Wintrust Tallies Quarter's Volume, Expands Correspondent

Wintrust Mortgage Corp. originated $1.2 billion in mortgages in the first quarter and now it is expanding its correspondent channel by purchasing mortgages from members of Lenders One, a mortgage cooperative. The Lake Forest, Ill., mortgage company is a member of Lenders One and now it has become a "preferred investor" for the 125 coop members. "The transition to becoming a preferred investor of Lenders One brings opportunity for us to coordinate our efforts with the cooperative's sales team," said Valerie Moavero, WMC's vice president and correspondent lending manager. Wintrust Mortgage is a nationwide correspondent lender that offers FHA, VA and conventional loan products, including jumbo fixed-rated mortgages. Wintrust (formerly known as WestAmerica) originated $263 million in mortgages in the fourth quarter while it completed an acquisition of Professional Mortgage Partners, Downers Grove, Ill., in late December. PMP originated nearly $1.2 billion in loans in 2008.