Longbridge Financial, headquartered in Mahwah, New Jersey, is one of the nation’s leading reverse mortgage lenders and servicers. The company is licensed in 49 states plus the District of Columbia, giving it near-national coverage for both HECM and proprietary reverse mortgage products.

Leadership

Longbridge’s leadership includes:

• Christopher Mayer, Chief Executive Officer

• Manjiang Xu, President and Chief Operating Officer

2025 Market Position

According to national endorsement data for 2025, Longbridge remains one of the strongest performers in the industry. Longbridge:

• Originated 3,107 reverse mortgages in 2025

• Up from 2,224 in 2024 — a 40% year-over-year increase

• Holds a 15.0% national market share (up from 11.5%)

• Is the #3 reverse mortgage lender in the United States

• Continues to see its largest production volume in California

Longbridge experienced the strongest percentage growth of any major lender in 2025, highlighting its accelerated expansion in both HECM and proprietary programs.

Source: https://www.rminsight.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Lenders_202509.pdf

Company Background

Longbridge Financial was founded in 2012, bringing together financial experts from institutions such as New York Life, Fidelity, and MetLife. The company quickly evolved into a full-service national reverse mortgage lender and servicer with a strong footprint in both retail and wholesale channels.

A major shift occurred when co-founder John Sinclair departed in 2013, and Dr. Christopher Mayer, a noted academic and real estate economist, assumed the role of CEO. Mayer brought extensive experience from the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, the University of Michigan, the University of Pennsylvania, and Columbia University.

Under Mayer’s leadership, Longbridge has emphasized a disciplines, research-driven operating model. The company is known for its analytic approach to mortgage valuation, borrower risk assessment, and capital market execution.

Capital Markets Strength & GNMA Issuer Status

Longbridge retains the servicing rights for the loans it originates and is approved as a Ginnie Mae (GNMA) issuer — a capability still limited to a handful of reverse mortgage lenders. This allows Longbridge to issue HMBS (Home Equity Conversion Mortgage-Backed Securities) directly, providing:

• Greater control over servicing performance

• Long-term portfolio stability

• More flexible capital market execution

• Direct access to liquidity through GNMA channels

Longbridge’s early strategic partnerships with institutions such as BNY Mellon and Ellington Financial helped build its capital markets infrastructure and accelerated its growth into a top-tier reverse mortgage servicer.

Reverse Mortgage Products

Longbridge offers both federally insured and proprietary options:

HECM Reverse Mortgages

• HECM Standard

• HECM for Purchase

• HECM Refinance

• Line of credit, lump sum, and tenure/term payment structures

Proprietary Reverse Mortgage — The Platinum

Longbridge’s proprietary reverse mortgage product — Platinum — serves homeowners with higher-value properties or condo units that do not meet FHA approval. Product highlights include:

• Loan amounts above FHA’s national lending limit

• More flexible property eligibility

• Options tailored to borrowers with substantial home equity

Longbridge distributes Platinum through retail, wholesale, and financial-planning channels.

Operational Philosophy

Longbridge emphasizes a data-driven, research-based approach to lending decisions. Mayer has stated that the company’s academic foundation informs its modeling, pricing, compliance, and servicing operations. Its internal culture prioritizes:

• Capital markets discipline

• Conservative credit standards

• Long-term borrower performance

• Integrity in loan recommendations

Longbridge publicly states that it will decline a loan if it determines the product would negatively impact a borrower’s financial stability.

Growth and Strategic Position (2025)

Longbridge’s growth trajectory in 2025 has strengthened its position as one of the most important reverse mortgage participants in the industry. Recent key indicators include:

• The largest year-over-year growth rate among top lenders (+40%)

• A significant rise in market share to 15%

• Consistent top-three national ranking

• Continued expansion of its proprietary Platinum program

• Deepening relationships with financial planners, brokers, and retirement advisors

Its GNMA issuer status and servicing scale further differentiate Longbridge from non-servicing competitors.

Summary

Longbridge Financial has transitioned from a boutique startup into a nationally recognized leader in reverse mortgage origination and servicing. With strong, academically driven leadership, a robust servicing platform, nationwide HECM licensing, and one of the strongest proprietary products on the market, Longbridge is poised to be a major force in the reverse mortgage industry heading into 2025.