At 19 years old, Ania Kozera arrived in Chicago from Poland with little more than ambition and a willingness to outwork anyone in the room. She spent her early years in the U.S. juggling college while babysitting and cleaning offices — laying the foundation for the work ethic that would later define her career.
Her introduction to the mortgage industry came in 2002, when she stepped into a loan officer role serving the Polish community. At the time, she admits, she didn’t fully grasp what “originating mortgages” meant — but she understood people, persistence and the value of earning trust. It took eight months to close her first deal. She hasn’t slowed down since.
Today, Kozera leads her own branch at Rate, where she’s built a reputation for navigating complex deals with speed and precision. Her business isn’t built on easy transactions. It’s built on the ones others can’t figure out. That problem-solving mindset, paired with a highly aligned team, has made her a go-to resource for clients and agents alike.
“We know what it means when someone puts their trust in us,” Kozera says. “That’s not something we take lightly.”
A 12-time Five Star Mortgage Professional and a Scotsman Guide Top Originator, Kozera continues to stand out on a national level. Notably, she has been recognized multiple times among the top women originators and remains one of the few fluent Polish-speaking loan officers operating at that elite tier.
Outside the office, Kozera is a dedicated mom who brings the same competitive energy to her personal life, whether that’s cheering on her favorite teams or passing down her love of ping-pong to her son.
Her story isn’t just about success in lending. It’s about resilience, adaptability and building something meaningful from the ground up.
Rate, Inc. is a private corporation organized under the laws of the state of Delaware. It has no affiliation with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Department of Agriculture or any other government agency.
