MBA 2026 Chair Christine Chandler: ‘Stronger Together’
(Image by Anneliese Mahoney)
LAS VEGAS–We are all stronger when we work together–and we have some amazing opportunities to move forward together, MBA 2026 Chair and Executive Vice President, Chief Credit Officer and Chief Operating Officer with M&T Realty Capital Corp. Christine Chandler said.
Speaking at the Mortgage Bankers Association 2025 Annual Convention & Expo, Chandler shared a little about her background.
“I think that if I give you a sense of where I come from, you’ll have a better sense of where I believe we can go, as one united team. If there’s a word that describes me, I think it’s ‘first.’ I’m a first-generation American. My mother and her family moved here from Europe after World War II and settled in the D.C. area, and from an early age, they rooted me in a love of community. That’s why I got into this line of work — because I want to help people build that same sense of community.”
“I’m also the first person in my family to go to college. But I actually went to college twice. The first time, I dropped out after a year. That’s when I met my husband, a home builder and renovator, and I helped him out in my early 20s. But when we had our daughter, I needed a job with stability, and–more importantly–benefits, and a friend put me in touch with the bank I still work for today. After a few months, though, I realized I wanted to finish my degree, and be a role model for my daughter. So I went back to college, and this time, I finished.”
“Finally–and this has been true since day one on the job–I’m the first person to ask: What can I do next? I’ve always wanted to take on new projects. I’ve always wanted to try out new roles. And in my 34 years at M&T Bank, I feel like I’ve done every job under the sun. Sales. Underwriting. Closing. Management. I’ve seen this industry from so many angles—both residential and commercial. And it’s given me a deep appreciation for all my colleagues, and even my competitors. Everyone in this room makes a real difference in America. And everyone should be grateful for your leadership.”
Chandler noted that when she started at what was then First National Bank of Maryland, she had no idea where she might end up. “I didn’t expect to become Chief Operating Officer in 2018, a job that I hold and love to this day. And I certainly never thought I’d get so involved with the MBA,” she said. “Three decades ago, I didn’t even know this group existed. But I’ve since come to realize that no trade association is more important for our industry–or more effective at getting results.”
“I say that as someone who’s tried to get involved in everything the MBA has to offer. I can’t help it–like I said, I always ask what I can do next. One of the first things I did was volunteer as a trainer for MBA’s education programs. I saw firsthand how we help industry professionals do their job at the highest level. And I saw how we raise up the next generation of leaders and lenders. Without our education programs, our industry wouldn’t be nearly as strong.”
“I also saw how we move the ball forward on affordable housing. I served as the first co-chair of MBA’s Affordable Rental Housing Advisory Council. We came up with some real solutions, and we worked hard to put legs under them. I also served as chair of COMBOG, which is MBA’s commercial and multifamily board of governors. Affordable housing was a big topic there–because housing affects every part of our industry.”
Chandler noted she has seen the difference that MBA advocacy makes at every step of her involvement with MBA. “In fact, I think we’re more effective than almost anyone realizes,” she said. “My experience with MBA has given me a profound respect for the work it does, and the team it has. And it has shaped my vision of where we can grow and make an even bigger impact. As chair, I have three priorities.”
“The first is raising up the next generation of leaders and lenders.”
“The second is doubling down on affordable housing, for the sake of communities and our economy.”
“And my third and final priority is to get more MBA members involved in our advocacy. This is actually my biggest priority. It’s key to everything else we need to achieve.”
Chandler expanded on each point, starting with the future leaders of the industry. “The simple truth is that we’re in the middle of a generational shift,” she said. “The Baby Boomers are retiring. The older Gen X-ers, like myself, aren’t that far behind. If we’re going to keep our companies and our country moving forward, we need a deep bench of talented people, who are ready to rise and take the big roles.”
“MBA can help with this. I encourage all of you to get your teams involved in our Future Leaders programs–we have one for residential, and another for commercial and multifamily. And we also offer a network for young professionals, called mPact. We can help you train the most promising members of your teams through the hundreds of programs within MBA Education. And we can help your companies prepare for the future.”
“My next priority is affordable housing. It’s a topic we all know very well, and I’d like to thank our past chairs for all their efforts. I’m building on their foundation, and I’m especially focused on breaking barriers in Washington, D.C. One thing’s for sure: We have lots of opportunities. MBA is now moving to lower the cost of reporting products and scores. We want an alternative to tri-merge, and we’re working with FHFA and the GSEs to bring greater competition to credit scores. I’m glad to report that we’ve already secured an early win–FHFA has cleared the way for the GSEs to soon begin accepting VantageScore, bringing more competition to the credit reporting space.”
“More broadly, our policy team is working to relieve the regulatory burden, which is frankly out of control. We want FHA and Ginnie Mae to become better partners to the industry. And we want to bring back more private capital to compete with government programs. As we make progress on these efforts, we’ll advance the cause of affordable housing, by making financing easier and cheaper, to access.”
Chandler said all this work dovetails with her third–and biggest–priority: advocacy. “I’m so focused on this because it’s far-and-away the most important thing the MBA does. We all know that advocacy matters. You’ve heard about it from this stage, going back years, even decades. You’ve also read about it in MBA’s newsletters. Or maybe you’ve listened to podcasts that speak to this reality. But take it from me: Hearing or reading about advocacy is fundamentally different from doing advocacy. And nothing compares to getting directly involved.”
“I speak from firsthand experience,” she said. “I’ve spent the better part of the last few years talking with lawmakers, regulators, and leaders at the highest levels of the federal government. Trust me when I say that when the MBA talks, they listen. And they especially listen when you’re the one talking. There’s no better proof than what just happened with Trigger Leads. After two years of round-the-clock work, we finally got a bipartisan ban across the finish line. I want to make one thing clear. We achieved this victory because members like you spoke out. This is your victory–and your voice made all the difference!”
“It’s nice to win, isn’t it? Well, guess what: If more of our members spoke out, we could achieve even more than we already do,” Chandler noted. “So, today, I’m asking all of you to learn more about MORPAC. I’m asking all of you to sign up for the Mortgage Action Alliance. And I’m asking all of you to come to Washington, D.C. for our national advocacy conference each year. There’s no better chance to meet with the leaders who make decisions. And there’s no better chance to influence those decisions for the better.”
“We need you involved whether you’re residential, commercial, or multifamily. And we need you to engage on every issue, even when you think it doesn’t affect you. The truth is, it does affect you, because we’re all one industry. So let’s stand together, and let’s rise together–because if the MBA proves anything, it’s that we are alwaysstronger together.”
Chandler said whether the issue is advocacy, affordable housing or empowering the next generation, she chose her priorities because they matter to you, MBA members. “At the end of the day, you are my biggest priority, and the reason is simple,” she said. “You do the work that matters most. I want to help you do even more good for even more people and communities.”
“As I close, I simply want to thank you for everything you do. And I thank you for entrusting me with the responsibility of serving you. I’m confident MBA will deliver for you in the year ahead. And every time we do, I’m going to ask the same question as always: What can I do next–for you?”
