A mortgagee clause is the section of a homeowner's insurance policy that names the mortgage lender and their mailing address. It ensures the lender receives notice of any policy changes, cancellations, or claims — and that they receive insurance proceeds if the property is damaged.
Every mortgage in America requires one. And every insurance agent, loan officer, and title company professional has spent time tracking one down.
What a mortgagee clause looks like
A typical mortgagee clause reads:
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. ISAOA/ATIMA
PO Box 4465
Springfield, OH 45501
Three components: the lender's legal name, the ISAOA/ATIMA designation (more on that below), and the mailing address where the lender receives insurance documents.
What ISAOA/ATIMA means
You'll see these acronyms on almost every clause:
- ISAOA — "Its Successors and/or Assigns." If the mortgage is sold to another lender (which happens constantly), the new lender automatically inherits insurance protection.
- ATIMA — "As Their Interests May Appear." Ensures all parties with a financial interest in the property are covered, even if they're not named individually.
Why getting the clause right matters
Three things happen when a mortgagee clause is wrong:
- The lender doesn't receive insurance documents. The policy renewal goes to the wrong address. The lender's system flags the loan as uninsured.
- Lender-placed insurance (LPI) gets force-placed. The lender buys a policy on the borrower's behalf — typically 3-5x more expensive than a standard policy and covering only the loan balance, not the homeowner's contents or liability.
- The borrower blames the agent. And they should. Getting the clause right is a core responsibility.
How to find the right clause for any lender
This is where it gets frustrating. There's no single source. Clause addresses live across:
- Individual lender websites (often buried in FAQ pages)
- Carrier portals (which may be outdated)
- Scattered PDFs from servicer transitions
- Word-of-mouth from colleagues
Multiple addresses for the same lender
Many large lenders have multiple clause addresses based on loan portfolio, state, or acquisition history. Wells Fargo alone has 11 variants in our database. Chase has different addresses for different PO Box prefixes.
If a borrower's loan documents specify a particular PO Box or address, use that one — even if it differs from what you find online. Loan documents are the primary source.
What to do after you get the clause
- Copy the clause onto the declarations page exactly as written.
- Submit proof of insurance through the lender's verification portal (MyCoverageInfo, ihaveinsurance.com, etc.).
- Confirm the lender received it. Don't assume.
The bottom line
The mortgagee clause is three lines of text that protect a multi-hundred-thousand-dollar asset. Getting it wrong triggers a chain of problems — LPI, angry borrowers, E&O exposure. Getting it right takes 10 seconds when you have the right data.
Search 850+ lender clauses at MortgageeClauses.com.