David and Kem Lee-Atlanta Transplants Who Found Their Dream Home | My Member Story
As successful entrepreneurs, David and Kem Lee are used to having to prove themselves. But when they relocated to Salt Lake City, Utah from Atlanta, Georgia, they never thought they would have such a difficult time getting approved for a mortgage.
How it all started
Back in the fall of 2021, after finding the home of their dreams, David and Kem initially chose to apply for a mortgage with one of the large banks. They understood that, as business owners, their income would be scrutinized more closely than borrowers who can provide a W-2, but they weren’t expecting such a stressful and arduous process.
Going through the course of a mortgage can sometimes leave one feeling extremely vulnerable—your whole financial life is open to strangers. Unfortunately, David and Kem’s experience with the conventional bank went well beyond that—it left them feeling judged and shamed.
Thankfully, a friend suggested trying a do-over—this time with a credit union instead. That’s when they found Mountain America Credit Union.
How it’s going
As soon as David met with a Mountain America mortgage loan officer, he knew this was going to be different. “The discussion was more about figuring out how they could make this work for us as opposed to telling us that we didn’t fit into their box,” he explains. “It just felt like another neighbor saying, 'Welcome. We're glad you're here.' ”
Kem shares how, when David came home from that first meeting, she could immediately see that he felt respected, appreciated and happy that the credit union knew what David and Kem already knew—that they could afford the house. She refers to the Mountain America vision statement—We help our members define and achieve their financial dreams. “This means that it’s more than just a mortgage,” she says. “It’s about family and how we live. It’s cozy and comfortable. It’s the meals we cook and all the dinners we share.”
From day one with Mountain America, David and Kem have experienced nothing but respect and a sincere desire to help—not to mention a fast and easy loan process. Their mortgage was completed within weeks!
Making lasting memories
Now that they have been in their new home for a little while, they have had the chance to make some great memories. David shares, “This past Christmas, we were able to have our kids, their significant others and my parents all visiting here at this house. We wouldn’t have made those memories if not for Mountain America.”
Our culture at Mountain America seeks to live by the words in our vision statement. We seek to ensure our members see this from our tellers, loan officers, administrative teams, service center employees, to our leadership and beyond.
Click the video above to see the full member story.
Oh, and one more thing—welcome home, David and Kem! Here’s to creating more cherished memories for many years to come.
