National Lender Launches the Churchill Mortgage Academy to Develop Next Generation of Mortgage Professionals - Program focuses on connecting with increasing Millennial homebuyer demographic

BRENTWOOD, Tenn., July 9, 2014 – Churchill Mortgage has launched a new employee training program called the Churchill Mortgage Academy (CMC Academy) to prepare candidates entering the mortgage industry for a long-term career. The company is a leader in the mortgage industry, providing conventional, FHA, VA and USDA residential mortgages across 33 states.

According to the 2013 National Association of Realtors® Home Buyer and Seller Generational Trends, 31 percent of recent homebuyers were Millenials. Churchill created the academy to develop the next generation of mortgage professionals, as this demographic continues to grow. Coordinated out of Churchill’s headquarters in Brentwood, Tenn., the CMC Academy aims to strengthen its relationships with customers by supporting this generation’s unique needs as well as the needs of its existing customers.

Following an initial interview and evaluation, the participants undergo a rigorous, nine-week program, where they gain essential mortgage knowledge from experienced industry professionals and receive intense loan officer training and testing. Upon completion, the participants engage in a six-month program with Churchill, during which they receive on-hand training and additional mentorship from current employees. Participants who successfully complete the entire program become officially licensed home loan specialists.

“The path to homeownership for Gen Y borrowers is radically different from previous generations – but the desire to buy a home still exists. According to a study by BMO Harris Bank, 74 percent of 18-34 year olds plan to buy a home in the next five years, with nearly one-third saying that they will buy within the next 12 months,” said Mike Hardwick, president of Churchill Mortgage. “To engage this group, we must understand their lifestyles, attitudes and the unique challenges that they face. The CMC Academy positions us to do that by developing the next wave of mortgage professionals who will help a new generation of borrowers realize the real American dream of debt-free homeownership.”

Over the next year, Churchill plans to recruit qualified participants for the CMC Academy at its branches in Orange, Calif., Brentwood, Tenn. and Dallas.