In an industry that fluctuates with market rates, Security First Bank has certainly stood the test of time. The company recently celebrated its 125th anniversary and the Lincoln office itself has proven to be a bedrock of stability and innovation. The bank’s Mortgage Lending Department, under the new leadership of Dana Hamilton, continues to flourish despite the ongoing challenges of the housing market.

 

Dana, who has been with the company for 11 years, recently stepped into the role of Director of Mortgage Lending, overseeing all loan officers across Nebraska. This transition, coupled with the department's devotion to service, has ensured that Security First Bank remains a well-oiled machine, delivering exceptional results even in challenging market conditions.

 

Having been a part of the lending department for over a decade, Dana's deep understanding of the mortgage landscape and her commitment to her team have been instrumental in the department's ongoing success.

 

"I've done everything with a loan, from processing, to underwriting, to getting the loan funded and purchased after closing takes place," Dana shares. "Mortgages are a lot of problem-solving; not every situation is the same, and I realize all circumstances are different."

 

This hands-on experience has equipped Dana with the skills necessary to navigate the complexities of the mortgage industry, making her an invaluable asset to the department.

 

Her leadership is complemented by the experience and passion of her team members, including Celsey Pflughaupt, a mortgage loan officer with eight years of experience at the bank.

 

Celsey emphasizes the department's collective strength: "We're small but mighty and we’re very versatile. There's seven of us, but we are adding another loan officer soon. We also have three people in our department with over 20 years of experience in the lending industry: Elizabeth Rezac, Sherri Weiss, Jennifer Peters and Monica Ohlrich are all extremely knowledgeable professionals. Kelly Donlan and Cheryl Gonzalez complete our wonderful team, and we just added Mike Lauritsen, another loan officer with over 20 years of lending experience.

 

“I can’t say enough about the way people help here and will do anything to help the customers, regardless of their role," she adds with a touch of pride.

 

Despite current market conditions, Security First Bank's Mortgage Lending Department has continued to thrive by introducing new products while maintaining a flexible approach.

 

"Even though it is a difficult market, we have found our niche by offering a bridge loan at a low cost to help current homeowners get into new homes," Dana explains. "We’re always looking at new ways to help people by keeping up with the times and brainstorming new offerings to ensure our investors and products are in line with what the market is doing."

 

The department's ability to innovate is further supported by its unique in-house underwriting capabilities. This flexibility allows the department to cater to unconventional borrowers, ensuring that more people can achieve their dream of homeownership.

 

"If it’s a unique property and there’s a reason why the loan can’t be done, we can look at doing it in-house, such as for a self-employed borrower or someone that hasn’t built any credit yet," Dana notes.

 

The Mortgage Lending Department at Security First Bank is not just about procuring loans either; first and foremost, it’s about building long-standing relationships and fostering a supportive, warm environment.

 

Celsey highlights the team's unique dynamic with an example: "Our bank has a fun food day every month and this month is sandwich fest! We want our culture to show inside and out that employees love working here. Our jobs can be stressful, so we always aim to keep it fun. We work hard and take our work seriously, but we also want to make it enjoyable."

 

This positive work environment not only boosts team morale but also translates into exceptional customer service, as happy employees make clients feel valued and supported throughout the entire home buying process.

 

"Our team is really good at coming up with creative solutions and making it work for the customer. Our favorite motto is, ‘We love making homeownership dreams a reality!’" Celsey declares.

 

As the mortgage industry continues to evolve, Security First Bank's Mortgage Lending Department remains fully committed to adapting, innovating, and growing no matter the circumstance.

 

"We've made a lot of strides to make the back-end run more efficiently," Dana states. "Our department as a whole is only getting better day by day. We’ve had some departmental changes that created challenges, but it has only made us stronger.”

 

Celsey nods her head in agreement, before she adds: "As we continue, we’ll do everything in our power to adapt to the market and make things as easy and efficient as possible for the client. We realize they’re already going through a stressful time, and we want to ease that burden."

 

Dana echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the department's commitment to building lasting relationships with clients and Realtors alike.

 

"You just aren’t a number to us. We want to help you through these life stages and your family and friends as well as the next generation,” she concludes. “We are a local community bank, and want to act like such when doing our jobs and making those relationships.

 

“If you walk in the door, we’ll greet you by name… Unless you’re a stranger, then we’ll immediately get to know your name.”