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Annaly's Arm Upgrades Non-Agency Capabilities With MeridianLink

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Key Takeaways

  • Annaly's Onslow Bay unit adopted MeridianLink Mortgage, shifting from third-party to in-house LOS.
  • The platform enhances automation, data workflows and execution across non-agency lending operations.
  • The move supports Annaly's push into credit-focused assets and expansion of its correspondent network.

Annaly Capital Management, Inc.’s (NLY - Free Report) wholly-owned subsidiary, Onslow Bay Financial LLC (Onslow Bay), a long-term residential mortgage investor, has implemented MeridianLink Mortgage, a loan origination system developed by MeridianLink, Inc.

The implementation marks a shift from a third-party vendor to an in-house loan origination system (LOS), giving Onslow Bay greater control over its recently launched non-agency correspondent platform. The move is expected to enhance execution, streamline underwriting and improve engagement with originator partners.

Details of Annaly’s Arm Platform Enhancement

MeridianLink Mortgage is an end-to-end digital lending solution designed to simplify the mortgage origination process from application to approval. The platform supports automation, data-driven decision-making and integrated workflows, helping lenders improve speed and accuracy.

With this implementation, Onslow Bay has gained full ownership of its loan origination process, reducing reliance on third-party systems. The transition enhances visibility across its non-delegated correspondent whole loan platform and enables more streamlined execution of lending activities.

The platform also enables NLY’s subsidiary to improve data workflows, reduce manual touchpoints and bring greater consistency across the lending process. This is expected to strengthen partner relationships and support long-term operational performance while maintaining transparency and control.

Additionally, MeridianLink’s open API framework enables integration with a broad ecosystem of more than 400 partners, supporting scalability as Onslow Bay expands its originator network. The system is expected to serve as a core component of the company’s digital infrastructure, enabling growth in loan volumes over time.

The increasing adoption of digital lending platforms is not limited to Annaly but is also gaining traction across the broader financial services industry. In February 2026, Rocket Companies (RKT - Free Report) announced a three-year strategic alliance with Compass, Inc. (COMP - Free Report) to integrate home search, real estate brokerage and mortgage financing into a unified platform, aimed at simplifying the homebuying process and expanding housing inventory.

RKT and COMP are integrating mortgage offerings directly into digital real estate workflows to streamline the homebuying process and improve efficiency. These developments reflect a broader shift toward integrated, technology-driven platforms across the mortgage market.

How Does Platform Enhancement Support Annaly?

The implementation of MeridianLink Mortgage aligns with Annaly’s strategy to expand its presence in higher-yielding, credit-focused mortgage assets beyond traditional Agency securities. Strengthening capabilities at its Onslow Bay unit supports the company’s efforts to scale its non-agency lending operations.

Onslow Bay serves as a key platform for Annaly’s whole loan acquisition and securitization activities. Thus, the platform enhancement is expected to improve loan sourcing and deepen relationships with mortgage originators as the company expands its correspondent network.

NLY’s Zacks Rank & Price Performance

In the past year, shares of Annaly have gained 12.8% compared with the industry’s 4.9% growth.

Zacks Investment ResearchImage Source: Zacks Investment Research

Currently, NLY carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

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