ABOUT THE COMPANY
Seattle Mortgage Company is the largest independent mortgage banker in Washington State. The company has been providing commercial and residential loans for over 50 years.

HISTORY
Benjamin J. Smith, Sr. founded Seattle Mortgage in 1944 with $15,000 in working capital. From these beginnings, the company grew during the post-war era and was servicing $90 million in loans in 1968 when Benjamin J. Smith, Sr. retired. The future direction of Seattle Mortgage was left to Smith's son, Benjamin J. Smith, Jr. and his son-in-law, Robert E. Story.

TODAY
In 2001, Seattle Mortgage reached a landmark of $2 billion in loan servicing. Today Robert E. Story Sr. serves as the company's president. He is assisted by Randall L. Weber, who is the executive vice president and chief operations officer. Weber also served as the 1993 president of the Washington Mortgage Bankers Association.

BUSINESS STRATEGY
Independent mortgage companies are becoming an endangered species. In fact, of the 18 charter members comprising the Washington Mortgage Bankers Association in 1966, Seattle Mortgage is the only original member operating solely as an independent mortgage company. Seattle Mortgage maintained its independence through long-term planning and careful lending practices. This has allowed the company to adapt quickly to changing industry standards and to maintain profitability through retained earnings and local service. Seattle Mortgage retains servicing on more than 95 percent of its loans, enabling the company to provide a more personalized service to its clients.