Employee satisfaction, technology investments, community giving, and a commitment to growing homeownership make Freedom Mortgage a consistent top employer. 

Independent mortgage lenders faced major obstacles during the past few years. While other companies faltered, Freedom Mortgage, one of the nation’s largest independent, non-bank mortgage lenders, found ways to grow, diversify, and remain a preferred employer.

A commitment to grow homeownership

Freedom Mortgage was founded in 1990 with the goal of fostering homeownership. The company provides mortgage loans through retail, wholesale, and correspondent channels in all 50 states and has grown to become a top VA and FHA (government-insured) lender in the U.S. (Inside Mortgage Finance, Jan-Mar 2023). Last year, the company made it back on the Inc. 5000 Honor Roll for the eighth time as one of the fastest-growing companies across the country.

“Our strategic focus on government-backed loan programs has allowed Freedom Mortgage to expand homeownership to those who need it most,” says CEO Stan Middleman. 

Middleman believes homeownership is a viable path toward financial freedom. Freedom Mortgage helps homeowners achieve greater financial stability and success by helping millions of Americans buy and refinance their homes. 

Recently, as home values have grown substantially, some homeowners have chosen to cash out their equity to use the money for immediate priorities. For others, refinancing has provided the chance to consolidate and pay down high-interest credit card debt, allowing for significant savings.

High employee satisfaction 

Helping families and individuals make the most of homeownership drives company culture, creating a sense of purpose for employees that goes beyond simply servicing home loans.

Consistent high levels of employee satisfaction demonstrate a vibrant culture, characterized by shared corporate values, effective internal communication, a commitment to equity and inclusion, and an impressive lineup of in-person and online staff events, contests, and conferences. 

“We strive to provide the right culture, benefits, and opportunities for our employees to thrive. Our employees routinely rank Freedom Mortgage high and share that they enjoy working here,” says Middleman. 

A key part of the culture is the company’s communications, which provides a sense of connection in a largely remote work environment. Highlights include digital corporate newsletters, teams devoted to events and culture, and a state-of-the-art video studio and award-winning video team — all internally produced content, designed to connect colleagues near and far. 

Investing in technology 

When COVID-19 shut down in-office work, Freedom Mortgage was ready. A company-wide focus on technological investments included the purchase of thousands of laptop computers and a move toward enterprise-level support systems. Freedom Mortgage was able to rapidly pivot to a remote workplace. 

Embracing technology also helps serve customers better, providing more personalized communications, improved online and mobile functionality, and efficient operations in all areas of the company. 

A spirit of giving 

A full picture of what makes Freedom Mortgage a preferred employer wouldn’t be complete without a look at the company’s robust community giving. In addition to providing home loans and refinancing options, Freedom Mortgage supports veterans and active-duty personnel through charitable events through Freedom Cares, the company’s philanthropic arm.

This employee-driven fundraising organization leads annual toy drives, food collections, and more. An employee favorite is “Project Gratitude,” a collection of video messages from employees personally thanking active-duty military personnel, veterans, and families each year on Veteran’s Day. 

The “Rucksacks to Backpacks” program is in its 11th year. Company employees give money for school supplies for children of military families and help distribute the ready-to-go backpacks in cooperation with the Philadelphia-area USO. 

Join the Freedom Mortgage talent community and #SoarWithUs. Discover your freedom at Careers.FreedomMortgage.com. Jobs include mortgage servicing, sales and marketing, data analytics, technology, risk management, financial services, operations, and more!