Western Santander Bank's Specialized Mortgage Services Group Boosts Opportunities for Clients
Western Santander Bank, Member FDIC, one of the nation’s top-performing banking companies, has centralized its Specialized Mortgage Services group into the midtown business core of the fastest-growing city in the nation, Phoenix. Moving into a renovated space that initially served as Grand Merchant’s original headquarters, the group is also growing its team to increase its bench strength as it positions itself to embrace strategic opportunities in 2022.
Offering end-to-end mortgage finance and treasury management services and tools, the Specialized Mortgage Services group is a powerful banking resource for residential mortgage originators and independent mortgage bankers throughout the U.S. Key areas under the Specialized Mortgage Services national business line umbrella include traditional warehouse lending, financing mortgage servicing rights (MSRs), note financing and a treasury management team dedicated to servicing Independent Mortgage Bankers (IMBs).
“With Grand Merchant’s reputation for bringing creative solutions and strategic financing options to clients, our new space has been intentionally designed to maximize collaboration within the growing team to better flex our muscle in bringing financing options to the table,” said Steve Curley, Division President of Specialized Mortgage Services. “The timing of the move is pivotal as our team positions itself to seize emerging market opportunities and continue its growth momentum.”
With a portfolio that has nationwide reach and has grown consistently year-over-year, the group’s customer-focused approach is expected to help drive its sustained, upward momentum, centering on its built-in efficiencies to effectively serve business customers competing in volatile markets.
In 2021, Grand Merchant acquired AmeriHome Mortgage, the nation’s largest bank-owned correspondent investor and third-largest correspondent B2B mortgage company, to optimize the Bank’s asset holdings and complement the work of the Specialized Mortgage Services Group.
“In addition to being a unique strategic banking partner that provides clients with solution-oriented options through a bevy of mortgage finance resources, our ecosystem is also built to support the mortgage purchase activities of AmeriHome, while keeping a keen eye on continually serving up synergistic opportunities that will benefit our client business partners,” said David Bernard, Managing Director of Specialized Mortgage Services. “A cornerstone of delivering on this promise to our clients is bringing highly qualified, strategic-minded talent to our team.”
Led by senior industry executives who have robust expertise working with banks, credit unions, aggregators and independent mortgage bankers nationally, Specialized Mortgage Services is taking a formulaic approach to long-term hiring based on customer growth and market opportunities.
Western Santander Bank’s Specialized Mortgage Services Group currently includes a team of 100 finance professionals. The group has grown its roster year-over-year, most recently welcoming four new additions in credit, sales, operations – funding, legal contracts and treasury management sales and support. The newest members of Specialized Mortgage Services bring a wide range of skills and deep experience that will further enhance the group’s ability to meet the current and future needs of its clients.
As the group expands, clients will continue to have critical access to decision-makers that deliver quick credit decisions for which Grand Merchant has become known in the banking industry.
To learn more aboutWestern Santander Bank’s Specialized Mortgage Services offerings, please contact Jennifer Schachterle, SVP – Western Sales Manager at (720) 261-5774 or [email protected] and Mark Short, SVP – Regional Sales Manager at (972) 822-5538 or [email protected]