The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) announced Christine Chandler as MBA’s 2026 chair and executive vice president during the organization’s annual convention in Las Vegas on Oct. 20.
Chandler, who is the chief operating officer for M&T Realty Capital Corp., delivered her opening remarks to kick off the event, stressing a message of unity for the industry.
She referenced her more than 30 years in the mortgage industry, doing virtually every job under the sun, from sales to underwriting, and praised 2025 MBA Chair Laura Escobar, president of Lennar Mortgage, for her work on the residential mortgage side.
“It’s an honor to follow in Laura’s footsteps. And I think this passing of the baton says a lot about why the MBA is so effective,” Chandler said. “Think about it. Laura is a longtime leader in residential. I work on commercial and multifamily. But even though we come from different parts of the industry, we’re united in a common cause. The same is true for everyone in this room. That’s what makes the MBA so important. We recognize a fundamental truth — that we’re stronger together. And right now, we have some amazing opportunities to move forward together.”
She went on to highlight her three priorities for building a strong future for the mortgage industry:
- Increasing advocacy participation: Chandler said her top priority will be to get more MBA members actively involved in advocacy efforts. She contended that “hearing or reading about advocacy is fundamentally different from doing advocacy,” citing the recent passage of bipartisan legislation banning “trigger leads” as proof of what member voices can accomplish. She urged members to join MORPAC, MBA’s political action committee, and the Mortgage Action Alliance, as well as to attend MBA’s national advocacy conference.
- Developing the next generation of leaders: Chandler called on members to build a deep bench of talented people by utilizing MBA programs like Future Leaders and mPact, noting that the industry is in the middle of a generational shift.
- Doubling down on affordable housing: She pledged to build on past efforts by focusing on breaking barriers in Washington, D.C. This will include working with federal partners to lower the cost of reporting products, securing an early win with the Federal Housing Finance Agency to clear the way for the government-sponsored enterprises to eventually begin to accept VantageScore credit reports to increase competition. She will also aim to relieve regulatory burdens and increase private capital in key areas.
Chandler closed her presentation by thanking the membership for selecting her and stating that her ultimate focus will be to help the industry do “even more good for even more people and communities.”