"Countrywide" Name Now a Goner

CALABASAS, CA—

It was a name synonymous with the housing bubble and crash. Now it’s gone.

The people are the same, but Bank of America launched a new brand, eliminating all remnants of Countrywide Financial Corp.

As part of its new image, Bank of America Home Loans will provide prospective borrowers with an interactive guide to help homeowners and home buyers understand the criteria behind the lending process.

B of A bought up Countrywide, headquartered here in Calabasas, last July after the company was hit by a massive number of delinquencies and foreclosures in its loan portfolio.

Many people consider Countrywide as one of the main culprits behind the financial crisis by providing subprime and adjustable-rate mortgages to borrowers who couldn’t afford the deals.