Thursday's collapse of Washington Mutual Inc., the largest bank collapse in U.S. history, was not without its impact on Greater Newburyport.
The bank has no local offices — the closest is in Connecticut — but it has made a substantial number of mortgage loans to local people.
According to the Southern Essex County Registry of Deeds, Washington Mutual has made more than 1,000 loans to people in Newburyport and surrounding towns in the past decade. Amesbury tops the list, with 425, followed by Newburyport with 382, Newbury with 131 and Salisbury with 100.
Washington Mutual was bought by JP Morgan, and so its customers will now become JP Morgan customers. Federal officials say people with Washington Mutual loans should continue to make payments as normal.
