GREAT FALLS – Opportunity Bank of Montana announced today that Mike Banks, mortgage branch manager for Great Falls and Helena, has been named Lender of the Year by NeighborWorks Great Falls (NWGF) for the fourth consecutive year.
“Mike has been a longtime partner at NWGF because of the volume of first-time homebuyers he serves. Having a lender with the knowledge and experience to advocate for vulnerable first-time homebuyers is critical,” said Karen Cleveland, NWGF Director of Lending. “Mike is tenacious in finding a program that's right for the borrower. While there's no guarantee that a borrower will choose NWGF, when it works out, the lender is generous in providing the borrower with the opportunity to benefit.”
Mike Banks closed eight loans last year using a total of $195,000 from NWGF's down payment program. According to the organization, these eight loans represent 32% of the total NWGF loans allocated for 2023, making a measurable difference in getting area families into their new homes.
“Mike fights for our programs and takes every opportunity to promote what we do. He attends our live education courses, sponsors classes and serves on one of our committees to share his perspective and experience. He is a true advocate for everything we do as an organization,” Cleveland said.
Mr. Banks has over 25 years of banking experience and specializes in a wide range of mortgage products, including conventional, Federal Housing Administration (FHA), Veterans Affairs (VA), Rural Development (RD), Montana Residential and Construction loans. He holds a BA in Political Science with a minor in Economics from the University of Utah.