B
ank of England is different from other mortgage
companies. As a family owned and operated business
since 1898, they have work hard to maintain a family
atmosphere while adding modern amenities over the
years. By creating the same trusting relationship with their
Realtor partners, Bank of England has been able to maintain
steady growth in the mortgage industry. Michael Castleberry
is the Manager of the Fort Walton Beach location and oversees
the day-to-day operations of over 25 employees. This location
is special because decisions are made locally. “I am currently
one of only a handful of companies along the coast that has
their own in-house underwriters. I currently have 10 loan
officers and 3 loan officer assistants with the rest being the
support staff, which is the backbone of the operation. A major
part of this team is our 5 processors,” described Michael.
When he opened this branch five years ago, they were hoping
to reach a goal of $50 million in mortgages in a year. They are
currently on track to do $150 million for 2018 and Michael is
opening several new branches this year, not only in Florida
and Alabama, but as far west as Texas too. With this additional
growth, they are hoping to be around $250 million for 2019 and
hit $300 million in 2020. Each of Bank of England’s 10 loan
officers are allowed to work with 10 realtors. They value quality
over quantity and only want to work with true professionals
and build lasting relationships. It is because of this work ethic
that Bank of England has been voted the Best Mortgage Lender
on the Emerald Coast for the last five years. “These awards
mean a lot to us, but not as much as receiving referrals from
our Realtor Partners,” Michael said. “Every time we receive a
referral, that is an award that really puts a smile on your face.
You know the person trusts you enough with their friend,
family, or their buyer to put them in your hands and know you
will work very hard to get them in their home.”
story by
Courtney Murray
62 | VIPDestinMagazine.com
Business spotlight
T
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348 SW Miracle Strip Parkway, Suite 37 | Fort Walton Beach, Florida | www.BOEFWB.com | 850.362.6488
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