2025 Best Mortgage Companies to Work For

The Best Small Mortgage Companies to Work For in 2025

ByBrad Finkelstein, Bonnie Sinnock, Andrew Martinez, Maria Volkova, Spencer Lee

February 21, 2025 2:41 PM

In the mortgage industry, periods of high originations volumes make it easier to be an employer of choice. It's a special feat to remain such a thing when times are tougher.

The following 10 companies, which each have under 100 people on staff, were highly rated by employees for creating a great environment in which to work.

SEE THE FULL LIST: 2025's Best Mortgage Companies to Work for

This ranking is a partnership between National Mortgage News and the Best Companies Group, which conducts extensive employee surveys and reviews employer reports on benefits and policies. The employee survey covers eight topics: leadership and planning; corporate culture and communications; role satisfaction; work environment; relationship with supervisor; training, development and resources; pay and benefits; and overall engagement.

Once the survey data is analyzed, the companies get a score that decides their ranking. The overall score is calculated using the employee survey (weighed at 75%) and the employer questionnaire (25%). To qualify for consideration, organizations with 25 or more employees need a minimum response rate of 40% while companies with 25 or fewer employees need 80%.

The survey addressed several topics, including satisfaction that employees had with the management of the companies that employed them. The positive response rate to the statement, "I am willing to give extra effort to help this organization succeed" was 97% for lenders of all sizes that made the list. This was the same result as last year.

The overall engagement score came in at 94%, a 1 percentage point increase from the year prior, this score grew thanks to more companies scoring higher in categories of being recommended as a place to work and being recommended for its products and services.

Check out the winners in the small company category below.

Team Method came together and wore pink in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Method Mortgage

Headquarters: Birmingham, Alabama
Number of employees: 14
Website:

www.methodmortgage.com

Licensed in four Southeastern states, Method encourages its team members to take part in volunteer projects and charity events to promote a sense of purpose beyond just business. Its community referral program also provides quarterly donations to local organizations suggested by Method Mortgage staff. "Our commitment to professional growth and community engagement sets us apart, creating an environment where team members thrive," the company said.

A highlight of 2024 celebrations was an NCAA March Madness party, which brought together staff and businesses it partnered with for the college basketball tradition.

Mattamy Home Funding staffers attend Leadership Summit.

Sierra Ford Photography/Sierra Ford

Mattamy Home Funding

Headquarters: Maitland, Florida
Number of employees: 67
Website: https://www.mattamyhf.com

Mattamy Home Funding, headquartered in the sunny state of Florida, describes itself as a small but mighty shop.

To keep its team of loan officers competitive, Mattamy embraces technology and automation tools "allowing our employees to focus on what truly matters, gaining efficiencies without losing the personal touch," the lender said.

The firm, which has been in operation for 17 years, is a joint venture lender and servicer of a homebuilder. Apart from Florida, the company also operates in Arizona, Texas, North Carolina and South Carolina.

More than 90% of its workforce is remote, which is part of the shop's "shift to stay ahead of the curve and recognize and prioritize the importance of work-life balance and flexibility," it said.

Republic State Mortgage Company celebrates an employee's baby shower.

Republic State Mortgage Company

Headquarters: Houston, Texas
Number of employees: 84
Website: https://republicstatemortgage.com

Republic State Mortgage Co., founded in 1994, takes a personal approach in building relationships with its customers.

The first thing a potential borrower sees when opening up the Texas-based lender's website is a note from Robert Wagnon, Republic's CEO, thanking consumers for considering using their services.

The shop, founded in 1994 by Wagnon, is licensed to operate in 13 states. Republic offers a full suite of residential loan products to consumers, ranging from conventional loans to renovation loans.

"People that choose Republic, earn a living by building relationships that deliver happiness and fulfill the American dream. Our work has a purpose," Republic wrote in a statement.

North Dakota Housing Finance Agency

Headquarters: Bismarck, North Dakota
Number of employees: 30

Website: www.ndhfa.org

Executive Director Dave Flohr recently characterized the past year as one in which the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency faced heavy demand for its services in a market with increased affordability constraints. First-time buyers NDHFA helped through one lower-cost loan program were market where the average loan was $18,000 higher than in 2023.

The self-supporting non-profit, which aims to facilitate affordable homeownership for low- to moderate-income state residents, hopes state lawmakers will help the agency do more to contend with such challenges this year, according to an online update Flohr posted in January.

NDHFA can accommodate employees with physical disabilities and encourages veterans to apply. It also offers reimbursement for certifications, advanced or post-graduate degrees and business education events.

Mortgage Center

Location: Southfield, Michigan
Number of employees: 97
Website:

mortgagecenter.com

Communication is what sets Mortgage Center apart as a Best Mortgage Company to Work For, said Dani Soave, assistant vice president of digital marketing. It is not just constant communication that is the key, but that it's done consistently as well.

Every employee has a weekly one-on-one session with management.

"They're not only just about updates on work and things like that, they're all about getting to know who they are as individuals, [and] getting to know us as well as managers," Soave explained. It helps to understand their personalities as well as what serves to motivate them.

Negative feedback is not part of the conversation. Rather, it's about providing adjusting feedback.

"That's a huge selling point [for Mortgage Center], because when we say…I noticed this behavior, and here is how I believe that you could adjust it," Soave said.

Positive feedback is provided as well, "and here's what to continue. So we're identifying great things to keep on doing, and great things to address as well," Soave said.

Consumers Credit Union

Headquarters: Kalamazoo, Michigan
Number of employees: 87
Website:

www.consumerscu.org

An honoree for the second consecutive year, the Michigan-based credit union has seen average annual asset growth of 18%.

The company is an active supporter of wellness initiatives for its employees, receiving several awards for its efforts, including benefits of up to $500 on related expenses.

"We believe that providing our employees with the programs they need to be successful and fulfilled is integral to our success," said President and CEO Scott Sylvester. "We know that our Credit Union succeeds when our employees succeed."

Among resources available on its Kalamazoo campus are walking trails and a section called The Courts, where pickleball matches and other games take place. Several times a year, Sylvester will make a healthy lunch for all employees at its headquarters.

Directions Home Loan

Headquarters: San Antonio, Texas
Number of employees: 43

Website:

https://directionshomeloan.com

Directions Home Loan, founded in 2007, operates with three pillars in mind "honesty, hustle and heart," it said. Those beliefs are what helps the mortgage lender deliver topnotch customer service and attract a good workforce.

"We prioritize employee well-being, community engagement and social responsibility, believing that true success is measured not just by profits but by the difference we make in people's lives," Directions said in a statement.

Directions promotes team spirit by having holiday parties and with the help of an office pet that fills the very important role of Chief Barketing Officer.

The mortgage shop has branches in Arizona, California, Tennessee and Texas, with the majority of originations coming from the latter state.

Coastal Federal Credit Union

Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
Number of employees: 48

Website: www.coastal24.com

"Being able to differentiate Coastal as an employer, as well as a service provider, has become absolutely essential," the company said in its entry. "As the marketplace becomes more competitive that's going to hinge on sharing our purpose."

Mortgage product offerings that are commodities and benefits to employees can be matched by other places of employment, but purpose cannot be duplicated, Coastal said.

"Helping employees understand why we exist is an important part of the work we do, both in how we recruit as well as how we develop our internal talent, and will continue to be for the foreseeable future," the credit union said

Because they are the face of the institution, "Coastal also puts taking care of employees at the core of what we do. We believe that employee engagement is every bit as important as member satisfaction, supporting the community and overall business performance."

Developer's Mortgage Company

Location: Columbus, Ohio
Number of employees: 81

Website: www.developersmortgage.com

Developer's Mortgage Company is headed by President Linda Heaston and gets high marks from employees for a flexible work environment that accommodates their lives.

Among unique benefits the company highlights is wellness program which can give employees access to lower contribution rates for healthcare benefits if they can meet certain criteria.

"We strive to create a work place where employees can enjoy their work, feel comfortable, and be successful," Developer's said in a company statement. "We believe a happy work environment leads to great achievement."

Mortgage America

Headquarters: Whitehall, Pennsylvania
Number of employees: 64

Website:

www.mymortgageamerica.com

The Pennsylvania lender offers a variety of loans, including conventional, government-backed and jumbo for customers throughout the mid Atlantic. Mortgage America is also the leading originator of loans for first-time buyers applying through the state's housing finance agency program, said co-founder and CEO Bob Barrett.

Founded over 40 years ago, the company touts its attention to financials that allows it to retain staff even during rough stretches and reward them in boom periods.

"We try to be fairly generous in the business," Barrett said. "I didn't make the slogan up, but when we're making money, they're making money."