Ebony Smith
Fort Worth,TX
Summary
Mortgage professional with over 10 years of experience specializing in default servicing. Extensive knowledge of claims processes with a strong ability to reconcile accounts, audit timelines, and ensure compliance with investor guidelines and requirements. Detail-oriented and analytical, with a proven aptitude for quickly grasping new information and applying current knowledge to drive accuracy, efficiency, and risk mitigation.
Professional claims specialist with strong record in handling and resolving complex claims efficiently. Adept at analyzing data, identifying discrepancies, and providing solutions that drive positive outcomes. Effective team collaborator with focus on achieving results and adapting to evolving requirements.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Claims Specialist
Colonial Savings F.A
Fort Worth, TX
10.2022 - 03.2026
- Prepare and submit reimbursement requests for advances and expenses to investors in accordance with servicing guidelines.
- Establish and monitor claim timelines, accurately calculating due dates to ensure milestone compliance.
- Identify, gather, review, and package required documentation to support complete and accurate claim filings.
- Process Fannie Mae (FNMA) claims through Property 360, ensuring timely submission, accurate calculations, and compliance with investor guidelines.
- Managed a high volume of claims effectively by prioritizing tasks and maintaining excellent organizational skills.
- Perform detailed escrow analysis through the date of default, identifying the last positive escrow balance and validating transaction history for all credits, payments, taxes paid, and insurances paid to ensure accurate claim calculations.
- Complete and validate Form SG-332 for USDA claims, ensuring accuracy of calculations, supporting documentation, and adherence to USDA servicing and reimbursement guidelines to prevent delays or denials.
- Maintain consistent cross-functional communication with Foreclosure and REO teams to coordinate post-sale activities, ensure required documentation is obtained, and facilitate timely claim filing in compliance with investor and regulatory deadlines.
- Review loan histories and expense activity to determine recoverable expenses across all claim types, ensuring proper reimbursement.
- Utilize eMAQCS plus to process, validate, and submit claims, ensuring accurate calculations, proper documentation, and adherence to FHLB requirements to prevent delays or curtailments.
- Analyze and decision expenses to determine claim eligibility based on investor, MI, and regulatory requirements.
- Manage assigned claim inventory to ensure all milestones and regulatory deadlines are met.
- Track, report, and resolve exceptions and missing documentation; utilize reporting as a key control to minimize financial and compliance risk.
- File and manage a wide range of claim types, including:
- FHLB REO
- USDA Settle at Acquisition
- FNMA Payment Deferral
- FNMA Flex Modification
- FHLMC Payment Deferral
- Part A & B Claims
- Supplemental Claims
- Loss Mitigation Claims
- CWCOT & Conveyance Claims
- COVID-19 Partial Claims
- Modifications & HAMP Partial Claims
- Utilized Catalyst to input claim data and P260 to upload and maintain supporting documentation, ensuring completeness, accuracy, and adherence to investor and regulatory guidelines.
- Conduct detailed research on high-risk and escalated files, providing comprehensive findings and resolution strategies.
- Maintain strict adherence to departmental policies, investor guidelines, and regulatory requirements.
- Prioritize workload to ensure timely, accurate resolution for both internal stakeholders and external partners.
- Ensure all claims are calculated, reviewed, and submitted in compliance with USDA requirements, FHA, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHLB, investor regulations, and applicable state laws.
Quality Control Claims Analyst
Decision Ready Solutions
06.2021 - 07.2022
- Prepares and submits request for reimbursement of advances/expenses to the investor.
- Fiserv/LoanServ, MCS, Tempo, Blacknight, LoanSphere.
- Establishes claims timelines and calculates due dates.
- Identifies, gathers and packages required documentation in support of claim.
- Decisions each expense to determine if claimable.
- Manages all assigned claims to ensure all required milestone(s) are met.
- Reports and follows up on exceptions and missing documents reporting used as key controls for minimizing risk.
- Part A and B Claim Filing, Supplemental Claim Filing, Loss Mitigation Claim Filing, CWCOT, Conveyance claims, COVID Partial Claims, Modifications, and HAMP Partial Claims
- Performs required research on high risk/escalated files, providing a detailed account.
- Follow departmental and business policies with strict adherence
- Prioritize allocated work to ensure timely and accurate resolution to both external and internal partners
- Ensure that all claims are calculated and completed within MI, FHA, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, investor regulations and state laws.
Claims Processor /Quality Control Analyst
BSI Financial
05.2020 - 04.2022
- Partial Claims (Non-Emergency, Modification, Hamp)
- Prepares and files all FHA, VA, USDA, PMI, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and investor conveyances
- Claims timely and accurately according to investor/insurer guidelines and requirements.
- QC claims processed by other
- Analyze all past claims filed to determine possible recoverability, report on identifiable recoverable vs non recoverables losses
- Prepares, files, and tracks all Fannie Mae Interim Claims.
- Follows up on all outstanding conveyance and claim proceeds.
- Performs a loan level reconciliation for all claim proceeds between the amount claimed, the amount paid, and the outstanding loan indebtedness including all escrow and corporate advances.
- Prepares and files supplemental claims and work with other departments as it relates to vendor bill backs as needed.
- Provides posting instructions for all claim proceeds within 24 hours of the receipt of the claim proceeds.
- Ensures all loans are liquidated timely (0 principal balance) within 24 hours of receipt of the final claim proceeds.
- Reviews, follows-up and ensures the timely and accurate completion of all regular scheduled steps including outstanding /late steps in the foreclosure tracking templates pertaining to claims/post foreclosure sale activities daily. Inputs the completion date on the date the action occurs.
- Obtains approval and modifies the scheduled date to a date in the future when a step in the process cannot be completed. Performs routine follow-up daily.
- Keep manager informed of all trends and problems including, but not limited, claim denials/curtailments, FHA reconveyance, FHA offsets, delays in getting properties in conveyance condition, title problems resulting in title denial.
Claims Processor
NewBold Advisors
09.2019 - 02.2020
- Process foreclosure claims and conveyances (FHA PART A, PART B, CWCOT, FNMA, FHLMC, MI, Loss Mitigation)
- Familiar with HUD 27011 claim form, FHA Connection
- MSP, WebDirect, Fiserv, Cloud Claims
- Documentations as Special Forbearance letters, Trail payment agreements Loan Modification agreements
Claims/Bill Back Analyst
Newbold Advisors
03.2018 - 03.2019
- Work remotely for one of the top 10 mortgage servicers reviewing and validating bill back requests
- Utilize past knowledge of claims filing process to determine if bill back requests are supported by claim filing forms and servicer invoices located in Loanspan and Loansphere
- Research FNMA, FHMLC, FHA and VA guidelines to determine if the servicer filed claims timely that would result in either servicing or filing error
- Reconcile bill back items to MSP Explorer and reported findings of each bill back request to the servicer with disposition to either allow or deny reimbursement
Default Claim Analyst/Loan Specialist
ClearSpring Loan Services
08.2017 - 10.2017
- Reviewed and analyzed supplemental mortgage insurance (FHA) claims submitted by financial institutions seeking reimbursement from HUD. These reviews are to determine the completeness, accuracy and compliance of claim with HUD’s regulations
- Provided final decision based on review to pay, deny, or return to the servicer/lender for additional documentation
Default Reconciliation Analyst
Newbold Advisors
02.2016 - 12.2016
- Reimbursed Primary functions include preparing detailed loan level final loan loss reconciliations, for various loan types to include, FHA VA, Conventional and USDA accounts.
- Reconciles and monitors default related general ledger accounts
- Research and resolve variances between escrow and corporate advance receivables and funds from insurers, investors and vendors.
- Prepares default accounting reports for tracking of loan reconciliation losses and associated causes, inventory tracking and other reports for management.
- Prepare billing transactions for reimbursement requests to third parties.
- Timely processing of transactions required for final clearing of system balances as required, daily cash received in the default departments via checks and wires, including reinstatements, payoffs, claim reimbursements, third party proceeds and vendor refunds
- Review accounts that were process for errors using MSP
- Research documents to make sure in accurate location
- Review document to collect data to record
- Collect all information needed from documents requested
Default Claims Specialist
Citibank/Randstad
08.2015 - 02.2016
- Process initial, supplemental, and final claims to investors for billing.
- Research REO, Short Sale, Foreclosure accounts for claim filing
- Perform an analysis for all claims transactions
- Reconcile all claims funds received using MSP
- Reconciled payments from HUD and provided billing expenses to the servicer and non-servicer in foreclosure areas: primary and secondary insurance, government claims, payment approvals and research, and other collection activities.
- Developed both regular reports to monitor business unit/vendor production trends. Distributed reports to appropriate audiences or summarized findings for inclusion in other reports/presentations.
- Partnered with internal and external parties to resolve escalated or time sensitive collection issues and ensure an ongoing understanding of changes to processes/guidelines and related impacts.
Claims /Loss Mitigation Specialist
Bank of America/Pionear Recruiting
04.2013 - 10.2014
- Specialize in 601 HUD and FHA claims for foreclosure.
- Research documents pertaining to HUD claims using Yardi, FHA, LPS desktop management, LPS invoice, sharepoint, Focus, AS400, iPortal, and AACER.
- Order and coordinate loan documents
- Responsible to safeguard all confidential information gathered to complete necessary assignments.
- Files conveyances and claims to all investors and insurers after foreclosure sales for reimbursement of foreclosure, loss mitigation and bankruptcy expenses
- Ensuring all claims are filed within required timeframes to avoid losses
- Contact firms by utilizing company phone and email using Microsoft Outlook, for First Legal’s, Bankruptcy Dockets, Deed of Trust, Attorney Chronology's, Loss Mitigation, Notice of Default, and Notice of Sale.
- Responsible for Part A, Part B, and Supplemental claim filing.
- Manual balancing of loan history, previous servicer, and prior history in AS400 to determine correct calculation for escrow balance.
- Responsible for submitting claims to audit to make necessary corrections to finalize and return to HUD for all accountable funds owed.
- Responsible for reading and following Policy and Procedures to insure correct submission of government claims.
- Responsible for building zip files for assigned loans to insure accurate filing and submission.
- Vast knowledge of AS400, Iportal, FHA connection, Sharepoint, AACER, Yardi 260, LAMP and Safeguard.
- Maintain a high accuracy rate
Customer Service/Collection Representative/Loss Mitigation/Loan Processor
Washington Mutual/ JPMorgan Chase
04.2008 - 10.2012
- Foreclosure prevention
- Prepare judgment figures, payoffs and reinstatement quotes
- Work closely with attorneys, investor contacts and management to minimize risk and losses for the company
- Work with customers throughout the foreclosure process to answer questions they may have
- Ensure adherence to all state and federal laws
- Solicit Short Sale
- Input proper loan information into the system for processing.
- Properly process all workout alternatives in the servicing system
- Negotiate with debtors/customers regarding delinquent accounts.
- Negotiate payments arrangements, process payments, and document accounts
- Accurately process loans in alignment with established productivity metrics.
- Interact with realtors, brokers, mortgagors, attorneys and cardholders to develop equitable agreements
- Review and validate loan file for completeness and accuracy and ensure any deficiencies/ gaps are appropriately addressed and resolved prior to submitting to Underwriting or Closing.
- Ensure all required conditions are received and reviewed prior to submitting to Underwriting.
- Order and coordinate loan documents
- Meet critical deadlines requested
- In a high volume call center, directs activities related to collections
- Review paperwork related to Short Sales, Modifications, Bankruptcy and Foreclosures Loans
- Collections on aging loans 180+ days
- Solid background in collections and related activities
- Knowledgeable about FDCPA and Mini Miranda
- Review Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, and Conventional Loans
- Exceeded productivity goals of 100% and excelling on a monthly basis with a goal of 120% plus
- Numerous Awards for my achievements in Productivity and Quality Assurance
- Vast knowledge of RPC “Right party Contact” Lexis Nexis, Fast Data , Fastpay, ER “Early Resolutions”, MSP, and ICAT.
Education
Diploma -
Oscar Dean Wyatt High School
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University of North Texas
Skills
- Claims
- Claims processing
- Claims investigation
- Verbal communication
- Claims analysis
- Documentation review
- Attention to detail
- Organizing and prioritizing work
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Multitasking Abilities
- Claim amount calculations
- Data entry
- Regulatory compliance adherence
- Written communication
- Skilled in [software]
- Great mathematical skills
- Policy review
Timeline
Claims Specialist
Colonial Savings F.A
10.2022 - 03.2026
Quality Control Claims Analyst
Decision Ready Solutions
06.2021 - 07.2022
Claims Processor /Quality Control Analyst
BSI Financial
05.2020 - 04.2022
Claims Processor
NewBold Advisors
09.2019 - 02.2020
Claims/Bill Back Analyst
Newbold Advisors
03.2018 - 03.2019
Default Claim Analyst/Loan Specialist
ClearSpring Loan Services
08.2017 - 10.2017
Default Reconciliation Analyst
Newbold Advisors
02.2016 - 12.2016
Default Claims Specialist
Citibank/Randstad
08.2015 - 02.2016
Claims /Loss Mitigation Specialist
Bank of America/Pionear Recruiting
04.2013 - 10.2014
Customer Service/Collection Representative/Loss Mitigation/Loan Processor
Washington Mutual/ JPMorgan Chase
04.2008 - 10.2012
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University of North Texas
Diploma -
Oscar Dean Wyatt High School