Washington Trust expands Community Reinvestment Act lending team

Seattle, Wash. – Washington Trust Bank, the largest independently owned full-service bank in the Northwest, has expanded its Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) lending team to include five new CRA-focused lenders, furthering its commitment to helping individuals and families advance their homeownership dreams and support thriving communities. With a focus on western Washington and the Portland metro area, the team will work to reach underserved populations and promote the possibility of homeownership through education, such as first-time homebuyer classes, as well as through community engagement with affordable housing organizations and production of CRA-qualified loans. 

 

“Forming this CRA lending team solidifies the work we’ve been doing and doubles down on the Bank’s commitment to helping families find a pathway to homeownership,” said Aaron Wilkinson, CRA mortgage and small business development lead. As local mortgage lending institutions are becoming fewer and harder to find, Washington Trust is expanding its mortgage lending capacity.

 

Led by Wilkinson, the CRA lending team includes five community lending officers: Titus Davis, Jim Deanne, Brooke Gibson, Michelle Littleton, and Joseph Portillo. The team’s efforts will focus on building strong community relationships and will be guided by the CRA, a law enacted in 1977 that encourages banks and financial institutions to meet the credit needs of all segments of their communities, including low- and moderate-income (LMI) neighborhoods, and offer fair access to credit and financial inclusion.

 

“The team is made up of the best and most knowledgeable loan officers who have passion for helping people navigate the challenges that can occur when buying a home or starting a business,” said Leo Madden, vice president and home loan division sales leader at Washington Trust. “The goal for the team is to help clients build lasting, generational housing and wealth for people in the community.”

 

For Washington Trust, facilitating mortgages and small business loans for LMI families and individuals is consistent with its commitment to the communities in which it operates and its employees live. The Bank seeks to help its neighbors and neighborhoods flourish, and that means advocating for investments that help local communities thrive. Washington Trust regularly lends to projects that revitalize neighborhoods, create affordable housing, and promote economic and job growth. Additionally, the Bank offers free financial education for all ages to support individuals in making informed financial decisions, including those associated with home purchases.