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Innovation Investment Fee

Support the Future of Mortgage Finance

Pay MISMO’s Innovation Investment Fee

A faster, more efficient, more connected mortgage ecosystem is within reach—but only if the industry continues to invest in the standards that make it possible. MISMO, a non-profit and subsidiary of the Mortgage Banker Association, drives the collaboration, consistency, and innovation needed to move critical data and documents seamlessly between partners. Your support fuels that progress.

Why Your Investment as a Lender Matters

The mortgage industry is rapidly evolving. To stay ahead, we must:

  • Standardize data and documents across the lifecycle
  • Power technology that enables seamless information exchange
  • Reduce friction for lenders, servicers, and consumers
  • Build a digital foundation that strengthens efficiency and lowers costs

MISMO’s work addresses these challenges directly—but it requires sustained, industry-wide support. Paying the Innovation Investment Fee (IIF) provides that support.

What Is the Innovation Investment Fee?

Launched in February 2021, the IIF was created to fund MISMO’s work to advance:

  • Efficiency and cost reduction
  • Interoperability across systems and partners
  • Digital transformation
  • Innovation and modernization of the mortgage process

More than 3,000 lenders—from small originators to the largest institutions—have already invested in the future of our industry by paying the fee. Their support enables MISMO to build the standards that create a more consistent, affordable, and scalable mortgage market.

How the Fee Works

The Innovation Investment Fee is just $0.75 per loan origination—a model endorsed by both the MBA and the MISMO Boards of Directors to accelerate the development and adoption of industry standards.

Here’s how the process works:

  • Billing Agent: MERSCORP calculates the amount due and sends the invoice on MISMO’s behalf.
  • Calculation: The invoice is based on the prior year’s MERS® System registrations.
    • Example: 1,000 registrations last year = $750 due this year.
  • Voluntary but Vital: Today, payment is voluntary, but these funds directly sustain MISMO’s standards development.
  • Direct Investment: 100% of funds go directly to MISMO.
  • Minimum suggested payment: If your calculation equals less than $250, you’ll receive an invoice for the minimum payment of $250.

Become a MISMO Member: Enhanced Benefits for Lenders Paying $1,000+

Lenders who pay $1,000 or more in Innovation Investment Fees automatically become MISMO Members, unlocking a wide range of high-value benefits that support operational efficiency, risk management, staff development, and industry influence.

Key MISMO Member Benefits Include:

1. Influence and Visibility in the Standards That Shape the Industry

  • Full eligibility to participate in MISMO workgroups and collaborate with peers, technology providers, GSEs, regulators, and investors
  • Opportunities to shape standards, best practices, and key industry initiatives
  • Voting rights on standards proposed for public comment and final approval

2. Access to Member-Only Knowledge and Resources

  • Exclusive research, work products, and draft standards
  • Access to technical documentation, implementation guides, and tools not available to non-members

3. Professional Development and Training

  • Complimentary or discounted registration for MISMO events, educational webinars, and certification programs
  • Opportunities for staff to build recognized industry expertise
  • Access to member-only community forums and learning resources

4. Networking and Leadership Opportunities

  • Ability to join leadership committees and serve in volunteer roles
  • Priority access at MISMO Summits and collaborative industry workshops
  • Direct engagement with industry leaders driving modernization

5. Recognition and Brand Value

  • Your organization listed publicly as a MISMO Member
  • Demonstrates commitment to industry excellence, compliance, and modernization
  • Strengthens your reputation with investors, regulators, partners, and consumers
  • Thought leadership opportunities within the MISMO Community and industry at large

 

Resources & Set-Up Support

MISMO provides all the information you need to manage and pay the fee easily:

What Lenders Should Do Next

To ensure smooth processing each year, lenders are encouraged to:

  • Budget to pay the Innovation Investment Fee in 2026; invoices will be sent in February 2026
  • Set up MISMO as an approved vendor in their Vendor Management system
  • Create an internal process to manage and route the annual invoice to ensure it’s received by decision-makers.
  • Contact [email protected] for assistance or additional information

Your Support Powers Industry Progress

MISMO leads the work that helps lenders reduce costs, improve efficiency, strengthen interoperability, and create a better mortgage experience for consumers and industry participants alike. Our standards deliver measurable benefits across every step of the mortgage process.

Your investment directly supports this essential work—funding the standards that will shape a faster, more reliable, and more modern mortgage market.

Thank you for supporting MISMO and the Innovation Investment Fee.
Together, we are building the future of mortgage finance.