Bank of the West 2008 Annual Report Download - page 10

Mark Stecker and Amanda Weiland turned to Bank of the West in
Des Moines, Iowa, for a mortgage on their first home. “Being first-time
homebuyers, we had a lot of questions,” Weiland says. “It was nice to
know that we had someone a phone call or email away who was there to
help us out every step of the way.”
Fulfilling
NATIONAL FINANCE
Bank of the West is ready and able to provide financing
options that help our customers through all the stages
of their lives. Our wide range of consumer finance
products, including mortgages, home equity loans and
lines of credit, credit cards and installment loans,
provide attractive financing options. For decades our
customers have been benefiting from our lending
experience and our financial strength in good times and
hard times alike. Regardless of the economic condi-
tions, our National Finance Group has remained com-
mitted to fulfilling the financing needs of consumers
without compromising our prudent lending standards.
Prime Mortgage Lending
Even in the midst of the economic slowdown of 2008,
Bank of the West’s team of dedicated Mortgage
Bankers originated more than $1.6 billion in home
mortgages, a nearly 50% increase compared to 2007.
We helped customers from Omaha to Anaheim to buy
homes, refinance mortgages, and take advantage of
their available home equity through loans and lines of
credit. Despite the downturn in the housing market in
2008, we continued to lend to our customers, giving
them the financial flexibility they want. Prudent
lending practices and a team of Mortgage Bankers
dedicated to helping qualified borrowers realize the
dream of home ownership made Bank of the West’s
Mortgage Banking division one of the most reputable
and stable in the country. Our focus on prime mortgage
lending reinforces the value of our mortgage activities
to our communities and customers.
Bank of the West in 2008 remained a national leader in
financing options for the nation’s recreational activities
through RV and boat financing. As many other lenders
scaled back or shuttered their RV and boat lending
departments, Bank of the West did not waiver in its
commitment to this important market, which allows so
many Americans to enjoy weekends, summer vacations
and their retirement years.
Direct and Indirect Lending
Bank of the West’s auto finance activities allow con-
sumers to buy and lease automobiles directly through
our branches or through our relationships with dealers.
Building on our reputation and our strong relationships
with dealers, we have expanded our offerings to
include commercial banking products dealerships need
and inventory financing through our specialized Dealer
Financial Services.
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First-time homebuyers Mark Stecker, left, and Amanda Weiland with Bank of the West
Mortgage Banking Division National Sales Manager Jorge Valencia.