I think, if you look into it, the escrow service wasn't free. Bank charges the seller a fee. Some years ago, we did a C4D with the local bank acting as the escrow agent. They later, got tired of being the agent or were offered more money or a one time lump sum to transfer escrow to a specialty company. We just sent our checks to the new outfit and when the last payment was made, the deed was recorded at our local courthouse and forwarded to us.