Independent Banker - July 2023 - 48

ICBA's
TOP
LENDERS
2023
Community Bank
Delaware's SVP Chris
Benjamin and president
Jack Riddle at a project
in Rehoboth Beach, Del.,
with builder Nate Graulich
changing the lending landscape, "
says Matt Townson, senior vice
president and chief lending officer.
" Our customers were also able to take
advantage of the housing market,
either by accessing their equity from
sales of property or refinancing in the
low-rate environment. "
According to Townson, the
community bank's mortgage lending
success is the result of holding 30year
mortgages in its portfolio, which
most of its competitors do not do. " We
are able to produce more loans and
service more customers by offering
this product, " he says.
" Our bank started in 1887 as a
building and loan association, making
loans to its members to build homes, "
he adds. " We like to say, 'Stick to what
you know.' We have the history and
ability to do that in our area. "
Due to recent growth in Cullman
Savings Bank's area, it's also been
able to bolster its commercial lending.
" The recent growth in our area has
given us success in our commercial
portfolio, and this has allowed us to be
able to book mortgage and consumer
loans a little more aggressively, " he
says. " We've done this by offering very
competitive rates. "
Community Bank Delaware
Community Bank Delaware in Lewes,
Del., cites several keys to success in
consumer and mortgage lending.
" We offer competitive rates, personal
service and quick turnaround, "
says Chris Benjamin, senior vice
president for the $311 million-asset
community bank. " We treat the
customer as a relationship, rather
than a transaction. We also have
products that most of the big banks
don't have.
" We have found that most people
want to work with a lender that offers
fair rates and knows the market, " he
adds. " Our time from application to
approval is also very important, and
that is where community banks can
shine. Borrowers appreciate not just
being a number in an online portal. "
Community Bank Delaware offers a
full menu of products that buyers look
for: lot loans, single close construction
loans and fixed-rate mortgages. " We
also have good relationships with
the builders in our area, which helps
smooth out any construction loan
issues, " Benjamin says.
Looking to the future, the bank is
evaluating easier ways to exchange
information. In fact, it has already
implemented Citrix ShareFile, a secure
portal for transfer of information.
William Atkinson is a writer in Illinois.
Rank
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Consumer/mortgage: More than $1B in assets
Bank name
Apex Bank
City
The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod
Roscoe State Bank, a division of Cornerstone
Capital Bank, SSB
NexBank
First Federal Savings and Loan Association
of Lakewood
Rosedale Federal Savings and Loan
Association
Royal Business Bank
Community Financial Services Bank
First Federal Savings Bank of Twin Falls
Bradesco BAC Florida Bank
Evergreen Bank Group
Metro City Bank
Primis Bank
Plains Commerce Bank
BayCoast Bank
Main Street Bank
Bell Bank
Southern First Bank
Cross River Bank
Shore United Bank, National Association
Camden
Hyannis
Roscoe
Dallas
Lakewood
Baltimore
Los Angeles
Benton
Twin Falls
Coral Gables
Oak Brook
Doraville
Ashland
Sioux Falls
Fall River
Marlborough
Fargo
Greenville
Fort Lee
Easton
State
TN
MA
TX
TX
OH
MD
CA
KY
ID
FL
IL
GA
VA
SD
MA
MA
ND
SC
NJ
MD
92.7
91.8
90.8
89.9
89.6
89.5
88.7
88.5
88.2
86.8
86.7
86.6
86.4
85.8
85.7
85.5
84.8
84.7
Consumer lender score
96.8
94.1
48 // ICBA Independent Banker // July 2023
Independent Banker - July 2023

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