Cowen's Corner-Mortgage Market Update: Left Lane Lessons and a Steady Rate Environment

February 23, 2026
Greetings from Florida. Chasing the boy down to Central Florida for a weekend set. We stayed a couple of days at a world-class equestrian resort and are now spending a few days at your typical beach “resort.” The kids in the room next door decided to host a pizza party around midnight last night. That was awesome. Once I wake up, it is hard for me to go back to sleep.
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And let me tell you something. Nothing tilts me more than people cruising in the left lane. The left lane is the passing lane. Regardless of your speed or the situation, if you are not actively passing someone, you should be in the right lane. Here in Florida, folks treat the left lane like it is their permanent residence. We are about 45 minutes from where UVA is playing, and I passed hundreds, only a slight exaggeration, of cars sitting in the left lane on the way here. It was brutal.

Market Notes

Not much to report on the mortgage rate front this past week. Overall, it was a pretty quiet stretch. There was some early-week choppiness tied to the Supreme Court’s ruling on tariffs, but when you look at the overall trading volume, it was largely a neutral event.

Mortgage rates remain near current levels and are at or around three-year lows. There is not much in the way of economic data scheduled for this coming week, so it will be interesting to see how the market digests recent developments and what direction the administration takes next.

Looking Ahead*

Enjoy a wonderful week, and please feel free to reach out with any mortgage related questions or needs.

-Steve-

*All loans are subject to credit approval and program guidelines.

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About the Company

Potomac Bank, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Potomac Bancshares, Inc., was founded in 1871 as Bank of Charles Town and renamed Potomac Bank on November 3, 2025. The Company’s total assets were $976 million as of March 31, 2026. The Bank conducts operations through its nine-branch network and one loan production office serving the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, Washington County, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. The Bank offers comprehensive financial solutions through its consumer and commercial banking divisions, Trust, Wealth, and BCT Investments divisions, and its Residential Lending mortgage division. The Bank is also proud to serve its communities as a Small Business Administration (SBA) Preferred Lender. Over the past several years, the Bank has received numerous awards and recognitions, including American Banker’s “Top 200 Community Banks” and “Best Banks to Work For”, the Journal-News “Best of the Best” award, and the LoudounNow “Loudoun’s Favorite” award. 

The Company's shares are quoted on the OTCID marketplace under the symbol "PTBS." For more information about the Bank, please visit our website at www.potomac.bank.

Media Contact
Bryan Decker
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