Bank of Commerce Mortgage Launches Branch in Visalia Led by 28-Year Industry Veteran Sandy Wheeler

VISALIA, Calif., June 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Bank of Commerce Mortgage (BOCM), one of the leading independent mortgage banks in the West, today announced that it has launched a new branch in Visalia. Under the direction of branch manager, Sandy Wheeler, a 28-year industry veteran, the new Visalia branch will offer the expertise of a seasoned loan origination team that has been working together for many years to provide personalized mortgage financing options and service to local borrowers.

The new Visalia branch will be staffed by experienced loan officers, an on-site underwriter and additional processing staff.

Having worked at local mortgage companies as well as a large financial institution, the new Visalia team found that Bank of Commerce Mortgage offered the financial strength and compliance resources of a large bank together with the responsiveness of a community lender.

The Visalia branch can now provide local underwriting combined with a diverse line of products that are usually only available from a large brokerage. The Visalia office joins five other new locations in Danville, Modesto, Merced, Stockton and Santa Ana, increasing the number of Bank of Commerce Mortgage branches to 18.

The Visalia team includes loan officers Leticia Gonzalez, Darice Viera and Anne Brown as well as underwriters Doug Maddoz and Stacie Gray, loan processor Kerri Bethel, sales coordinator Cindy Rodriguez and operations manager Jenny Somera.

"From relocation to debt solutions, we are committed to serving our community and taking care of our clients," said Sandy Wheeler, branch manager for Bank of Commerce Mortgage, Visalia. "Generations of families have turned to us for years to help them address their home purchase, refinance and overall personal finance needs with smart strategies that they can trust. Bank of Commerce Mortgage offers the resources and support that will allow us to continue delivering personalized loan options and the level of service that our clients have come to expect."

"We are pleased to extend a warm welcome to Sandy Wheeler and her team," said Scott Simonich, president and CEO for Bank of Commerce Mortgage. "At BOCM, our goal is to provide quality service and the most comprehensive selection of mortgage financing options. The Visalia community will find peace-of-mind in knowing that every branch of Bank of Commerce Mortgage operates as a local lender with the capacity to make the loan origination process seamless and hassle-free."

About Bank of Commerce Mortgage

In 2009, Bank of Commerce Mortgage launched several green initiatives, making the way it does business safer for the environment and better for its employees and the communities it serves. Operating as a mortgage bank and brokerage, the company is one of the leading independent mortgage companies in the West. In partnership with parent company, Bank of Commerce Holdings (NASDAQ: BOCH), a $814 million dollar financial services holding company, Bank of Commerce Mortgage provides customers with a more  advanced level of capital strength than many other mortgage banks and brokerages.

A HUD approved lender, Bank of Commerce Mortgage approves and funds FHA, VA, CalSTRS and USDA loans in addition to jumbo, conforming and reverse mortgages. The company has the credentials and expertise that borrowers can trust. The company's management team collectively possesses more than 100 years of experience in the mortgage industry. Bank of Commerce Mortgage is headquartered in San Ramon, California and serves customers from a wide range of locations throughout California, Colorado and Nevada. For more information, contact Bank of Commerce Mortgage at (925) 275-6844 or visit the company's website at www.bankofcommercemortgage.com.

SOURCE Bank of Commerce Mortgage