Definition: The mortgage bank of America (MBA) is one of the largest financial institutions in the United States, with assets worth over $500 billion. It was founded by Charles T. Martin in 1947 as a private savings institution. The MBA operates under the federal Housing and Mortgage Administration (HMA), which is responsible for overseeing the lending practices and oversight of housing finance agencies across the country. The MAs have the power to regulate mortgage activity, including setting interest rates, limits on loan amounts, and making decisions about borrowers' credit scores. The MBA's main mission is to provide financial services that meet the needs of homeowners and borrowers alike. It offers a wide range of mortgage products, including adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs), fixed-rate mortgages, first-time homebuyer programs, and other types of loans. The MAs also offer credit counseling and refinancing services to help borrowers manage their finances. The MBA is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, but it has branches and subsidiaries in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. It operates through various divisions including the mortgage insurance division, consumer banking division, and commercial lending division.