Wells Fargo cuts 2,300 mortgage jobs

US banking giant Wells Fargo Wednesday said it was cutting 2,300 jobs due to declines in mortgage refinancings in the wake of higher interest rates. Wells Fargo, the nation's largest bank by market capitalization and the country's largest mortgage originator, gave a 60-day notice to the affected employees, who work on mortgage finance as part of a consumer lending group of more than 70,000 workers. While interest rates "remain very favorable by historical standards for homebuyers, a recent rise in rates has affected consumer demand for mortgage refinancing, causing volumes to fall below what we experienced throughout 2012 and early 2013," said a Wells Fargo statement. Wells Fargo's most recent earnings report in July said income from mortgage banking fell 3 percent, even as mortgage applications and mortgage originations rose. Wells Fargo officials acknowledged at the time that higher interest rates were a challenge in some respects, but characterized the overall housing market as "strong" given rising home sales and higher prices. Wells Fargo said Wednesday it was working with the affected employees to find other jobs within the company.