Countrywide Financial Corp.

American corporation

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July 19, 2026

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Countrywide Financial Corporation was the largest American mortgage lender before its acquisition by Bank of America in 2008. This acquisition occurred during the global financial crisis of 2007-2008, a severe contraction of liquidity in global financial markets that originated in the United States due to the collapse of the housing market. Countrywide, along with Merrill Lynch, faced struggles during this period, and their acquisitions proved costly for Bank of America. Both Bank of America and Countrywide faced accusations of making risky mortgage loans and misrepresenting their quality to investors.12

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Bank of America
…institutions began to struggle, notably Countrywide Financial, the largest American mortgage lender, and Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. That year Bank of America bought both companies, and the acquisitions proved costly. In January 2009 Bank of America announced that it would receive $20 billion in U.S. government aid and an…
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…institutions began to struggle, notably Countrywide Financial, the largest American mortgage lender, and Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. That year Bank of America bought both companies, and the acquisitions proved costly. In January 2009 Bank of America announced that it would receive $20 billion in U.S. government aid and an…
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Henry Cisneros
…firms, including KB Home and Countrywide Financial. In those roles he was an advocate of home ownership for working-class families, a stance that earned him some criticism after the housing-market crash that began in 2007.
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…firms, including KB Home and Countrywide Financial. In those roles he was an advocate of home ownership for working-class families, a stance that earned him some criticism after the housing-market crash that began in 2007.
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Chris Dodd
…received special discounted loans from Countrywide Financial, a mortgage lender; he was eventually cleared of wrongdoing by the Senate ethics committee. Dodd was subsequently involved in health care reform, and he played a lead role in attempts to overhaul the country’s financial regulatory system in the wake of the subprime…
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…received special discounted loans from Countrywide Financial, a mortgage lender; he was eventually cleared of wrongdoing by the Senate ethics committee. Dodd was subsequently involved in health care reform, and he played a lead role in attempts to overhaul the country’s financial regulatory system in the wake of the subprime…
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