Takara has announced the formation of its Board of Advisors, a group of financial services and housing industry leaders tasked with providing strategic guidance for the company’s DREAM (Discount for Real Estate Affordability and Mobility) program. The advisors bring expertise from credit unions, banks, fintech companies, and regulatory agencies, aiming to address the mortgage lock-in crisis.
The DREAM program is designed to address the mortgage lock-in effect, which impacts both households and financial institutions. Millions of Americans are currently in low-rate mortgages, and DREAM seeks to offer a solution that aligns borrower affordability with institutional balance sheet objectives. Jonathan Arad, CEO of Takara, stated that the advisors’ insights and global perspectives are crucial for bringing change to the mortgage industry, helping to build financial products that enhance flexibility, fairness, and mobility for homeowners and lenders.
The advisory board includes Chris Harris, former CFO and Chief Strategy Officer at SAFE Credit Union; Debbie Matz, former Chair of the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA); Brad Blackwell, former EVP of Homeownership Growth at Wells Fargo; Reva Rao, Head of Digital Transformation at Blend and former Chief Lending Officer at Travis Credit Union; Jim Finn, President & CEO of The Kerryman Finn and former CEO of Construction FCU; Fred Campobasso, Chief Lending Officer at GLCU; and Jim Cotton, former Head of Origination at PenFed & Freddie Mac. Dennis Devine, former CEO of Alliant Credit Union, also contributed, noting that Takara’s approach allows financial institutions to solve member problems while strengthening their financial position.
Debbie Matz commented, “The DREAM program represents the kind of thoughtful innovation our industry needs to serve members better.” The collective experience of the advisors spans consumer banking, credit union operations, regulatory oversight, mortgage origination, and digital transformation, all relevant to deploying solutions in the housing market. Their involvement is intended to help Takara create a program that integrates with existing infrastructure and provides measurable results for borrowers and lenders.
Takara’s platform combines technical innovation with practical implementation, enabling credit unions and banks to offer mortgage payoff discounts without incurring losses, while assisting members in regaining mobility. The company aims to provide yield, liquidity, and growth for lenders while addressing the needs of homeowners. Takara is a financial technology company focused on solutions for mobility and affordability in the U.
S. mortgage market, with the DREAM program designed to enable homeowners to move more freely and empower credit unions and banks to improve balance sheet efficiency.
