1.   Prudential is the fourth largest mortgage lender in the US.

2.   Analysts say the three largest mortgage lenders, Halifax Plc, Abbey National Plc and Lloyds TSB Group Plc, may be interested in bidding for Nationwide.

3.   Countrywide Home Loans, one of the largest mortgage lenders in the nation, also is increasing staff and expects to process more loans than ever.

4.   Garrison works for PMI Inc., one of the largest private mortgage insurers in the country.

5.   In California alone, it would rank second to BankAmerica Corp. in terms of deposit share, and it would be the largest mortgage originator in the state.

6.   Most of all, it requires that one not become house-poor by swallowing the largest possible mortgage for the longest possible term and aggressively trading up.

7.   The largest mortgage lenders tend to buy more loans from brokers or other third parties rather than make the loans themselves.

8.   The largest mortgage processors, like Chase, Norwest and Countrywide Credit Industries Inc., can profitably acquire smaller competitors by folding new accounts into their own processing systems.

9.   Abbey National, the second largest mortgage lender, said it saw no reason to raise interest rates at this time.

10.   Dime owns North American Mortgage, one of the largest residential mortgage issuers in the nation.