After nearly two decades in lending, Sean McGeehan has learned to thrive when times are tough. During those down times, he says, Realtors are more open to network. Then, when the market picks up, he’s first in line to help support them.

McGeehan, a senior loan officer with Fifth Third Bank, was fresh out of college in 2005 when a friend told him about a small mortgage broker that was hiring. “It turned out to be an excellent fit and I had very early success that kept me in the business,” McGeehan says. A Fifth Third Bank Presidents Circle member since 2019, McGeehan ranks among the bank’s Top 10 volume producers in the country.

Lending wasn’t always on his radar. He originally tried teaching but quickly realized it wasn’t for him. Self-motivated, he excels in sales-driven environments and didn’t like being stuck in a salaried position, working traditional hours without control over his income. However, the training gave him the patience, listening skills and work ethic necessary to be good loan officer.

“Oftentimes what someone is asking for isn’t what they actually need,” he says. “If you can listen to a client or referral partner’s needs carefully, then you can respond to their needs perfectly.”

McGeehan specializes in conventional, portfolio, jumbo, doctor and luxury new construction loans in metro Chicago and all 50 states. He also has special programs for first-time buyers in underserved markets.

A career highlight was when Freddie Mac interviewed him and an agent partner about their experiences with Fifth Third Bank’s Borrow Smart. McGeehan was an early adopter of the first-time buyer program and recognized by Freddie Mac as one of the nation’s top Borrow Smart originators.

Outside of work, he supports Team Impact, an organization that connects children with disabilities and serious illnesses with professional athletic teams for uplifting, once-in-a-lifetime experiences. McGeehan lives in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago with his wife, Jennifer, and dog, Ronan.