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110 Atlantic, a leading global growth equity firm. "Blend's approach of partnering with financial institutions to reimagine con- sumer finance has proven hugely successful thus far, and we're thrilled to assist them in their next phase of growth." Blend now routinely processes nearly $2 billion in loans every day in partner- ship with more than 150 lender customers. e company recently announced product expansions into deposit account opening, home equity, and homeowners insurance, along with a slew of high-level additions to its executive team, including Tim Mayo- poulos, former Fannie Mae CEO. With the new capital, Blend intends to continue growing its team of nearly 400 employees to help financial institutions deepen their relationships with clients, bringing simplicity and transparency to consumer lending through one-tap experi- ences. In addition to doubling down on its efforts to digitize the entire mortgage process from application to close, Blend plans to invest in new technologies, grow its ecosystem of partners, and further its expansion into a broader suite of consumer lending products. Blend has also named former Pixar CFO Ann Mather to an independent board member position. Currently serving on the boards of Alphabet, Airbnb, and Netflix, among others, Ann brings consid- erable technology expertise to her role. "Together with our partners, we've made significant strides in transforming lending experiences for consumers and institutions across the country," said Nima Ghamsari, founder and CEO at Blend. "As we build toward a more transparent and frictionless future where lending transac- tions happen in one tap, we're grateful to have the experience of Ann, along with the teams at Temasek and General Atlantic, in our corner for this journey." Wells Fargo to Assist Disaster Victims With more than half of Americans un- prepared for natural disasters, Wells Fargo believes it is critical to do its part to help communities prepare and recover quickly when facing financial hardships caused by natural disasters. Wells Fargo has created a comprehensive, self-sustaining Wells Fargo MRU aimed to provide safe and reliable solutions in local communities. Wells Fargo is also committed to help- ing its customers impacted by offering the following tips to help plan in advance for worst-case scenario: Save important finan- cial documents, make a visual or written record of your possessions, and have cash or an emergency fund; prepare for any disaster to last a few days, or even several weeks. In 2018, the MRU and disaster trained team members were deployed to New Bern, North Carolina; Wilmington, North Carolina; Fayetteville, North Carolina; Panama City, Florida; and Chico, Cali- fornia, to assist customers impacted by the devastation caused by Hurricane Florence, Hurricane Michael, and the Carr Fire. To date, the deployed MRU has helped more than 10,000 customers and has traveled more than 27,000 miles. For the past five years, disaster relief response has taken a step further in the form of a Wells Fargo MRU. Considered an "office on wheels" with eight private offices equipped with computer connectiv- ity and a satellite backup system to connect with customers in their communities to help with the recovery process. e MRU is built on a semi-trailer truck frame and is ADA compliant. It includes a wheel- chair lift, a break room, restrooms, and is equipped with phone calls if cellular service is disrupted. for the mortgage and real estate services industries, has announced that its Smart- Fees service is integrated with Plaza Home Mortgage, Inc.'s BREEZE loan origination system. e integration provides wholesale mortgage brokers the option of creating, previewing, and delivering loan estimate (LE) disclosures at the point of sale. SmartFees provides an automated fee solution that gives Plaza mortgage brokers immediate access to vendor-verified clos- ing costs with an audit trail and a data- backed guarantee. e integration allows BREEZE users to quickly search for and select a closing agent and title company in their specific markets. SmartFees will integrate the loan file information, transfer tax and recording data, as well as service provider fees, including land surveys and other services required depending on the property's location, from more than 70,000 rate cards. Lender business rules and other requirements are also fed into BREEZE— allowing Plaza Home Mortgage brokers the ability to originate mortgage confidently and compliantly. "Lenders want proven applications to help them meet compliance requirements," said Bob Jennings, CEO of ClosingCorp. "Our partnership with Plaza Home Mort- gage will improve their efforts to provide accurate and timely data to their borrowers while also giving them peace of mind that they are in compliance." "Our integration with ClosingCorp represents our continued commitment to streamlining the LE and disclosure form generation process for our clients," said Jeff Leinan, EVP of National Wholesale Production for Plaza Home Mortgage. "Continuing to collaborate with industry leaders, like ClosingCorp, allows us to provide our clients with access to the most accurate rates and fees enabling them to close fully compliant loans." Funding for Expansion Blend recently announced it has raised $130 million in Series E funding led by Temasek and General Atlantic. Existing investors 8VC, Founders Fund, Greylock Partners, and Lightspeed Venture Partners also participated in the round, which brings the company's total funding to $310 million. "Blend's technology platform is driving an evolution in how lenders do business and interact with their clients," said Paul Stamas, Managing Director at General Is the year-over- year decrease in home prices in San Jose, California. Other Golden State cities that saw a decline over 2018 include, Oxnard, Oakland, and Los Angeles. Source: Redfin Housing Market Tracker STAT INSIGHT 4%