In your position as one of the top producers in the region, you’ve seen how truly valuable having a home is. It’s undoubtedly one of the elements that fires your level of achievement in the business. Francisco Serrano is the same way.

 

As Assistant Vice President and Home Loan Consultant with Charter West Bank, Francisco has a special connection with those who pursue the American dream. That understanding has been with him since the time he was a child.

 

Francisco grew up in Omaha from the time he was 4 years old. As Spanish speakers, Francisco and his family didn’t have a lot of options at the time.

 

“We didn’t have bilingual lawyers, bankers or doctors. Everyone spoke English. From the time I was 6, I was translating for my parents. When I was 12, I needed to translate their divorce,” Francisco remembers.

 

“It’s important to me that, no matter whether they speak English or Spanish, my clients will need to have to go through that. It is a stress of not knowing whether you are saying things correctly that I don’t have to pass down to my clients.”

 

There would be other hurdles that would challenge and shape Francisco as well. In fact, when he was 15 years old, he was homeless. “Because of that time in my life, I have a little different understanding of just how important having a home really is,” Francisco explains. “I know how it is to not have a place where you are accepted and always welcome.”

 

He remembers being caught in a depression during that time — until he read a book that proved to create a pivotal moment in his life — “Awaken the Giant Within” by Tony Robbins.

 

“That book changed my life. After reading that, I knew that whatever has happened has happened … but that it was time to set goals and accomplish them,” Francisco says with a spark. “The first thing was getting shelter, so I made the goal of getting an apartment at 18. From the time I was 16 to the time I turned 18, I did that. It was an incredible, full-circle moment when I met Tony years later and shared the story with him about what his book did for me in my life.”

 

While Francisco turning things around and getting an apartment was a major milestone representing success, that proved to just be a warm-up act for the young man who was on fire with the energy needed to achieve.

 

The day after his 18th birthday, Francisco went to see a mortgage broker. His mission? To find out what he needed to do to qualify for a home — something he ended up accomplishing when he was just 20 years old.

 

“Homeownership is different when you didn’t have a place to live. I love this business,” Francisco emphasizes. “It comes back to me being that little child who didn’t understand the process. I want to help people understand and achieve that dream of becoming a homeowner.”

 

As Francisco remembers it, his start in real estate occurred when, as he says, the business found him.

 

“I got divorced and was selling Spanish radio. It was a means to an end. My best client was an 80-year-old mom-and-pop shop that sold mortgages. The owner said ‘I think you would be good at what I do.’ I gave it a try, getting my start in 2001, and it has been the best decision I ever made.”

 

Today, Francisco also enjoys the power of teamwork. He is proud to work with a dedicated team that includes an assistant, a processor, and a closer. He also is supported by an underwriting team that works on a statewide basis.

 

Francisco leads a full life. A few years ago, he took up the game of golf. While he grew up as a competitive table tennis player who was competitive with himself, Francisco smiles when he talks about the way he has learned to not be quite so hard on himself on the golf course.

 

One of the elements of his work that Francisco is especially appreciative of is his environment at Charter West Bank.

 

“Charter gives me the flexibility to grow my business,” he says. “My job is to understand the products so they can be truly tailored to each person, depending on an individual’s goals. It’s great to have a roof over your head and also to help people realize that they have a financial tool… And knowing how to use that tool allows them to create wealth.”

 

Those who know Francisco appreciate his natural knack for encouraging the achievement of others.

 

“With younger loan officers, I am always willing to share what I do to help anyone succeed. I believe that if we can help enough people achieve their goals, we will get there too. I love to encourage people and get them to start believing in themselves. The way you talk to yourself, from the time you wake up, is going to affect your success. It’s up to you to stick to your goals, and if you do something every day, you will get there.”