Mortgage Banker, Mortgage Broker: All the same?

NO.

I am a mortgage broker.  I look at many lenders, none of whom I do enough regular business with to influence me in one way or another.  I can look at any lender out there, and figure out the best way to present the information on the project for them.  I will present you with options so that you can make your business decision yourself about which program (they all have flaws) will work for you.

Mortgage bankers, on the other hand, are regular correspondent lenders with specific companies (and frequently specific territories): they answer to the loan committee of their own company, which may initially fund the loan with its own money, and then resell it to someone else.  For this purpose, they have a large "warehouse" line of credit available: but they have a limited number of loan programs that they are responsible for.  If "cut out the middle man" is your mantra, these are your guys.  Of course, the limited number of options is yours, too.

In California, mortgage banker information and licensing is available through the Department of Corporations: see here.  As a mortgage broker for commercial properties who does not do residential mortgages, my license is with the Department of Real Estate.