Highlighting a Decade of Service to our Communities

It’s hard to believe that ten years have passed since the founding of our mortgage division, now known as Traditions Mortgage. In 2010, Teresa Gregory, president of Traditions Mortgage, approached Mike Kochenour, Traditions Bank’s Founder and Chairman, with what she believed was a fresh approach to the mortgage process. She said, “our community needed a strong leader making decisions in our community, there is little room for getting to know the customer and their situation. Customers are just names on paper, not people with a story.”

How We Started

Starting with one other employee, Pat Joseph, Traditions Mortgage began building a local market presence and helping prospective buyers reach their homeownership goals. As the division grew, we continued to add great lenders and back-office staff with that same commitment to growth and the Bank’s Core Values. In 2019, we added two mortgage sales managers, Kathy Brown and Rich Lowry. Brown and Lowry are longtime members of the Traditions Bank family and have years of experience in the industry. They provide mentorship, guidance, and support to the mortgage partners on their teams. In early 2020, Kristi Riley-Platt was promoted to Director of Mortgage Operations. Riley-Platt oversees all processing, underwriting, closing, and post-closing for mortgages. “We have tremendous lenders, who are supported by a whole staff of people who perform the ‘magic’ behind-the-scenes, ensuring mortgages close for our customers,” said Riley-Platt.

Key Relationships with Industry Experts

Dr. Gregory says one of the essential keys to our mortgage division’s success would be building relationships with our industry partners. In York County, we are fortunate to have the York Builders Association and the Realtors Association of York and Adams County. Both provide standards of excellence for our industry.

Community service is at the heart of what we do at Traditions Bank and Traditions Mortgage. All of our mortgage partners and most of our administrative staff volunteer in our community and service on industry committees and boards.

How COVID-19 Changed the Way We Do Business

Earlier this year, when COVID-19 quickly changed our world, our entire mortgage team demonstrated their dedication to providing superior customer service. Our team re-engineered their workflow within days to allow for CDC guidelines with our clients and how we work with our colleagues.
“Traditions Mortgage was born to meet a challenge, and we will continue to do so with whatever may arise,” said Gregory.
They continue to provide excellent service while working remotely and juggling the many challenges that evolve.

While much has changed since our mortgage division began, we’ve remained focused on creating relationships, providing excellent customer service, and remaining an industry leader in the local marketplace. When asked what she’s most proud of, Gregory said, “it’s the number of first-time homebuyers we’ve been able to help. We’ve heard their stories and walked alongside them in their journey. We’re so proud of that.”

Looking Toward the Future

What’s next for Traditions Mortgage? We will continue to expand on the strong relationships we’ve built in the last ten years. With the addition of mortgage partners, Dave Fuchs in Lancaster, and Kristen Lacy in the capital region, we will provide that local choice to homebuyers across Central PA.