Since a pinkie-promise isn't good enough for most lenders, there's MGIC Investment's mortgage insurance to protect lenders from homebuyers who don't hold up their end of the bargain. MGIC owns Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Corporation (MGIC), the largest provider of private mortgage insurance in the US. Such coverage allows otherwise-qualified buyers who aren't able to scrape up the standard 20% down payment to get mortgages. MGIC writes primary insurance on individual loans. The company's customers include banks, mortgage brokers, credit unions, and other residential mortgage lenders. In 2014 MGIC had $159.3 billion primary insurance in force covering 1 million mortgages.