1. COUNTRYWIDE FINANCIAL CORP

$91,202,973,000 in combined purchase and refinance loans.

Countrywide Financial Corporation mainly engages in residential mortgage lending. Its main focus is Mortgage Banking, funding loans, packaging them for trading on the secondary market, and servicing mortgages. Countrywide also has an institutional broker-dealer arm that specializes in trading and underwriting mortgage-backed securities. The company also offers and underwrites their clients credit insurance when they need PMI, when the downpayment is below 80%.

2. WELLS FARGO BANK

$76,292,771,000 in combined purchase and refinance loans.

Wells Fargo Bank draws its roots back to 1852 when it offered banking and express services after the beginning of the California Gold Rush. Today, Wells Fargo is one of the largest banks in the country offering mortgages through bank branches, stand alone mortgage branches, and wholesale to mortgage brokers.

3. BANK OF AMERICA

$58,263,092,000 in combined purchase and refinance loans.

Bank of America got its start in San Francisco where it began to make its mark by loaning money to borrowers to rebuild the city after the big 1906 earthquake. Bank of America mortgage offers a number of specialized programs including Neighborhood Advantage which provides affordable financing for moderate income borrowers. Neighborhood Heroes gives borrowing advantages to police, teachers and firefighters.

All three companies package their loans as investment grade securities that are then traded in the secondary market. This means that individuals as well as institutions, such as retirement programs and mutual funds, invest in these mortgages providing the funds while the companies make money off of the processing.