Guaranteed Rate has announced that Chicago’s own Ben Cohen, the company’s managing director and senior vice president of mortgage lending, has originated $1 billion in total loan volume — for the second consecutive year.
Cohen crossed the $1 billion threshold for total loan volume in 2020, but now he’s hit the milestone four months faster. Over the course of just five years, Cohen’s annual loan volume increased from $150 million to over $1 billion. He’s currently the No. 1 originator in Illinois and is among the top originators in the U.S., according to Scotsman Guide. In 2020, Mortgage Executive Magazine ranked him as the 2nd Top Originator in America.
“What Ben and his team have done is absolutely amazing. His leadership, dedication and efficiency are truly inspiring,” said Guaranteed Rate’s president and CEO Victor Ciardelli. “What’s even more impressive than funding $1 billion two years in a row is that he hit this incredible goal more than four months faster than last year.”
Speaking on his significant accomplishment, Cohen paid tribute to both his team and his expansive client base — which ranges from newcomers to the loan process, like first-time homebuyers, to refinancers and more corporate clients. “Hitting this milestone once, let alone twice, in my career is a true testament to the trust of my clients along with the sheer passion of my entire team and our referral partners,” the SVP of mortgage lending said.
Cohen added: “I’m incredibly grateful for Guaranteed Rate’s leadership as well as my partner Mike Dye, who helped me scale my business for efficiency and simplify the mortgage experience for both our clients and employees. Christine Lutz, our SVP of business development, also played a major role in this achievement by helping us build and sustain relationships with our real estate and corporate partners. Their efforts enabled us to help even more people, which is what I’m most passionate about.”
Speaking in a press release, Cohen also emphasized his team’s philanthropy. “As our business grows, I will continue to give back and help make a difference,” he said Cohen. Currently, they support several charities including Guaranteed Rate Foundation, the mortgage lender’s non-profit organization, community food drives and the Jewish United Fund.