Of those, mortgage servicing seems the likely workhorse for a reconditioned Lomas.

The cost trims helped to offset declines in the combined bank's mortgage servicing and investment banking businesses.

Today, Fleet, based in Providence, gets 40 percent of its earnings from such non-bank activities as consumer finance, mortgage servicing and factoring.

The company cited strong growth in consumer loans and higher fees for mortgage servicing and investment banking.

There is no legal definition in the United States for predatory mortgage servicing.

The landmark report has been cited by several state and federal judges in decisions related to predatory mortgage servicing and foreclosure practices.

She added that mortgage servicing would add a new dimension to the company's mortgage insurance unit.

Other major financial institutions have been moving or expanding into mortgage servicing.

Since then, Benson's business interests have expanded to include banking, mortgage servicing, real estate development and management, geothermal power, manufacturing, trucking, restaurants and cable television.

The remaining 45 percent comes from non-banking activities, including mortgage servicing, venture capital, data processing, factoring and consumer finance.