In this episode of Mortgages Covered, Richard Kemmish, EMF-ECBC & ISMMA Consultant, is joined by Mike Breckner and Sarah Reuter from vdpResearch, to discuss their work mortgage appraisal, energy efficiency assessment, and risk modelling for mortgage lenders.

This Episode of Mortgages Covered explores:

• vdpResearch’s objective of providing effective solutions for its member banks.
• The practicalities of obtaining energy performance certificate.
• The use of existing data and property valuation expertise for successful estimation.
• The development of supplementary tools and services to support the assessment of climate-related risks.
• A risk-analysis tool designed to identify, calculate, and quantify exposure to natural hazards.

In this episode of Mortgages Covered, Richard Kemmish, EMF-ECBC & ISMMA Consultant, is joined by Joris Piete of Onesto, to discuss the challenges and opportunities involved in improving the energy performance of less energy-efficient homes.

This Episode of Mortgages Covered explores:

• Onesto’s 130-year commitment to supporting affordable home ownership through social mortgage lending.
• The challenges faced by lower-income households when purchasing and renovating homes.
• A one-stop-shop approach that combines mortgage financing with free energy and renovation advice.
• How energy renovations can improve EPC ratings while delivering significant energy and cost savings.
• The use of digital and AI-driven tools to support faster, more accurate renovation planning and cost estimation.

In this episode of Mortgages Covered,  Richard Kemmish, EMF-ECBC & ISMMA Consultant, is joined by Andrej Eichler and Matthias Neumann from Finnofleet, to discuss the critical role of data for issuers and how technology can improve operational efficiency.

This Episode of  Mortgages Covered covers:

1. The integration of Swiss and German operations into a unified group with a streamlined service offering.
2. Finnoofleet’s mission to enhance collateral management efficiency and help issuers maximize the benefits of covered bond funding.
3. The growing complexity of data and reporting requirements, and the need for systems to continuously adapt to regulatory and market expectations.
4. The export of proven DACH-region solutions to both established and emerging covered bond markets worldwide.

In this episode of Mortgages Covered, Richard Kemmish, EMF-ECBC & ISMMA Consultant, is joined by Alessandro Lodgiani Country Manager of R2M Solution in Italy, for a discussion on the practical dimensions of implementing energy-efficiency upgrades.

This Episode of Mortgages Covered explores:

• The integration of new key performance indicators (KPIs) into market frameworks and decision-making processes.
• RTM’s updated decarbonisation strategy at the European level
• Efforts to develop new professional figures capable of effectively utilising emerging technologies.  
• The establishment of testing laboratories to evaluate and integrate innovative technologies in support of sustainability strategies.
• The role of the revised EPBD in promoting harmonised building energy classifications across European countries.

In this episode of Mortgages Covered, Richard Kemmish, EMF-ECBC & ISMMA Consultant, speaks with Dag Hjelle of SR Boligkreditt about the current state of the Norwegian economy and recent developments in its mortgage market.

This Episode of Mortgages Covered explores:

• The use of SR Boligkreditt’s assets in the issuance of its recent ESG bond.
• Differences in market positioning and investor engagement associated with green bond issuance.
• The resilience of the green bond portfolio and the growing presence of buy-and-hold investors compared with traditional covered bonds.
• Future bond maturities and the prospects for continued issuance in green bond formats.

In this episode of Mortgages Covered, , Richard Kemmish, EMF-ECBC & ISMMA Consultant, is joined by David Michele of CRIF, to discuss the challenges related to the credit of the underlying borrower in the mortgage chain, particularly in the less developed markets.

This Episode of Mortgages Covered explores:

• The role of trusted data and credit information in enabling confident decision- making within increasingly risk-sensitive financial environments. 
• CRIF’s evolution as a data-driven credit management company, delivering credit bureau, analytics, and decision-support solutions across diverse markets.
• The impact of digital transformation on banking, and the importance of balancing global technology platforms with local market, regulatory, and cultural requirements.
• How credit market development shapes economic growth, financial inclusion, and market dynamics, generating insights at both the macroeconomic and microeconomic levels.

In this episode of Mortgages Covered, Richard Kemmish, EMF-ECBC & ISMMA Consultant, welcomes Rene Foertsch and Sven Gerhardt from Bloomberg for a discussion on the evolution of covered bonds and the growing demand for data-driven market intelligence. Together, they unpack the latest developments in covered bond analytics, market transparency, and the innovative tools shaping the future of the asset class.

This Episode of Mortgages Covered explores:

• Bloomberg’s integration of AI tools and enhanced covered bond analytics capabilities.  
• Improvements in secondary market transparency through TRACE reporting.  
• Changes to Bloomberg’s League Tables methodology to improve accuracy and objectivity.  
• A new, transparent methodology for calculating and assessing new issue premiums. 

In this episode of Mortgages Covered, Jennifer Johnson, EMF-ECBC Deputy Secretary General, is in conversation with Kyrre Knudsen, Chief Economist at SpareBank 1 Sør-Norge, on key developments in the Norwegian macroeconomic environment.

This Episode of Mortgages Covered explores:

• The stability of the Norwegian economy, supported by strong democratic and effective democracy. 
• Norway’s prudent management of one of the world’s largest oil funds, balancing resource utilisation with long-term savings objectives.
• Developments in the public and private sectors.
• Trends in the housing market, including declining house prices and turnover in the secondary housing market.
• Norway’s relationship with Europe, including future engagement with European partners and the potential joining of the EU. 

In this episode of Mortgages Covered, Oscar Mgaya, outgoing chairman ISMMA, is joined by Cosmas Kimario of KCB Bank Tanzania to provide an overview of the Eastern African market and discuss the African banking sector, as well as the potential of covered bonds as a funding instrument.

This Episode of Mortgages Covered explores:

• The rapid advancement of digitalisation and fintech deployment.
• The increasing prevalence of cross-border banking activities, including the expansion of banks beyond their domestic markets.
• Significant visible developments in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda.
• Strategic considerations for investors engaging with the regional market and its associated growth potential.
• The broader opportunities within the East African region.

The bond market is entering a new phase of technological transformation, where tokenisation, standardisation, and integrated workflows are increasingly reshaping how assets are issued, transferred, and managed.

In this episode of Mortgages Covered, Richard Kemmish, EMF-ECBC & ISMMA Consultant, is joined by Peter Kohl-Landgraf of DZ Bank to discuss recent developments and changes in the bond market.   

This Episode of Mortgages Covered explores:

• Tokenisation through algorithmic control, enabling direct transfer of tokens.
• The role of the public sector in facilitating standardisation.
• Key design considerations within the industry, including issues such as transparency.
• The importance of openness in enabling smaller investors to participate more easily in tokenised settlement processes on chain.
• The potential for technology to integrate the entire workflow and system chain into a unified structure.