Newrez's AI Edge Cements Fourth Straight Fannie Mae Servicing Award

FORT WASHINGTON, PA – March 06, 2026 – Newrez LLC, a top-five mortgage lender and servicer, has once again distinguished itself in the competitive mortgage industry, securing the 2025 Fannie Mae Servicer Total Achievement and Rewards™ (STAR™) Performer recognition for the fourth consecutive year. The company achieved the honor across all three of the program's rigorous categories—General Servicing, Solution Delivery, and Timeline Management—a feat that underscores a sustained commitment to operational excellence and technological innovation.

This repeated recognition from one of the nation's leading sources of mortgage financing is more than a corporate accolade; it signals a proven track record of high performance in managing a vast portfolio of home loans and assisting homeowners through every stage of their financial journey. For Newrez, which services a portfolio valued at over $850 billion, this award validates a strategy that increasingly relies on artificial intelligence to enhance, not replace, its customer-first mission.

A Pattern of Unwavering Excellence

The Fannie Mae STAR Program, established over a decade ago, is the gold standard for recognizing servicers who demonstrate superior competency, capacity, and industry-leading practices. The program evaluates servicers across a detailed set of metrics, grouping them into peer categories based on portfolio size to ensure fair comparison. Newrez's consistent success across all three STAR categories is particularly noteworthy.

• General Servicing: This award acknowledges excellence in the fundamental aspects of loan management and borrower assistance, a critical component for an organization handling approximately 3.75 million loans.
• Solution Delivery: This recognizes the servicer's effectiveness in providing timely and innovative solutions for borrowers, especially those facing financial hardship. It highlights an ability to navigate complex situations with efficiency and empathy.
• Timeline Management: This category focuses on a servicer's discipline and efficiency in adhering to established timelines for all servicing processes, which is crucial for maintaining trust and predictability for homeowners.

Earning this honor for four straight years indicates a deeply embedded culture of performance and accountability. It moves beyond a single successful year to demonstrate a robust and scalable operational model capable of consistently meeting Fannie Mae's highest standards, a conclusion supported by S&P Global Ratings, which has affirmed its "ABOVE AVERAGE" ranking on Newrez as both a primary and special residential mortgage servicer.

The AI Engine Driving Performance

Behind Newrez's consistent accolades is a deliberate and significant investment in artificial intelligence. Company leadership directly links this technological focus to its success. “This achievement reflects our continued focus on operational excellence, including strategic investments in AI such as our industry-leading ReziChat, to support more seamless and intuitive customer experiences,” said Baron Silverstein, President of Newrez.

This isn't just talk. The company has forged key partnerships to build a sophisticated tech stack. A collaboration with Microsoft, initiated in late 2023, leverages the Azure OpenAI Service for generative and predictive AI initiatives. This allows Newrez to analyze customer feedback in real-time, offer 24/7 support through intelligent chatbots, and proactively identify risks or opportunities within its portfolio.

Furthermore, Newrez is pushing the boundaries of loan origination and underwriting. The company recently announced a strategic investment in HomeVision, an AI technology firm, to co-develop an industry-first, AI-powered mortgage underwriting solution. Newrez already utilizes HomeVision's MIRA technology for collateral underwriting, which it reports has doubled operational efficiency. The goal is to create a comprehensive platform that automates the analysis of collateral, income, assets, and credit, promising a faster, more accurate, and less costly experience for future homebuyers.

Internally, an AI tool named "Rezzy" provides real-time support to call center representatives, equipping them with instant access to policies, procedures, and customer history. This allows human agents to deliver more personalized and effective support, blending the efficiency of AI with the nuance of human interaction.

Real-World Impact for Homeowners

While industry awards and AI investments are impressive on paper, their true value lies in their tangible benefits for homeowners. For the millions of customers whose mortgages are serviced by Newrez, this recognition translates into a more reliable and supportive homeownership experience.

Excellence in "Solution Delivery" means that a homeowner facing unexpected job loss or financial strain is more likely to encounter a streamlined, effective process for securing a loan modification or forbearance plan. Strong "Timeline Management" ensures that critical processes like escrow analysis and payment processing occur without frustrating delays or errors.

The integration of AI platforms like ReziChat provides customers with immediate, round-the-clock answers to common questions, freeing up human agents to handle more complex issues. This hybrid approach aims to reduce friction and anxiety for borrowers. Looking ahead, Newrez's parent company, Rithm Capital, is deepening its partnership with Valon Technologies to deploy its AI-native mortgage servicing operating system. This move, expected to begin rolling out in 2027, is designed to further enhance the customer experience for over four million homeowners and reduce the overall cost-to-service.

“This honor belongs to our people who show up every day with a singular purpose: to put our customers at the center of everything we do,” stated Shane Ross, Head of Servicing at Newrez. “Their focus, execution, and accountability in both human and digital servicing experiences are the reasons we continue to set the standard in our industry.”

By successfully merging human expertise with powerful AI, Newrez is not only collecting awards but also actively shaping a new paradigm for the mortgage servicing industry—one where technology drives efficiency, empowers employees, and ultimately delivers a more stable and positive journey for American homeowners.