Citizens in Okla. launches VA loan application portal

Citizens Bank of Edmond in Oklahoma has launched a mortgage platform that focuses on VA financing.

Jill Castilla, the $370 million-asset bank’s president and CEO, said in a LinkedIn post that the decision to create ROGER came after she and her husband tried to use VA financing to buy a home last year.

“We went to work with another (much bigger) bank to get the deal done,” she wrote, adding that “30 days turned into 60 and pressed into 90. With the seller growing increasingly concerned, we abandoned the VA loan.” 

Citizens is working with Jack Henry Banking, Teslar Software, ICE Mortgage Technology and Ross Alan Hill, among other partners, on the platform. Citizens collaborated with Teslar and Mark Cuban in 2020 to develop PPP.bank, a portal to help people apply for funds from the Paycheck Protection Program. 

Castilla served in the Army and the Oklahoma Army National Guard, and 15% of the bank’s employees have served, or are serving, in the U.S. armed services. 

ROGER, which is in the process of hiring VA relationship managers, will offer loans nationwide.