Bank of the Sierra Taps MoneyLine

Bank of the Sierra, the largest community bank headquartered in the South San Joaquin Valley, Calif., has selected MoneyLine Lending Services to provide greater access to innovative mortgage products.

Sierra MortgageLine is the full-service mortgage lending program facilitated by MoneyLine, an outsource provider of private-label mortgage services for progressive community and regional financial institutions.

MoneyLine gives Bank of the Sierra's customers the added convenience of submitting and tracking their mortgage applications a variety of ways.

Customers may now choose to work with a real estate loan officer in person at any of Bank of the Sierra's 16 branches, call a loan officer directly on the phone, or log on to its Web site (www.bankofthesierra.com). Sierra MortgageLine enables each customer to obtain customized rate quotes and preapprovals, submit applications, as well as track loan progress faster and more conveniently. Each customer will receive a credit approval within 24 hours of submitting their application rather than waiting days for a preliminary decision.

Bank of the Sierra selected MoneyLine's private-label mortgage outsource services to provide faster turnaround times and to service a broader customer base. Sierra MortgageLine enables Bank of the Sierra to not only increase customer convenience but also guarantee the profitability of funded loans while reducing the bank's costs of offering mortgage loans. By leveraging MoneyLine staffing resources, Bank of the Sierra has been able to broaden its pursuit of additional banking services such as construction and commercial lending.

"We have long been dedicated to providing the best personal service throughout the San Joaquin Valley, and meeting the mortgage needs of our customers is important to us," according to James C. Holly, president and CEO of $678 million Bank of the Sierra. "Sierra MortgageLine gives us the resources to offer a wider variety of convenient choices for our customers to initiate the mortgage approval process, obtain the best rates, and track the progress of their loan from the comfort of their home."

MoneyLine Lending Services clients gain the improved efficiency of a complete loan origination and fulfillment center, while customers enjoy the increased convenience of submitting applications and/or tracking the progress of loan applications at their branch, over the phone, or online.

With a dedicated staff of mortgage specialists, MoneyLine manages the home loan process for each of its clients, enabling financial advisors to build stronger customer relationships. MoneyLine delivers a positive impact for banking clients through guaranteeing profitability on each loan closed; eliminating the need for committed investment to meet swings in loan volume; and allowing clients to leverage the skills of trained employees.