In a climate of low interest rates, many banks are finding it challenging to make a buck off of home lending. But a decision by Seattle’s HomeStreet to ramp up its mortgage lending business in 2012 appears to be paying off.

HomeStreet CEO Mark Mason said that, in addition to growing the bank’s mortgage lending business, HomeStreet also is focused on increasing commercial lending and consumer products and services. But while commercial loan volume was relatively flat, the mortgage strategy is where the bank is getting a boost.