Independent mortgage banks and mortgage subsidiaries of chartered banks made an average profit of $2,465 on each loan they originated in the third quarter, up from $2,152 per loan in the second quarter, according to new data from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA).

Average production volume was $450 million per company in the third quarter, up from $371 million per company in the second quarter. The average volume by count per company rose to 2,010 loans in the third quarter, from 1,700 in the second quarter.

The refinancing share of total originations, by dollar volume, was 57% in the third quarter, up from 52% in the second quarter. For the mortgage industry as whole, MBA estimates the refinancing share at 73% in the third quarter of 2012, up from 67% in the second quarter.

"Both purchase volume and refinancing volume increased in the third quarter, resulting in higher net production profits among independent mortgage bankers," said MBA Associate Vice President of Industry Analysis Marina Walsh. "Secondary marketing gains improved by 14 basis points over the second quarter. However, per loan expenses remained flat despite higher volumes."