WCS Lending has named Ivan Choi as head of affinity relations, a position that was created with him in mind. In his new role, Choi is responsible for cultivating mutually beneficial, synergistic business relationships and building out the company’s affinity partnerships with Realtors and other organizations. This appointment is part of WCS Lending’s two-year expansion plan to exponentially grow the company with increased loan volumes and new branches nationwide.
Choi will focus on developing partner-focused programs within the real estate community to expand the company’s affinity partnerships with not only national and local real estate companies, but also real estate branch offices and individual real estate agents. He will also develop unique programs for other types of organizations that serve vast groups of consumers.
“Ivan has been deeply involved with the real estate community for 15 years,” said Tim Walsh, head of retail for WCS Lending. “It’s an industry where he has held offices and enjoys longstanding friendships and working relationships. He knows exactly what it takes to make a partnership worthwhile to Realtors, and has never given anything less than his best efforts to help them succeed.”
The 15-year industry veteran spent 13 years with Countrywide/Bank of America, most recently as vice president. In 2005, Choi created the company’s REO financing platform, a program that joined together the default and retail divisions of the company, and created numerous profitable, synergistic opportunities for the company’s real estate partners. By creating a partner-focused program that resulted in Realtors flocking to join forces with Countrywide/Bank of America, Choi successfully transitioned the program from a zero-activity start-up division to achieve over $4 billion in purchase loans in 2009, just four years after its inception. As senior vice president with Prospect Mortgage Company, he again created an REO financing platform. This time, in addition to building programs that provided unique benefits to Realtors, he developed mutually beneficial relationships with REO outsourcing providers, nearly tripling the company’s REO financing volume in just eight months.
Choi was also senior vice president with Matt Martin Real Estate Management subsidiary Sperlonga Data & Analytics, an organization that assists lenders and homeowners associations in resolving outstanding claims and liens on unpaid HOA accounts. While working with Sperlonga, Choi developed the business partnerships that resulted in the company’s acquisition of a critical mass of data for the industry’s largest database of HOA information.
Choi is well known in the real estate community and is an active advocate and educator. He is a member of the National Hispanic Real Estate Association, the Open Door Institute, the Mortgage Bankers Association and the California Mortgage Bankers Association. He is a national board member of the Asian Real Estate Association of America and president, and national board member and immediate past president of the REO Managers Association (REOMAC).
“WCS Lending is not merely a provider of mortgage loans, we are a true partner to thousands of homeowners, real estate agents, and organizations,” said Walsh. “Ivan has built a career on creating synergistic, win-win partnerships between mortgage organizations and other professionals. He will make great contributions in our program of planned, exponential growth as we become a national industry leader.”
WCS Lending is licensed in all 50 states and currently has 12 branches generating over $2 billion nationwide. The company has been named to the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies in America for four consecutive years, and is recognized as one of the fastest growing mortgage companies. In addition to Mr. Choi’s appointment, WCS Lending recently upgraded its loan origination system and accounting software, and hired several key management staff to support the company’s aggressive growth plans.
“It’s great to be working with a company on a growth track as impressive as WCS Lending’s,” said Choi. “They understand the importance of creating tangible value for our partners and servicing relationships with the utmost integrity. I’m looking forward to cultivating the partnerships that will make WCS Lending the undisputed mortgage partner of choice among Realtors and other organizations.”
