazine/legends-lending/digital-edition

About DocMagic:

DocMagic, Inc. is the leading provider of fully compliant document generation, automated compliance, eSignature and comprehensive eMortgage solutions for the mortgage industry. Founded in 1987 and headquartered in Torrance, Calif., DocMagic, Inc. develops award-winning software, mobile apps, and web-based systems for the production and delivery of compliant loan document packages. The company's solutions connect industry participants, promote collaboration, and ensure data integrity to execute precision-based digital lending transactions. The company's compliance experts and in-house legal staff consistently monitor legal and regulatory changes at both the federal and state levels to ensure accuracy. For more information on DocMagic, visit https://www.docmagic.com/.

DocMagic, Inc., the premier provider of fully-compliant loan document generation, regulatory compliance, and comprehensive eMortgage services, announced that its president and CEO, Dominic Iannitti, has been selected by Mortgage Banker magazine as a 2022 Legends of Lending award recipient.

Related link: https://www.docmagic.com/