Best Military Lenders 2022

Celebrating lenders who go above and beyond to serve military members, their spouses, and veterans

Military Lenders 2022

Also in this issue:

Best Military Originators 2022
Academy Mortgage Corporation

Academy Mortgage Corporation

Draper, UT

Company CEO/ President: James Mac Pherson

States Licensed: All states except NY

Total VA Loans Closed in 2021 by lender: 3,334

Why does this lender serve those who serve to protect?
At Academy Mortgage, our vision is to Inspire Hope, Deliver Dreams, and Build Prosperity and we are committed to serve and lift others, whether by helping families achieve homeownership through our products and services or by serving those in our communities in need. We strive to give back to the service members and veterans who have given up so much for our country. As a company, we recognize our responsibility to give back to these service members, their families, and their communities.

Why is this lender the best at supporting the military/ military borrowers?
At Academy, we believe that the American Dream is built upon sustainable homeownership. We recognize that what we do has a noble purpose and that we exist to help make homeownership a reality for as many people as possible, especially those who have served or are currently serving our country. Academy’s mission is to create life-changing experiences through lending and our branches are committed to helping active service members and veterans achieve the life-changing experience of becoming a homeowner.

What contributions is this lender making to the military community?
Service is at the heart of the culture at Academy, and many of our branches across the nation are committed to supporting campaigns that support our troops and serving active service members and veterans. We offer multiple VA products to serve the military community and help them attain homeownership.


American Pacific Mortgage

American Pacific Mortgage

Roseville, CA

Company CEO/ President: Bill Lowman

States licensed: All states except NY

Total VA Loans Closed in 2021 by lender: 6820

Why does this lender serve those who serve to protect?
American Pacific Mortgage’s values of Respect, Transparency and Scrappy are at the heart of our organization and define how we act and guide us in everything we do. This translates well with our military customers, as it’s all about what you do, not what you say. Our value of respect means we serve with our full attention, intention, and purpose. We communicate clearly, completely, and relevantly with transparency, and we’re willing to have difficult conversations when needed. Our relentless approach to serving our customers and teammates makes us scrappy — we are willing to fight for what’s right and seek solutions.

While we serve many communities, we prioritize Veterans and have several branches that are run entirely by and focus on Vets. They focus on education, outreach, and accessibility for Veterans and work closely with the military bases in their communities to provide valuable services.

We feel that for Vets, in particular, getting the word out and helping them gain access to the programs available to help them buy and home and create generational wealth is crucial and our honor in repayment for the many sacrifices they’ve made for us.

Why is this lender the best at supporting the military/ military borrowers?
Having a large contingent of active and retired military personnel working within our home office and branches allows us to do more outreach and have more experts available for our military borrowers. Our Veterans know what it’s like to be deployed, to be in a foreign land fighting for your country while your family is at home, and to feel like they don’t have a permanent place when they return. They know the importance of home in the sense that it’s a sanctuary for families and a familiar place to return to, even when it’s not permanent. It makes all the difference for these families to feel they are “speaking the same language,” have a sense of connection and that they are understood. Owning property allows them to create a sense of place and to build traditions while building equity for their future.

What contributions is this lender making to the military community?
In addition to the educational and outreach opportunities APM offers, we also use our non-profit, APMCares to support Veteran organizations. APMCares is an employee-funded and employee-run non-profit that helps organizations in the areas of food, shelter, and clothing in the communities we serve. We donated over $380,000 to Veteran organizations in 2021 and have donated over $78,000 in 2022 to date.

Our branches have provided hundreds of Veterans opportunities to buy a home. They have conducted dozens of virtual and in-person seminars and workshops specific to the home buying experience for Veterans — both those using VA loans and those utilizing conventional options.


Geneva Financial

Geneva Financial Home Loans

Chandler, AZ

Company CEO/ President: Aaron VanTrojan

States Licensed: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY and Washington D.C.

Total VA Loans Closed in 2021 by lender: 596

Why does this lender serve those who serve to protect?
Home to several veterans and veteran families of our own, Geneva Financial is a VA-approved lender passionate about serving those who have served on their path to homeownership. For many veterans, a VA home loan is often overlooked, in many instances due to a lack of information or caveats to VA financing that some assume make it more difficult to obtain and utilize. Geneva’s mortgage professionals are actively invested in spreading accurate information and guiding vets step by step through the lending process so they can be confident in their homebuying decisions, from VA financing to Hero Advantage Loans and Homes For Heroes, and beyond!

Why is this lender the best at supporting the military/ military borrowers?
Geneva has placed the focus of mortgage lending back on the people and has prioritized a white-glove human experience throughout the mortgage process. And though the company has evolved over the years, the founding principle has remained the same — take care of humans first and success will follow.

For veterans, Geneva has taken this one step further, by offering a multitude of options for home financing, including VA loans, Hero Advantage Loans and discounts, and supporting multiple branches nationwide in their work with Homes For Heroes to find the best option for each individual. One of Geneva’s top branches has even been named #1 in volume for Homes For Heroes in California.

Whether purchasing or refinancing, investing or buying a first home, each Geneva Financial Loan Officer is dedicated to their borrowers, providing experienced, knowledgeable, and prompt guidance from start to finish. They take pride in their ability to help those who have served and getting them into the home of their dreams.

What contributions is this lender making to the military community?
With an extremely dedicated workforce that encourages and supports military families looking for home financing, Geneva Financial is constantly implementing new ways to reach and help military humans with their home financing needs.

As part of the company’s Be A Good human initiative, Geneva Financial celebrates Hero Month in May to recognize first responders and military personnel for their service and provide an opportunity to give back. The public can vote for the heroes in their lives, including veterans, nurses, firefighters, police, and more. At the end of the month, a special someone is awarded the Hero of the Year award which grants the winner money to donate to a charity of their choosing.

With so many branches working in close partnership with Home For Heroes, Geneva is able to help a higher percentage of military folk and offer them significant savings in return for their service.


Mountain West Financial Inc.

Mountain West Financial, Inc.

Redlands, CA

Company CEO/ President: Michael Delehanty

States Licensed: AZ, CA, CO, MN, NV, NM, OR, TX, UT and WA

Total VA Loans Closed in 2021 by lender: 145

Why does this lender serve those who serve to protect?
Mountain West Financial understands the homeownership needs of our country’s servicemen and women. For over 3 decades, we at Mountain West Financial have specialized in purchase money government lending. We know the ins-and-outs of VA loan, the options that would best fit the goals and specific needs of military service homebuyers and are passionate about helping our veterans make the dream of homeownership a reality for them and their families.

Why is this lender the best at supporting the military/ military borrowers?
Mountain West Financial is always looking to help those who have done so much for our county and we look to give back not only through homeownership but back to their lives. For the past 11 years, one of our top Loan Originators has helped host and sponsor a Texas Hold ‘em Poker Tournament to benefit Our Fallen Soldier, an organization based out of Camp Pendleton that helps military families rebuild their lives after losing a loved one overseas. Our Fallen Soldier is committed to honoring the fallen, providing resources to the families that have lost, grief counseling for the children, outreach programs for homeless veterans, providing employment opportunities, shelter, etc. While other Loan Originator and his branch are involved each year in organizing/volunteering Operation Surf. This event is held in support of veterans whom have sacrificed so much to protect our freedom. Severely wounded active duty and veteran service members from the U.S. military who served overseas will take part in a life-changing experience at beaches across the coast. Through the healing power of the ocean and surfing, they help wounded heroes, to whom we owe so much, to overcome challenges and build a new understanding of their potential. Mountain West not only works hard to make homeownership a reality for military families but participates in these events to help these families overcome challenges and rebuild their lives, families and homes.

What contributions is this lender making to the military community?
We are deeply imbedded with the community. So much so, that we created a program that recognizes those who serve the community thru our PATH program. The PATH Home Loan Program is available exclusively to Mountain West Financial clients and is designed to benefit those that serve our local communities …  it’s our way of saying “thank you!” Offering hundreds of dollars in upfront savings with reduced lender fees and thousands of dollars over the life of the loan with reduced interest rates! We recently added VA Loans to this program so not only can your qualified Veterans enjoy the benefits a VA loan brings, but they can also enjoy the PATH program benefits if they are also a teacher, firefighter, police officer, courthouse, or state, country or city employee. Thus making homeownership even more attainable for our veteran communities.


Planet Home Lending

Planet Home Lending

Meriden, CT

Company CEO/ President: Michael Dubeck

States Licensed: All 50 states and Washington D.C.

Total VA Loans Closed in 2021 by lender: 6,311

Why does this lender serve those who serve to protect?
They serve our nation, so we serve them: Active duty, veterans, military spouses, and reservists. Planet Home Lending is proud to offer VA purchase home loans with no money down and refinance mortgages with great rates. Like they keep their commitments, we keep the majority of the loans we make. Our Mortgage Servicing Team truly understands the unique needs of customers who protect us around the nation and around the globe.

Why is this lender the best at supporting the military/ military borrowers?
Communication, compassion and mutual understanding define the Planet Home Lending customer experience. We ensure every step in the process is covered, every question answered, and every variable considered. Our VA customers know their options and feel at ease and empowered throughout the process. Whether they serve at home or abroad, VA borrowers have easy access to tools, technology and resources that deliver a superior end-to-end experience worthy of their service.

What contributions is this lender making to the military community?
We’re a company made up of people looking to make a difference, so we partner with people who feel the same way. Planet is proud to complement our VA loan products by endowing a scholarship via the Army Scholarship Foundation of Dallas, TX. Their mission to provide scholarships to the children of current or former Army service members and spouses of current Army service members echoes our own belief in supporting those who’ve served our nation. In partnership with the National Forest Foundation, Planet has planted a quarter million trees. Working with The Farmlink Project, we’ve sent 70 million pounds of produce to food banks.


Supreme Lending

Supreme Lending

Dallas, TX

Company CEO/ President: Scott Everett

States Licensed: All 50 states

Total VA Loans Closed in 2021 by lender: 3084

Why does this lender serve those who serve to protect?
Supreme Lending is honored to serve our country’s military personnel, Veterans, & their families with affordable mortgage programs to achieve their dream of homeownership — in the country they served and sacrificed to protect. Their job is the most honorable and difficult service in the world and is oftentimes spent away from home for long periods of time. There’s no one more deserving to have a place to call their own than those who have served.

Why is this lender the best at supporting the military/ military borrowers?
Supreme Lending is privileged to offer a variety of affordable and flexible mortgages for military homebuyers and homeowners, including VA loans. Many times, Veterans and active-duty personnel may not even be aware of the types of home loans they could be eligible for, which is why Supreme focuses on educating them about their mortgage options. In 2021, Supreme produced $1.06 billion VA loan volume to serve the Veteran and military communities.

What contributions is this lender making to the military community?
Supreme Lending is privileged to offer a variety of affordable and flexible mortgages for military homebuyers and homeowners, including VA loans. Many times, Veterans and active-duty personnel may not even be aware of the types of home loans they could be eligible for, which is why Supreme focuses on educating them about their mortgage options. In 2021, Supreme produced $1.06 billion VA loan volume to serve the Veteran and military communities.


USAA

USAA Federal Saving Bank

San Antonio, TX

Company CEO/ President: Wayne Peacock

States Licensed: USAA is a nationally licensed VA lender

Total VA Loans Closed in 2021 by lender: 27,602

Why does this lender serve those who serve to protect?
In 1922, USAA was founded by 25 Army officers in San Antonio, Texas, who made a promise to one another centered on trust and service. They pooled their resources to insure their automobiles when no insurance company would. By doing so, they filled a need in their community.

That was the beginning of USAA’s legacy of service. Today, more than 100 years later, USAA continues the tradition of supporting our communities. In 2020, USAA announced its largest ever one-time philanthropic contribution with a commitment of $30 million to benefit 24 organizations assisting military families during the global pandemic. The donation reflected USAA’s long-standing mission to support military and veteran families, and the specific impact the COVID-19 health crisis has had on the military community. As part of this commitment, $17 million was awarded to U.S. military aid societies to provide zero-interest loans and emergency grants to eligible service members and their families to assist with financial emergencies, virtual schooling costs and college educational expenses; USAA funding assisted over 90K military members experiencing financial distress.

Why is this lender the best at supporting the military/ military borrowers?
The mission of USAA is to facilitate the financial security of its members, associates, and their families through provision of a full range of highly competitive financial products and services; and in doing so, it seeks to be the provider of choice for the military community. In addition, USAA consistently supports the mortgage needs of our military members and their families by offering $0 origination fees on our VA loans, an industry leading VA IRRRL program (our no-cost structure is extremely attractive for a VA refinances, superior customer service and has been a top-ten VA lender over the last five years.

What contributions is this lender making to the military community?
One example would be how in 2018, USAA joined other leading companies to announce “Hiring 100K Military Spouses,” a three-year campaign, led by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. Another would be how annually, USAA employees contribute approximately $10M to nonprofits and log more than 200K volunteer hours, results that reinforce the company’s values and benefit the military and our local communities.


Your team works hard. Your company goes above and beyond. Showcase your efforts with one of our recognition series in any of our publications. 

This article was originally published in the NMP Magazine November 2022 issue.
Published on
Oct 27, 2022
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