MReport released its second annual list of the Top 25 Companies in Mortgage and Servicing. The tech providers honored were: FirstClose [1], Maxwell [2], Lender Toolkit [3], RealKey [4], and Snapdocs [5]. Also recognized were women-owned and minority-owned businesses: CBC Mortgage Agency [6] and Roostify [6].
Tech Providers
FirstClose was founded in 2000 and employees 40 people. Of their employees 50% are female and 30% are minorities. FirstClose offers its employees an on-site gym, game room, break room, and holds quarterly off-site activities.
"We're pleased to be named one of Top 25 Companies in Mortgage and Servicing," said Tim Smith, co-founder, and Chief Revenue Officer at FirstClose. "We take priority in making sure we're creating the best environment for our employees that in turn provides the best service and solutions to our customers and to be recognized for doing so is an honor."
Maxwell, located in Denver, Colorado, has the mindset that “every employee is an owner.” Every employee at Maxwell has stock options, 15 days of paid-time-off, 11 paid holidays, and offices are closed between Christmas and New Year. Employees also have access to its bowling alley, fitness center, bike room, and showers.
"Our ethos at Maxwell is all about empowerment—empowering our team and empowering the hundreds of lenders across the country that rely on us to deliver a great borrower and lending team experience," said John Paasonen, CEO of Maxwell. "The key to our ongoing success is our dedication to nurturing a strong team culture built around founding principles, core values, and intentional hiring. I’m thrilled our team has been recognized for our focus on creating a Team Maxwell that our employees and our customers can be proud of.”
With just 17 employees, Lender Toolkit, allows employees to work remotely from home. Lender Toolkit also has the perks of trips and employee recognition programs, team-member anniversaries, and even an occasional “ugly sweater” contest.
“As an employee of Lender Toolkit, I feel like family and a vital part of its success. Your voice and opinion matters. Decisions are made based on employees’ input and not on just want the manager wants. These are critical factors necessary to the success of companies today,” said Yvette Moeller-Bunker, Operations Manager, Lender Toolkit.
The San Francisco, California based RealKey participates in Habitat for Humanity, Project Open Hand, and the UC-Davis Entrepreneurial Academy Mentor Program.
RealKey offers employees unlimited vacation time, a work-from-home culture, and CEO Christopher Hussain’s hobby of collecting rare bears has been incorporated into the company’s culture.
“It is great to be surrounded by so many great minds and thought leaders. Working at RealKey has been an entrepreneurial adventure, learning and growing through osmosis. The team is united with a single vision and a ‘we’ approach to bringing about our vision to make the mortgage industry more enjoyable, efficient, and effortless,” said Haden Kirkpatrick, Head of Marketing, RealKey.
SnapDocs, also headquartered in San Francisco, hosts regular lunch-and-learns, internal mobility, four weeks of vacation, matching 401(k), and fosters an open and collaborative culture.
“Snapdocs has an amazing group of people, from all different walks of life and backgrounds, which has lead to one of my favorite cultures and teams. I love it here,” said David Iranpour, an employee of SnapDocs.
Women-Owned or Minority-Owned Businesses
CBC Mortgage Agency was founded in 2013 and has 65 employees. It has additional offices in Boise, Idaho, and has employees working remotely. The company has benefits that include discounted gym memberships, an employee down-payment plan, weekly catered lunches, and a Monthly Service Excellence Award.
“We are very humbled to be recognized as a leading minority-owned mortgage company. Our culture and our company’s heritage enable us to help families of all ethnicities and races nationwide achieve the American dream,” said CBC Mortgage Agency President Richard Ferguson. “The people who make CBC a success are our employees. They work each day to make it possible for many low-income minority homebuyers—whose families lack the wealth needed to help with a down payment—achieve homeownership. I’m proud of our team.”
Roostify has more than 100 employees and CEO Rajesh Bhat serves on Washington University’s Bay Area Eliot Society Council and Bay Area Entrepreneurship Committee. The company also donated to the ASPCA, One Tree Planted San Francisco, the Wounded Warrior Project, Young Entrepreneur Council in San Francisco, Bay Area Young Survivors Network, Access Institute for Psychological Services, and Glide SF Meal Program.
"We are honored that Roostify is recognized by the MReport as a Top 25 place to work in the mortgage industry," Bhat said. "Our commitment to transforming the homebuying experience and putting the customer first is core to our values and our north star."
You can read the full profiles of MReport's Top 25 Companies in Mortgage and Servicing in the November edition of MReport—available online here [7].