News release: “Performance on home mortgages serviced by the largest national banks and federally regulated thrifts declined for the seventh consecutive quarter in the fourth quarter of 2009, though home foreclosures slowed and new home retention actions continued strong, according to a report released today by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Office of Thrift Supervision. The OCC and OTS Mortgage Metrics Report for the Fourth Quarter 2009 showed the overall percentage of current and performing mortgages fell to 86.4 percent at the end of 2009, driven by an increase in mortgages that were 90 or more days past due. Prime mortgages, which make up two-thirds of the mortgages in the portfolio, continued to have the greatest increases in delinquency.”