Madison-based Wisconsin Bank & Trust has added eight mortgage loan originators since September as it works to expand its mortgage operations across the state.
It has opened three new offices in 2013, in Green Bay, Madison and Brookfield.
The Brookfield location, at 20300 Watertower Road, has added two employees: Linda Chesak, who was formerly with Associated Bank, and Alex Lapotko, who was formerly with Wells Fargo Home Mortgage.
“Our focus in 2013 has been to ramp up mortgage origination capacity consistent with our model of providing ‘big bank’ products and services with a level of service borrowers expect from local community banks,” said Kevin Tenpas, president and chief executive officer of Wisconsin Bank &Trust.
While the market is a little uneven, WBT sees opportunity in the recovering housing market, as consumers regain confidence and interest rates remain low, said Jim Kubovec, Wisconsin area manager for mortgage operations.
“We’re in a period of significant change in the consumer mortgage market, as some of the ‘big banks’ scale back on mortgage lending in the region and new regulations are set to affect the entire industry next year,” Kubovec said.
