Risk

New York Community Bancorp faced new questions Friday after a flurry of disclosures led to a steep sell-off in its stock. The embattled Long Island-based lender beefed up its risk leadership, but Fitch cut its rating to "junk" status.

Exposure to synthetic securitizations has more than doubled over the last two years, swelling to C$86.6 billion ($64.2 billion) at the end of the last financial year, from C$40.3 billion in 2022.

Investors have hammered the New Jersey-based lender following the turmoil at New York Community Bancorp. But Valley executives say there are key differences between the two real estate-focused banks, and they express confidence that the bank's underwriting will hold up again this cycle.

The regional bank announced a leadership shakeup on Wednesday, capping a tumultuous week in which shareholders became spooked about its exposure to the commercial real estate sector.

Former Flagstar CEO Alessandro DiNello, who had been New York Community's nonexecutive chairman, was named executive chairman after the Long Island bank's stock price fell by more than 59% in a week. New York Community also issued updates on both its deposit situation and its search for a new chief risk officer.

A common concern in housing finance reactions has been the lack of accommodation for strategies routinely used to manage credit, rate and liquidity exposures.

FHA-insured and Department of Veterans Affairs-guaranteed mortgages bear watching next year, according to Intercontinental Exchange.

While a majority of current forborne borrowers sought relief for reasons related to COVID-19, servicers are seeing a growing share of cases involving natural disasters or personal financial issues, the Mortgage Bankers Association said.

Repossessions registered both monthly and annual increases, though, according to Attom.

For large banks, the agencies wanted to go above the global standards for residential mortgages, as well as some business loans, to avoid giving those lenders a competitive advantage over smaller peers, according to another person familiar with the proposal.