What is the fee earned for originating a loan called?

The fee earned for originating a loan is known as the origination fee. This fee is charged by the lender for evaluating and preparing a mortgage loan application and is typically a percentage of the loan amount. It compensates the lender for the work involved in processing and underwriting the loan, including credit checks, application review, and other administrative tasks necessary to bring the loan to fruition.

The origination fee is distinct from other fees associated with the mortgage process, such as processing fees, which cover the cost of gathering and organizing the required documents for the loan, administrative fees related to overhead costs, and service charges that may apply to various aspects of loan servicing. Each of these other fees serves different functions within the mortgage lending process, but only the origination fee specifically refers to the cost of originating the loan itself.