Gateway Mortgage, a division of Gateway First Bank, opened a new mortgage center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The new center will be located in the Shoppes at Peoria and according to Gateway, it will be the only full-service mortgage center of its kind focused on the housing finance needs of residents in the area.
The company stated that this move will provide expanded outreach to a traditionally underserved market, according to a press release. Additionally, Gateway intends on using this model as it furthers a community-centric focus in other markets.
"Over a year ago, we developed a plan to expand our outreach efforts to Tulsa’s underserved markets," said Scott Gesell, CEO of Gateway. "We believe that seeking partnerships with the North Tulsa community leadership is critical to the success of our efforts. We have been having community conversations with legislators, city representatives, community leaders and residents since 2019 to gain feedback on the housing and financing needs of the North Tulsa residents. This mortgage center is a partnership with the community to provide a presence and access for residents to learn more about affordable homeownership and obtain financial services."
Tina Johnson will manage the new center as the Mortgage Sales Manager. She is a lifetime North Tulsa resident and has worked for Gateway from 1995 to 2006, returning in 2019 to coordinate the opening of the new center. She has more than 26 years of experience in new business startup, real estate and long-term planning; and specializes in mortgage products, market analysis, demographic studies, data analysis, strategic planning, recruiting and business developments.
"The Community Mortgage Center’s mission is to be a local resource for those who want to become successful homeowners," said Johnson. "We know that the process of becoming a homeowner can be overwhelming, and we want to help community residents who are interested in exploring their options. We plan to offer in-person and virtual financial education classes, which we believe will provide consumers direction as they explore homeownership."
"We want to raise awareness of the many products Gateway offers as well as the benefits of homeownership and to assist borrowers with overcoming down payment challenges. For those who are not able to obtain a mortgage loan today, we want to help them set attainable goals and work with them to achieve them and complete the homebuying process," added Johnson.
Click here to learn more about the new mortgage center.
