
Mortgage Forward will acquire First Federal Bank’s third party origination unit, including QRL Financial. The deal is expected to close in Q3 2026.
4:05 PMHousing Wire4 stories from 3 sources
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A curated list of other prominent stories from this day.

Mortgage Forward will acquire First Federal Bank’s third party origination unit, including QRL Financial. The deal is expected to close in Q3 2026.
4:05 PMHousing Wire
American Pacific Mortgage closed a merger that brings Synergy One Lending into the company as a DBA, creating a combined mortgage production platform with about $14 billion in annual volume. Steve Majerus was named president as part of the transaction.
3:45 PMHousing Wire
Airwallex acquired Leapfin, a financial data automation platform focused on revenue recognition and reconciliation. The companies did not disclose financial terms.
11:16 AMFinextra
Evoke, the owner of William Hill, agreed to a £243 million offer from gaming group Bally’s Intralot after putting itself up for sale. The decision followed pressure on earnings from steep UK gambling tax increases.
3:35 AMFinancial Times
Summary
Mortgage Forward will acquire First Federal Bank’s third party origination unit, including QRL Financial. The deal is expected to close in Q3 2026.
Why it matters
The transaction shifts TPO capacity and relationships to a consolidator, reshaping broker access and competitive pricing in a pressured wholesale market.

Summary
American Pacific Mortgage closed a merger that brings Synergy One Lending into the company as a DBA, creating a combined mortgage production platform with about $14 billion in annual volume. Steve Majerus was named president as part of the transaction.
Why it matters
The deal strengthens APM's ability to compete in a tight mortgage market by adding volume and leadership while keeping the acquired production engine intact.

Summary
Airwallex acquired Leapfin, a financial data automation platform focused on revenue recognition and reconciliation. The companies did not disclose financial terms.
Why it matters
Airwallex is using M&A to move up the value chain from processing payments to owning financial reporting workflows.

Summary
Evoke, the owner of William Hill, agreed to a £243 million offer from gaming group Bally’s Intralot after putting itself up for sale. The decision followed pressure on earnings from steep UK gambling tax increases.
Why it matters
The deal signals how fast UK tax policy is reshaping gambling M&A by pushing leveraged or subscale operators toward consolidation or exit.
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