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 includes:
- The lender's legal name (often with ISAOA/ATIMA)
- A mailing address or lockbox where the servicer accepts insurance documents
- Wording that matches the loan file — not an informal nickname
Three components: legal name, ISAOA/ATIMA designation (more below), and the address line your servicer expects on the dec page.
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.
Together, they prevent the need to update the policy every time a mortgage is transferred.
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) may be force-placed. The lender can buy coverage when the borrower's policy lapses or does not meet requirements—often at a much higher premium than voluntary insurance and with narrower protection for the homeowner.
- 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- Carrier portals (which may be outdated)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
That's exactly why we built MortgageeClauses.com — a single searchable database with verified clause text, mailing addresses, phone numbers, fax numbers, and direct links to each lender's insurance verification portal.
Multiple addresses for the same lender
Many large lenders have multiple clause addresses based on loan portfolio, state, or acquisition history. 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 the full lender directory at MortgageeClauses.com.