SeaTrust Mortgage Company Announces Opening of Wilmington Headquarters

SEATRUST MORTGAGE COMPANY ANNOUNCES OPENING OF WILMINGTON HEADQUARTERS

WILMINGTON, N.C.— (August 8, 2019) Walhalla, SC-based Community First Bank has announced the formation of SeaTrust Mortgage Company in Wilmington, NC at a press conference held at the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, August 8, 2019. John Owens, President of SeaTrust Mortgage Company, made the announcement.

SeaTrust Mortgage Company, a subsidiary of Community First Bank, will bring 15 jobs to Wilmington by the end of the 2019 and an estimated 100 jobs by 2021, contributing to the continued economic and job growth of the region following Hurricane Florence in 2018.

“I am thrilled to join this dynamic bank and to have this incredible opportunity. We are going to establish an innovative, technology-driven mortgage company which will provide an optimal experience for customers,” Owens said. “Between the support I have received from the Wilmington business community, and my experience working with Natalie [English] at the Charlotte Chamber, I have high hopes for the success of SeaTrust in this community.”

John reached out to Natalie English, President & CEO of the Wilmington Chamber, to start initial conversations regarding Wilmington’s business climate. In turn, Natalie engaged with Scott Satterfield at WBD, the Cape Fear Workforce Development Board, and other local organizations to assist John in this endeavor.

“We see the growth happening in our community,” said English. “Scott and I were thrilled to work with John to bring SeaTrust Mortgage to our community. This company will not only bring jobs, but also renewed hope that growth will continue in this region. I am proud that the Wilmington Chamber and WBD can be a part of this story.”

Owens chose Wilmington as the SeaTrust Mortgage headquarters due to the rapid growth of the area and the vision of city and county officials. Owens remarked on the “abundance of talent” in Wilmington as a deciding factor in the decision.

Prior to joining SeaTrust Mortgage, Owens was President and CEO of AmeriTrust Mortgage. He founded AmeriTrust Mortgage in 1995 and grew to over 400 employees with over $2 billion in wholesale and retail loan volume. AmeriTrust survived two global credit crises in 1998 and 2008 and was eventually sold in 2015.

The SeaTrust Mortgage office will be located at 1508 Military Cutoff Road, Suite 203. A ribbon cutting ceremony will be announced.

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About Community First Bank
Community First Bank opened for business in March of 1990 with a commitment to provide outstanding customer service to Upstate South Carolina. The Bank expanded its market area, maintaining seven full-service financial centers in South Carolina, and two Loan Production Offices in Charlotte and Concord, North Carolina.  Our eighth full-service banking location opened in April 2019 at 210 Brendan Way, Greenville, South Carolina. Community First Bank strives to be responsive and flexible in meeting its customer's banking needs, and to be a strong and effective corporate citizen in its home communities. To learn more, visit https://www.c1stbank.com/.

About the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce
The Wilmington Chamber of Commerce is the largest membership‐based business association in Southeastern North Carolina. The Chamber’s mission is to position our community for prosperity by cultivating business growth. This is accomplished by using the following critical success strategies: be the effective business advocate; promote the Chamber, the region, and the assets within; ensure workforce is well developed and trained; serve as the regional facilitator; foster and develop leaders of the Chamber, community and elected bodies; and achieve sustained financial health. For more information about the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce, visit www.wilmingtonchamber.org.