Citigroup's deal with ACC Capital includes the servicing rightson $45 billion of loans, as well as a "minimal amount of existingloans and residuals." In addition, Chris Orlando, with ACC CapitalHoldings, says "ACC is in the process of orderly winding down itsretail [Ameriquest Mortgage] operation." He has no timetable onwhen Ameriquest operations will officially cease. However, for morethan a month the firm has not been accepting mortgageapplications.

Ameriquest and Argent rode the wave of the housing boom and intheir heyday sponsored Nascar racers, flew blimps over majorsporting events and even spent millions to have the Texas Rangersname its home field in Arlington, TX--Ameriquest Field. But themortgage firms began to show signs of weakness as the residentialhousing market slowed down in 2005 and 2006.

Argent Mortgage made a big splash in Westchester County inFebruary 2003 when it leased 118,000 sf of space at Cohen BrothersRealty Corp.'s 333 Westchester Ave. building in White Plains. Laterthat year, Argent expanded its presence there to approximately210,000 sf.