Amalgamated Bank Partners with Embrace Home Loans in Strategic Mortgage Overhaul

NEW YORK, NY – February 05, 2026 – Amalgamated Bank, a financial institution with a century-long commitment to social responsibility, announced a landmark agreement with national mortgage lender Embrace Home Loans. In a strategic move to enhance its customer offerings, the bank will now direct its clients seeking residential mortgages to Embrace, which will originate and service the loans through a specially designed platform. The partnership aims to provide Amalgamated’s customers with a broader array of home financing products while allowing the bank to sharpen its focus on its core mission.

This collaboration reflects a growing trend in the financial sector where banks are opting for strategic alliances to expand services rather than building out complex internal divisions. For Amalgamated, which holds the distinction of being America’s largest B Corporation bank, the choice of a partner is as much about shared values as it is about operational efficiency.

A Strategic Pivot for a Values-Driven Bank

Founded in 1923 by a labor union, Amalgamated Bank has long positioned itself as a financial institution for the progressive-minded, from individuals and non-profits to political organizations. While it has historically offered mortgage products, this new agreement marks a significant evolution in its strategy. By entrusting a key part of the home loan process to a specialized lender, the bank can provide a more robust and competitive mortgage service without diverting resources from its primary strategic goals.

This outsourcing model allows Amalgamated to maintain its strong client relationships while leveraging the scale, technology, and product diversity of a national lender. The bank can continue to serve its customers' complete financial needs, now with an enhanced mortgage component that includes dedicated support from Embrace’s experienced loan officers.

“Our focus has always been supporting our clients and creating opportunities that make an impact,” said Sam Brown, Amalgamated Bank’s chief banking officer, in the official announcement. “Embrace allows us to confidently connect customers with an experienced lender that shares our commitment to excellent service and ethical lending and can offer the knowledge and breadth of mortgage solutions that our clients seek.”

Innovative Tools for the Modern Homebuyer

The partnership grants Amalgamated’s customers access to Embrace Home Loans' unique and proprietary programs, which are designed to give homebuyers a competitive edge in a challenging market. Among the most notable is Embrace's Approved to Close program. This initiative goes beyond a standard pre-approval by fully underwriting a borrower's finances and certifying the property value, effectively making their offer as strong as cash. To back this confidence, the program includes a $10,000 backup cash guarantee for the seller, providing a level of security that can be decisive in a bidding war.

Additionally, customers will have access to the Property Value Certificate. Through this service, Embrace certifies the value of the home a buyer is purchasing, which can allow the buyer to waive the appraisal contingency—a common hurdle that can delay or derail a transaction. These tools are designed to streamline the homebuying process, reduce uncertainty, and increase the likelihood of a successful purchase.

“This agreement underscores a shared priority: making sure customers experience stability and confidence,” noted Dennis Hardiman, founder and CEO of Embrace Home Loans. “By pairing Embrace’s exclusive focus on residential lending with experienced local loan officers, we’re able to ensure Amalgamated Bank’s customers continue to receive professional, dependable service.”

The Growing Trend of Bank-Lender Alliances

The Amalgamated-Embrace partnership is not happening in a vacuum. It exemplifies a broader industry shift where community and regional banks are re-evaluating the costs and complexities of running an in-house mortgage origination business. Faced with intense competition from large-scale wholesale lenders and nimble fintech firms, many banks are finding that strategic alliances offer a more sustainable path to growth.

For Embrace Home Loans, this agreement is part of a deliberate strategy to partner with banks looking to optimize their mortgage operations. This follows a similar deal Embrace announced with OceanFirst Bank, which exited direct mortgage origination to focus on its core business. By becoming the go-to mortgage provider for these banks, Embrace gains access to established, loyal customer bases that might otherwise be difficult to reach.

The benefits are mutual. The bank sheds significant operational overhead and regulatory burden while retaining its customers and potentially earning referral income. The lender, in turn, secures a steady stream of high-quality leads, increasing its loan volume and market share. This symbiotic relationship allows both entities to focus on what they do best.

Merging Mission with Market-Leading Service

The ultimate success of this venture will hinge on customer perception and adoption. Amalgamated Bank’s clientele is known for being particularly discerning, often choosing the bank precisely because of its mission to support sustainable organizations and social justice. They care about where their money goes and what it supports. Therefore, the transition to Embrace must be seamless, and the service provided must feel consistent with Amalgamated's brand of ethical banking.

Embrace Home Loans appears well-positioned to meet this challenge. The company boasts exceptionally high customer satisfaction scores, holding a near-perfect rating on platforms like Zillow and an A+ from the Better Business Bureau. Reviews frequently praise the professionalism, responsiveness, and clear communication of its loan officers—qualities that will be paramount in winning the trust of Amalgamated’s customers.

By combining Amalgamated’s powerful, values-driven brand with Embrace's proven operational excellence and innovative products, the partnership aims to create a mortgage experience that is both efficient and principled. For Amalgamated’s customers, this could mean achieving the dream of homeownership with greater ease and confidence, backed by two institutions dedicated to their financial well-being.