ANZ is close to finalising the sale of its wholesale mortgage distribution business Origin to Columbus Capital, the
Financial Review reported in its Street Talk column. The bank last tried to sell the business in 2007.
Origin is or was a third party funder of home loans. For some years it funded own-brand loans for Aussie Home Loans, a business lost to that company's one-third owner Commonwealth Bank.
Origin ceased providing new funding in late 2011.
Columbus is a niche mortgage funder that completed a couple of mortgage-backed securities issues in 2007 and 2008.