NewDay USA's Crystal Raines Named One of the Most Powerful Women in FinTech
Crystal Raines, NewDay USA's Chief Compliance Officer, has been named one of PROGRESS in Lending's Most Powerful Women in FinTech for 2026, which is the publication's eighth annual recognition of women reshaping the financial services industry.
Crystal Raines, NewDay USA's Chief Compliance Officer, has been named one of PROGRESS in Lending's Most Powerful Women in FinTech for 2026, which is the publication's eighth annual recognition of women reshaping the financial services industry.
About the Award
PROGRESS in Lending, a trade publication covering the mortgage and lending industry, launched the Most Powerful Women in FinTech award in 2019 to recognize women who are driving meaningful change at the intersection of financial services and technology. Winners are selected based on professional impact, innovation, and leadership. The 2026 class includes executives from across the mortgage technology sector.
About Crystal
Raines has spent nearly two decades at the intersection of mortgage technology, regulatory compliance, and operational leadership at NewDay USA. She joined the company in 2007 and has held progressively senior roles, including Chief Credit Officer, before becoming Chief Compliance Officer. She is an FHA DE underwriter and holds VA automatic underwriting authority.
Her team is responsible for fulfilling all federal, state, and agency disclosure requirements and managing regulatory implementation across NewDay USA's lending operations.
In 2025, Raines played a central role in the modernization of NewDay USA's proprietary origination system, a technology overhaul designed to streamline how the company originates, underwrites, and closes VA purchase loans. That platform enhancement laid the groundwork for the launch of NewDay Home Advantage, a first-of-its-kind homebuying solution that allows qualified Veterans and service members to finance closing costs with an unsecured personal loan, addressing one of the most persistent barriers to Veteran homeownership.
In its first quarter on the market, NewDay Home Advantage accounted for 20% of purchase pre-qualifications.
What This Means for Our Team
Working at NewDay USA means working alongside people who build things that matter. Crystal's recognition reflects something larger: that the compliance, technology, and operations functions here aren't back-office work. They are the work. Ensuring that innovation reaches the Veterans it's designed to serve is the mission.
FAQs
What is the Most Powerful Women in FinTech award?
It is an annual recognition, now in its eighth year, honoring women who are leading innovation and transformation in financial services technology. Winners are selected by the PROGRESS in Lending editorial team.
What is Crystal Raines' role at NewDay USA?
Crystal is NewDay USA's Chief Compliance Officer. Her team oversees regulatory compliance, disclosure fulfillment, and the operational controls that govern how NewDay USA originates and closes VA home loans.
What is NewDay Home Advantage?
NewDay Home Advantage is a homebuying program that allows qualified Veterans and service members to finance their closing costs through an unsecured personal loan, removing the upfront cash barrier that prevents many Veterans from using their VA home loan benefit.
Does NewDay USA have open roles?
Check our careers page for the most up to date open positions.
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