Jeff Schmidt, once a top mortgage producer, is now president of mortgage banking at Gateway Mortgage, a division of Gateway First Bank, headquartered in Jenks, Oklahoma.
The company noted Schmidt serves as a key member of the executive leadership team and is responsible for Gateway’s mortgage activities including retail, correspondent, operations, secondary, and servicing.
Schmidt has a positive outlook for this year, he told NMP. "Despite recent challenges in the mortgage industry, I’m confident 2025 offers great opportunities," he said. "By empowering our teams with advanced tools, recruiting top talent, and simplifying processes, we aim to help more families achieve homeownership and support our loan officers’ success."
"I’m excited about the future and the positive momentum for Gateway and the communities we serve," he added.
“As the mortgage landscape continues to evolve, having leaders like Jeff at the helm is crucial for navigating challenges and seizing opportunities,” Gateway Mortgage stated in a post on LinkedIn regarding the promotion. Schmidt has been with the company since 2010 and has some 40 years of banking and mortgage banking experience.
Schmidt knows both originator and management roles at the company. He holds NMLS licensing in Texas and is proficient in underwriting guidelines for FHA, VA, USDA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgages, according to the release from Gateway Mortgage.
When Schmidt joined Gateway, he built a team that started with Waxahachie, Texas, and expanded across the state. “He was consistently the top producer in the company year after year, and even after stepping out of production for over a year, he continued to hold the record of being among the top producers cumulatively in Gateway’s history,” the company's release stated.
Schmidt also served as interim chief mortgage officer during the onset of the pandemic. Since 2021, he’s been regional vice president for Gateway’s North Texas area, leading more than 20 mortgage centers in communities across the state, including the Dallas metro area.
Gateway First Bank was founded in 2000 and is one of the largest financial institutions in Oklahoma, but also has a national mortgage presence with nearly 100 mortgage locations around the country and a staff of about 600 employees.
