11/30/2016

Guild Mortgage Named 2016 Top Workplace by San Diego Union-Tribune

Independent mortgage lender recognized for fourth straight year for outstanding work environment, company culture and staff member respect

SAN DIEGO – Guild Mortgage Company, one of the largest independent mortgage lenders in the U.S., has been ranked as one of San Diego’s Top Workplaces in 2016 by The San Diego Union-Tribune for the fourth straight year.

The Top Workplaces Program honors companies that have outstanding culture and business environments highly valued and appreciated by employees. The U-T and WorkplaceDynamics survey went to employers and staff of public, private, non-profit and governmental organizations with 50 or more employees.

Rankings are based on anonymous employee responses to an online survey and require a minimum 35 percent response rate to qualify. The online survey ranks employee levels of satisfaction with their jobs, confidence in the future prospects of the company, feelings of appreciation, manager effectiveness and trust in the company. The survey also includes open-ended questions about topics such as their view of company culture and outlook on the company’s future.

Companies with the most points receive the top rankings in one of three categories based on the size of the organization: 500 or more employees, 100-499 employees and 50-99 employees. This year, 1,153 San Diego County employers were invited to participate, with 69 companies completing the survey.

Guild Mortgage, which employs more than 600 people at its San Diego headquarters, was ranked No. 5 in the large company category.

“I’m pleased to learn that our employees are satisfied with the entrepreneurial culture they’ve worked so hard to maintain,” said Mary Ann McGarry, president and CEO of Guild Mortgage. “Being recognized for our spirit during an era of rapid growth is most rewarding.”

Over the last five years, Guild has grown from 75 branches in 16 states to more than 3,300 employees operating from 250 branch and satellite offices in 25 states today. The company generated loan volume of $13.8 billion in 2015, up 86.1 percent from a volume of $7.4 billion in 2014.

Guild Mortgage offers a wide range of residential mortgage products, with in-house underwriting and funding, which provide consistency and speed throughout the loan process. Its loan professionals can serve the needs of any homebuyer, from helping first-time homebuyers achieve their dreams of home ownership, often through government loan programs, to providing jumbo home loans. Guild also specializes in helping active duty and retired military personnel to secure VA loans, which provide 100 percent financing and flexible qualifying standards.