OLNEY, Md., May 03, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sandy Spring Bank announced today a series of recognitions earned by its mortgage division and outstanding individuals on the team. Most notably, Lynne Pulford, Division Executive, was awarded the GOLD Award by the Maryland Bankers Association Council of Professional Women in Banking and Finance.
Pulford earned this high industry honor for her exemplary leadership, innovative thinking and commitment to community service. She was recognized today at the annual conference of the Council of Professional Women in Banking and Finance.
“Lynne represents the best of Sandy Spring Bank,” said Lou Caceres, Executive Vice President for Wealth Management, Insurance, Mortgage and Private Banking. “Throughout Lynne’s 30-year career at Sandy Spring Bank, she has helped thousands of people across the region achieve homeownership. She is a loyal advocate for her clients, employees and the communities that we serve.”
Pulford’s recognition is one of many accolades that the mortgage team at Sandy Spring Bank has recently received. Last month, Washington Business Journal named Sandy Spring Bank one of the Largest Home Mortgage Lenders in the Greater Washington, D.C. Region. The bank was ranked #14 out of 24.
Brad Preisinger and Jeffrey Starcher, both Mortgage Bankers and Vice Presidents at Sandy Spring Bank, were also nationally ranked by Scotsman Guide, a leading national publication for the mortgage lending industry. Out of 500 other mortgage professionals, Preisinger and Starcher were recently ranked #408 and #61, respectively, for the total dollar amount of home purchases and refinances that they closed in 2017. For total home purchases, Starcher ranked #46 on a list of 75.
In addition to these industry accolades, Sandy Spring Bank also achieved an “Outstanding” Community Reinvestment Act rating—the highest possible—on its most recent exam.
“As a premier bank in the Greater Washington Region, we are poised to generate more than $1 billion in mortgage originations in 2018, and we will continue to play a significant role in making homeownership possible for people across Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C.,” Caceres said. “As the bank marks its 150th anniversary this year, we thank our employees, clients and community partners for making this milestone possible. Together, we are making a tangible impact in the lives of people across our region.”
In recognition of the bank’s anniversary, all Sandy Spring Bank employees have been challenged to log 50 volunteer hours in 2018, with a goal of 50,000 volunteer hours. Employees will also be planting 150 trees across its footprint this year in honor of the bank’s anniversary. The more than 120 employees who work in the mortgage division at Sandy Spring Bank are extremely active volunteers, regularly lending their time and expertise to area community groups and local nonprofits that help advance homeownership and financial literacy.
For more information, visit www.SandySpringBank.com/Mortgage
About Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc.
Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc., headquartered in Olney, Maryland, is the holding company for Sandy Spring Bank. Independent and community-oriented, Sandy Spring Bank offers a broad range of commercial banking, retail banking, mortgage and trust services throughout central Maryland, Northern Virginia, and the greater Washington, D.C. market. Through its subsidiaries, Sandy Spring Insurance Corporation and West Financial Services, Inc., Sandy Spring Bank also offers a comprehensive menu of insurance and wealth management services. Visit www.sandyspringbank.com for more information.
