Conglomerate Blog: Business, Law, Economics & Society MERS is a privately held company that “registers” mortgages. Ordinarily, the mortgagee (lender) must record its interest in the mortgage in the county land records. Any subsequent transfers of the mortgagee’s interest (for example, in the securitization process) must also be recorded. MERS short circuits this multiple recording process. Instead, the lender includes language in the Deed of Trust or Mortgage describing MERS as “a separate corporation that is acting solely as a nominee for Lender and Lender’s successors and assigns. MERS is the mortgagee under this Security Instrument.” MERS is recorded as the mortgagee in the county land records. Although MERS does not lend money, service the mortgage, or receive any of the payment stream from the mortgage, it remains as “nominee” through all future transfers. As a result, any subsequent transfers of interest in the mortgage are recorded only in MERS electronic system — not in the county land records.