Castle & Cooke Mortgage, LLC(R) Kicks Off Its 2016 Expansion Plan With Two Branch Openings

SALT LAKE CITY, UT--(Marketwired - February 08, 2016) - Castle & Cooke Mortgage, LLC®, one of the nation's leading independent mortgage lenders with 43 locations across the United States is forging ahead with its planned 2016 expansion, opening new branches in Lancaster, California and Crown Point, Indiana. With an aggressive expansion, acquisition and recruitment agenda, the company is pleased to join forces with existing industry leaders in each region to provide Castle & Cooke Mortgage's suite of premium lending services to a greater number of potential borrowers. Michelle Bissonnette will open the company's Crown Point, Indiana Branch, and Gabriella Godde will lead the Lancaster, California Branch. These grand openings, slated for early February, mark the first of the 15-20 new branches Castle & Cooke Mortgage plans to open in 2016.

With three decades of experience, from processing to origination to mentoring, Michelle Bissonnette (NMLS# 146657) is as seasoned in operations as she is knowledgeable about what it takes to offer superior client services in a competitive lending market. As Branch Manager at 730 N. Main in Crown Point, Indiana, Bissonnette projects a year of tremendous growth. Her accomplished team will leverage their expertise with the leading-edge lending solutions now available to them at Castle & Cooke Mortgage in order to meet clients' lending needs at a rate that was never before possible.

"In competitive markets branding is an important distinguishing factor," said Bissonnette. "The fact that Castle & Cooke Mortgage offers one-touch underwriting and is committed to maintaining 24-hour turn times is a big part of the reason I can maintain strong partnerships with realtors and builders who also want to offer the highest level of efficiency and customer service. Equally, the level of corporate support we receive, coupled with quick close times and advanced technology, makes it easier for me to build an exceptional team because we are setting loan officers up for success at every step of the process."

Gabriella Godde (NMLS #262012) will lead the company's expansion north of Los Angeles in Lancaster, Kern County and the whole of Antelope Valley as Branch Manager at 1206 West Ave J, Suite 220 in Lancaster (NMLS # 392213). Godde comes to the company with nearly two decades of loan origination experience and significant expertise with California Homebuyer's Downpayment Assistance Program (CHDAP) and Mortgage Credit Certification for homebuyers who qualify for tax credits. Her expertise combines with Castle & Cooke Mortgage's comprehensive suite of lending solutions, positioning Godde to put an ever-greater number of first-time buyers on the path to homeownership.

"This business is about building great relationships," said Godde. "When I noticed that trusted industry professionals were going to work for Castle & Cooke Mortgage, I knew the company was doing something right. Then I was presented with the opportunity to join the company and could not turn down the prospect of working with so many like-minded and respectable lenders. With underwriting, processing and origination all under one roof, Castle & Cooke Mortgage can offer clients a truly seamless process. We are able to consistently close in 30 days or less. That is the kind of promise that builds trust with real estate agents and borrowers alike. And these best-in-class systems mean that I can consistently offer my clients excellence in service."

"Castle & Cooke Mortgage's growth strategy provides that the company will extend its lending footprint by partnering with established industry professionals in core housing markets," said Adam Thorpe, President and Chief Operating Officer for Castle & Cooke Mortgage. "We are committed to hiring the brightest leaders in the industry and then giving them the tools to do what they do best. The new branches in Indiana and California are prime examples of the types of high-quality branches and teams that our company will add as we expand our footprint nationally. Michelle Bissonnette and Gabriella Godde and their teams fully embrace our company's core values of honesty, integrity, transparency and hard work. Additionally, Michelle and Gabriella are leaders in their respective markets, and they treat their clients impeccably with a reputation for delivering unparalleled customer service. We are pleased that such talented industry professionals continue to see the advantage of working at Castle & Cooke Mortgage."

Gabriella Godde can be reached by email at ggodde@castlecookemortgage.com or by phone at 661-713-3460.

Michelle Bissonnette can be reached by email at mbissonnette@castlecookemortgage.com or by phone at 219-973-6546.

Founded in 2005 and part of the historic Castle & Cooke family of companies that commenced business in 1851, Castle & Cooke Mortgage has become one of the premiere residential real estate lenders. The company is dedicated to providing exceptional customer service, strategic growth and the acquisition, development and long-term success of elite mortgage professionals in each market they serve. Using the tools and resources available at the company, many sales professionals have doubled their personal production levels in 2015 alone.

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About Castle & Cooke Mortgage

Castle & Cooke Mortgage (NMLS #1251), one of the nation's leading independent mortgage lenders with 43 locations across the United States and more than 250 employees, is founded on three core values -- integrity, honesty and transparency. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, the company is renowned for its smooth and efficient origination process, the unparalleled support provided to its sales force, and the quality customer service given to borrowers. According to Mortgage Executive Magazine, the 10-year-old company is already among the top 100 mortgage lenders in the nation. Backed by the financial strength of its more than 160-year- sister company Castle & Cooke, Castle & Cooke Mortgage can be found online at www.castlecookemortgage.com and followed on Twitter at @CastleandCooke and on Facebook at Facebook.com/Castle.Cooke.Mortgage. Castle & Cooke Mortgage is an Equal Housing Lender.