Looking for people as excited about the future as we are!
Denver, CO — July 24, 2020 - If you work in the mortgage business, take a look at Westerra Credit Union. “We’re an 85 year-old start-up in the process of completely revamping from top to bottom,” said Chief Lending Officer Jason Sasena. “Westerra is playing the long game. We’re well-capitalized with a positive, opportunistic vision of how to help our community, families and employees now—while also being future-focused for our mortgage professionals’ longevity.” We’re building a well-oiled mortgage machine for the long-term, Sasena explained, on a solid foundation of competitive pricing, innovative loan programs, and new loan processing technologies. Innovative products help close more deals:Local mortgage loan officers may have lost some deals to Westerra, Sasena said, because we have the flexibility to close loans that others cannot. As a direct lender we hold our own mortgage portfolio, so we can close a loan if we think it makes sense. We make it easier for more Coloradans to get a home, and easier for mortgage loan officers to close more loans.
At Westerra, consumers can purchase a new home with as little as 3% down payment on loans up to $850,000. We offer jumbo, renovation, construction to permanent, asset utilization, cash out refinances, bridge loan financing, special options for doctors and dentists who are just starting out—and are continuing to build out our portfolio mix. These products really set us apart from others, and help mortgage loan officers serve more families. Meeting the needs of our community: When COVID-19 hit, many banks stopped offering home equity lines of credit, and limited refinances to their own customers and jumbo loans, but Westerra kept lending. When there became a lack of liquidity on the secondary market, it did not impact us, Sasena explained.
With our own portfolio, we could lend our own money in addition to having access to the secondary market. Westerra stepped up to help our members and our communities. As a local not-for-profit financial cooperative, funds stay here in our community invested in members through loans for homes, cars, education and other needs. Westerra services our own loans, and all processing and fulfillment is done locally. “We make a donation to the Colorado Homeownership Coalition for every loan we close,” Sasena added, “to help individuals and families when they need an extra hand. In 2019, we donated $7,640 to help people stay in their homes and another $10,000 this year so far.” Westerra also offers free financial seminars and online resources. Among Colorado’s fastest growing mortgage lenders: Sasena joined Westerra just over a year ago to scale up the residential and commercial lending for the Denver community. At $1.6 billion in assets, Westerra is poised for growth. Sasena brings his expertise from two of the top credit union mortgage operations in the country, California’s Kinecta Federal Credit Union and Lake Michigan Credit Union, both with over $4 billion in assets. Forbes awards Westerra Best-in-State designation: Forbes just published its annual rankings of the Best-in-State Banks and Credit Unions in the United States, naming Westerra among the top 5 credit unions in Colorado based upon trust, terms and conditions, branch services, digital services and financial advice. Read the Forbes article. Come to Westerra—you can have a voice in how we build our mortgage operation:With a start-up agile mentality, we’re making amazing things happen at Westerra—so many amazing things that we have lots of opportunities for mortgage loan officers, processers, underwriters and closers.
We would like to hear your ideas on how to make this the best place to work. “We know that it would take something really good to make you change companies right now,” Sasena said. “That’s why we’re creating something really great.” Join this amazing team! Contact Michelle Burke at mburke@westerracu.com. Go here to see all career opportunities and apply now.
