The Lede

National Mortgage News, Apr. 13, 2018--Bonnie Sinnock (subscription)New home purchase applications were 14% higher than the previous month, but they were 2.6% lower than they were in March 2017, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's Building Application Survey.

USA Today, Apr. 13, 2018--Kevin McCoyFederal regulators are seeking a $1 billion payment from Wells Fargo to settle problems with mortgage and auto loan issues, along with compliance risk management concerns, the bank said Friday as it reported its first-quarter earnings.

HousingWire, Apr. 13, 2018--Kelsey RamirezIn the first quarter, JPMorgan Chase saw a significant increase in its earnings from both the previous quarter and previous year--despite the drag from its mortgage origination volume.

Reuters, Apr. 13, 2018--Sweta Singh, David HenryCitigroup Inc. reported a higher-than-expected quarterly profit on Friday, driven by strength in its consumer banking business and a surge in equities trading.

Bloomberg, Apr. 13, 2018--Elizabeth DexheimerThe House passed legislation Friday that would make the Federal Reserve the sole regulator in charge of the Volcker Rule, a change that Wall Street banks have sought for years because they believe it will make complying with the controversial provision less burdensome.

Mortgage Daily, Apr. 13, 2018Although quarterly home lending was significantly lower at First Republic Bank, residential asset holdings expanded and earnings were stronger.

Mortgage Daily, Apr. 13, 2018A tool for predicting upcoming originations, the Mortgage Daily U.S. Mortgage Market Index, increased nearly 3 percent from the previous week during the seven days ended April 13.

Wall Street Journal, Apr. 15, 2018--Ryan Tracy, Christina Rexrode (subscription)Smaller banks say deregulation bill doesn't go far enough and mainly benefits the biggest regional banks.

UExpress, Apr. 13, 2018--Lew SichelmanIt used to be that homebuyers had to pay off their past-due federal taxes to obtain financing. But no more, at least not when the mortgage is being purchased by Fannie Mae.

The Mortgage Bankers Association's annual National Advocacy Conference takes place Apr. 24-25 at the Capital Hilton in Washington, D.C.

MISMO launched a new group to discuss the potential for using blockchain in the industry and invited interested parties to participate.