Category Archives: Finance

Bank of Southern California NA Hires Pamela Marble as Managing Director in Orange County

SAN DIEGO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Bank of Southern California, N.A. (OTC Pink: BCAL / OTCMKTS:BCAL), a community business bank headquartered in San Diego, has announced the appointment of Pamela Marble as Managing Director in Orange County. In this role, she will be responsible for business development and client relationship management. Bank of Southern California plans to transition its local production office into a full-service Regional office in the first quarter next year.

Mrs. Marble joins Bank of Southern California with more than 35 years of industry experience in management, sales, and operations, with a primary focus on providing depository solutions to small to mid-sized businesses and Homeowner Associations.

She most recently served as Vice President Deposit Relationship Manager, Deposit Services for HomeStreet Bank in Orange County. Actively involved in the community, she is a member of the Community Association Institute and past member of Manhattan Beach, Torrance and Harbor Gateway Chambers.

"Pamela is an outstanding addition to our business banking group and will further enhance Bank of Southern California's presence in the Orange County and surrounding markets," said Tony DiVita, Executive Vice President and Chief Banking Officer.

"She brings a wealth of industry and market experience, with a strong reputation building profitable and lasting client relationships," concluded DiVita.

About Bank of Southern California:

A growing community bank, established in 2001, Bank of Southern California, N.A., with headquarters in San Diego, Calif., is locally owned and managed, and offers a range of financial products to individuals, professionals and small-to-medium sized businesses. The Bank's solution-driven, relationship-based approach to banking provides accessibility to decision makers and enhances value through strong partnerships with its clients.

The Bank currently operates eleven branches in San Diego County, Los Angeles County, the Coachella Valley in Riverside County, as well as production offices in West Los Angeles and Orange County.

For more information, please visit https://www.banksocal.com/ or call (858) 847-4780.

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Tickers: OTC Pink:BCAL / OTC:BCAL / OTCMKTS: BCAL / OP: BCAL

Bank of Southern California, N.A. (OTC Pink: BCAL / OTCMKTS:BCAL), a community business bank headquartered in San Diego, has announced the appointment of Pamela Marble as Managing Director in Orange County. In this role, she will be responsible for business development and client relationship management.

Related link: https://www.banksocal.com/

Data Reporting Company Provides Credit Solutions for Renters Across the Country

SAINT LOUIS, Mo. /ScoopCloud/ -- Rock The Score ("RTS," a privately held corporation) is a new company with a new concept. RTS reports data to the credit bureaus that traditionally does not get reported through normal channels. This provides information, data and clarity to end users such as mortgage lenders, banks, insurance providers and many more.

Renters benefit by building a credit profile and seasoned credit trade-lines in just a few weeks through this unique platform. Higher credit scores will help more consumers gain access to credit and loans, while saving money thru their improved credit profile RTS rent reporting platform provides.

RTS is pleased to announce that they are the first company of its kind reporting to both Trans Union and Equifax. Equifax will accept data from property management companies only. Trans Union will accept data from all private landlords in addition to property management companies, providing a much larger footprint.

Tom Beck COO of Rock The Score explained: "A rent payment is a mortgage payment - it just so happens to be someone else's mortgage - and Rental History is a great way to determine if someone can afford a mortgage payment based on their payment history."

RTS is also a true B2B nationwide network, the Company offers an affiliate program that is an ideal turn-key solution for industry professionals, database companies and media groups to participate in.

About Rock The Score:

Rock The Score is providing a gateway that allows all Renters to build a credit profile, just by reporting something they already pay...their monthly rent! RTS can also report up to 24-months of historical data to provide an immediate boost to credit score(s).

For more information, visit: https://rockthescore.com/.

*VIDEO (YouTube):
https://youtu.be/BU5USRdJZjY

Rock The Score ("RTS," a privately held corporation) is a new company with a new concept. RTS reports data to the credit bureaus that traditionally does not get reported through normal channels. This provides information, data and clarity to end users such as mortgage lenders, banks, insurance providers and many more.

Related link: https://rockthescore.com/

SafeChain Named Outstanding Startup by Columbus Business First at 2018 BizTech Awards

COLUMBUS, Ohio /ScoopCloud/ -- SafeChain, the industry leader in wire fraud prevention software for land title, announced today that it was honored in the Outstanding Startup category at the 2018 BizTech Awards hosted by regional business publication Columbus Business First. The firm was one of three companies honored in the Outstanding Startup category of the fourth annual BizTech Awards.

"Columbus has been an exceptional location to launch SafeChain, and we are truly honored to have been recognized by Columbus Business First amongst the dozens of impressive technology firms in the Columbus area," said Tony Franco, CEO and co-founder of SafeChain. "The level of talent and local support for startups has been instrumental in SafeChain's early success, and we take great pride in our part in making Columbus a growing hub for innovation and entrepreneurship."

SafeChain was recognized for its wire fraud prevention platform SafeWire(TM) to secure real estate wire transfers, which leverages blockchain technology, as well as its work with the Franklin County Auditor's Office. In addition to helping the Auditor's Office complete the first blockchain-backed real estate transaction in the U.S., SafeChain continues to work the Auditor's Office to modernize the jurisdiction's record keeping by migrating the county's property records to blockchain.

"There are so many more applications for blockchain than simply cryptocurrency, and the real estate industry is a prime example of how this technology can improve a process that's nearly as old as the country itself," said SafeChain CTO and Co-Founder Robert Zwink. "Blockchain helps create a more secure and streamlined property transfer process, which enables real estate professionals to be more efficient and fulfill their ultimate purpose, which is to guide buyers and sellers through this highly complex and momentous transaction."

Columbus Business First launched the BizTech Awards to keep up the tradition of recognizing promising startups, entrepreneurs and innovations in Columbus. The event has been growing alongside the region's booming tech sector, and according to the publication, this year's award received a record number of nominations and an outstanding group of nominees.

To view the honorees of all of the 2018 BizTech Awards categories, visit https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/biztech-awards.

About SafeChain:

SafeChain makes real estate transactions safer and simpler. Built by real estate title experts in collaboration with banking technologists, SafeChain tackles the inefficiencies of the buying and selling process from the inside-out to help title companies, mortgage bankers and realtors decrease costs and deliver a better experience for customers. Leveraging the most advanced technologies, including blockchain, SafeChain increases the speed and security of closings to deliver faster transactions and better consumer confidence. For more information visit https://www.safechain.io/.

SafeChain, the industry leader in wire fraud prevention software for land title, announced today that it was honored in the Outstanding Startup category at the 2018 BizTech Awards hosted by regional business publication Columbus Business First. The firm was one of three companies honored in the Outstanding Startup category of the fourth annual BizTech Awards.

Related link: https://www.safechain.io/

Nations Valuation Services Integrates Anow Appraisal Management Software to Accelerate Turn Times and Elevate Customer Experience for Mortgage Lenders

RED DEER, Alberta /ScoopCloud/ -- Nations Valuation Services (NVS), the appraisal services division of the Nations Companies, today announced the integration of appraisal management software from Anow with NVS' proprietary management system, AppraisalTRAX(TM).

According to NVS Executive Vice President of Operations Matthew Scott, all appraisals submitted by the AMC's more than 16,000 appraisers nationwide will run through Anow, allowing the entire NVS appraisal network to tap into the platform's powerful time-saving and collaboration features.

"NVS built its business as a leading national AMC by leveraging best-of-breed appraisal technology - an approach that has served us and our partners well," said Scott. "We spent a long time searching for a way to achieve a stronger level of communication with our appraisers across the country. Anow's consolidated platform really impressed us, because it allows appraisers to work with multiple clients through a single portal. That's incredibly valuable."

Appraisers face increasing pressure from lenders and AMCs to upgrade from a patchwork of legacy desktop applications to systems capable of delivering real-time communication, mass collaboration and a modern borrower experience. Mortgage lenders have already begun adopting digital processes from origination to closing in pursuit of efficiencies and loan quality improvements.

Anow enterprise software features the industry's first unified appraisal tracking platform from which appraisal businesses can efficiently manage orders, clients and fees. Built to drive dynamic appraisal businesses of every size and stripe, Anow allows fully customized workflows, automated status updates, end-to-end activity tracking, unlimited scalability and rapid setup. Anow's proprietary calendaring system enables smart, rapid response to mortgage lenders' "turn-on-a-dime" demands, matching the right appraiser with the right property to ensure that tight underwriting requirements and closing deadlines are met.

"Anow has been thoughtfully architected to enable firms like NVS to better communicate with appraisers and, in turn, offer vastly superior service to lenders," said Anow Founder and President Marty Haldane. "Appraisers that build their businesses around the mortgage industry's demands and cycles must work hand in glove with lenders' priorities, which typically are speed of job completion, quality of work and borrower satisfaction."

"Mortgage lenders are moving quickly to drive down overall turn times so they can lock and fund loans, and the appraiser is a key piece of that," said Scott at NVS. "Appraisers who adopt technology to make themselves more organized and efficient are going to be able to take on and manage more business, and they'll do so in a much less stressed environment."

"That's why we expect appraisers are going to love the Anow platform once they experience it. And based on the feedback of those on our panel already using it, it's the organization of their calendars and the ability to communicate in real time from a single place that has really sold them on how great this product is," Scott added.

For more information about Anow's appraisal management software, contact Keith@Anow.com or call 800-403-7121.

ABOUT ANOW:

Anow is an appraisal management software developer that simplifies the way real estate appraisers manage their businesses. Launched in 2011 by multi-generational appraisal professional Marty Haldane, Anow streamlines a wide range of everyday appraisal processes while offering unmatched business insights to help appraisers compete in today's digital environment.

Powerful order tracking, job assignment, collaboration, and scheduling tools allow appraisers and administrative staff to save time, assign appraisals more easily and deliver exceptional service to clients and mortgage lenders from any web-enabled device. Advanced reporting enables business owners to manage fee competition and turn times with ease. Anow is headquartered in Red Deer, Alberta. For more information, visit https://anow.com/.

ABOUT NATIONS VALUATION SERVICES (NVS)

Nations Valuation Services (NVS) is a division of Nations Companies, which is a diversified provider of real estate information services including: Appraisals, Title, and Default Services. Established in 1989, Nations Companies is one of the most successful and established national companies offering services to large banks and mortgage lenders in the U.S. With branches nationwide, Nations offers SSAE18 Security and technology such as XML exchange services. For more information, visit http://www.nationsvs.com/.

Twitter: @AppraisersNow @NationsVS

VIDEO (YouTube): https://youtu.be/-I29noeJSlM

Nations Valuation Services (NVS), the appraisal services division of the Nations Companies, today announced the integration of appraisal management software from Anow with NVS' proprietary management system, AppraisalTRAX(TM).

Related link: https://anow.com/

Cloudvirga CEO Michael Schreck honored by HousingWire as Vanguard Award winner

IRVINE, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Cloudvirga(TM), a leading provider of digital mortgage software, today announced that CEO Michael Schreck is a recipient of HousingWire's 2018 HW Vanguard Award(TM). Now in its fourth year, the Vanguard Awards spotlight the housing finance industry's most successful and influential executives.

Schreck was recognized as a mortgage innovator with a 20-year track record of leading pioneering fintech companies to successful exits (including acquisitions by IBM, Sallie Mae, VeriSign and GSI Commerce that were collectively valued at over $1 billion).

Since joining Cloudvirga in 2017, Schreck has raised over $50 million in private-equity funding to further the company's mission of transforming and digitizing mortgage origination. His background as a fintech founder, investor and CEO has helped him build an all-star leadership team that includes former executives of Microsoft, Roostify, IBM, Intuit, Altisource, LoanDepot and other industry leaders.

After less than three years in operation, Cloudvirga counts nine of the top 40 non-bank mortgage lenders as customers and recently expanded its product lineup with the launch of Mobile POS and a forthcoming Broker POS in partnership with ARIVE. Prior to Cloudvirga, Schreck was managing director of the Altisource Labs innovation center. Schreck also co-founded General Catalyst Partners, a multi-billion-dollar venture capital firm.

"It's an honor to be recognized among such an esteemed group of industry luminaries," said Schreck. "This award is really not about me - it's a reflection of the entire Cloudvirga team and what we are achieving together. We have assembled a singular group that is truly committed to our mission of driving down the cost of home loans."

"As the Vanguard Awards program continues to grow ... the entry point gets tighter," said HousingWire Editor-in-Chief Jacob Gaffney. "These winners are truly the best in the mortgage finance industry."

A complete listing of honorees appears in the December/January issue of HousingWire magazine and can be found online at https://www.housingwire.com/articles/47526-meet-the-2018-hw-vanguard-award-winners.

About HousingWire:

HousingWire is the most influential source of news and information for the U.S. mortgage and housing markets. Built on a foundation of independent and original journalism, HousingWire reaches over 40,000 newsletter subscribers daily and over 4 million unique visitors each year. Our audience of mortgage, real estate, financial services and fintech professionals rely on us to Move Markets Forward. Visit http://www.housingwire.com/ or http://www.solutions.housingwire.com/ to learn more.

About Cloudvirga(TM):

Cloudvirga's digital mortgage point-of-sale (POS) software, powered by the intelligent Mortgage Platform(R), uniquely combines a world-class borrower experience with a truly automated lender workflow that radically cuts overall loan costs, increases transparency and reduces the time to close a loan. Led by top fintech veterans with a track record of building successful mortgage technologies, Cloudvirga's customer base includes nine of the top 40 non-bank mortgage originators. To date, Cloudvirga has raised over $77 million from some of the country's top lenders and private-equity firms.

For more information, visit https://www.cloudvirga.com/ or follow Cloudvirga on LinkedIn.

Twitter: @Cloudvirga @HousingWire #2018HWVanguards

Cloudvirga(TM), a leading provider of digital mortgage software, today announced that CEO Michael Schreck is a recipient of HousingWire's 2018 HW Vanguard Award(TM). Now in its fourth year, the Vanguard Awards spotlight the housing finance industry's most successful and influential executives.

Related link: https://www.cloudvirga.com/

David Lykken Celebrated by HousingWire as a 2018 Vanguard Award Honoree

AUSTIN, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Leading mortgage industry management consulting firm Austin, Texas-based Transformational Mortgage Solutions (TMS), today announced that Founder and Chief Transformational Officer David Lykken has been named a 2018 Vanguard Award honoree by HousingWire (HW) magazine. For the fourth consecutive year, the Vanguard awards program has highlighted housing finance executives for "vital contributions to their companies and the dynamic way they are changing the industry."

A prominent and beloved personality among the mortgage community, Lykken was recognized for his 45 years of vigorous innovation and entrepreneurial leadership in housing finance. After starting out as a banking management trainee, just five years into his career Lykken launched a loan origination software company that grew into a national, publicly-traded tech firm. Lykken went on to found and lead two highly successful, California-based mortgage banking companies and became acting partner in a national mortgage bank.

Dedicated to helping mortgage lenders nurture the health of their organizations, Lykken founded TMS in 2015 and in 2017 co-founded Ainsworth Advisors, where he currently coaches early-stage lenders and mortgage banking behemoths for success. Additionally, Lykken has cultivated a dedicated national following of thousands of mortgage professionals as host of the podcasts "Lykken on Lending" and "Lykken on Leadership." Lykken also frequently appears as speaker and guest panelist at prominent mortgage industry conferences and events.

"There's nothing more gratifying than providing lenders with the encouragement, strategic advice and support they need to reposition themselves from surviving to thriving," said Lykken. "Especially in this profitability-challenged cycle, mortgage lenders are going to have to 'change their stinking thinking' to improve their bottom-line."

"As the Vanguards award program continues to grow and to be more successful, the entry point gets tighter," said HousingWire Editor-in-Chief Jacob Gaffney. "These winners are truly the best Vanguards in the mortgage finance industry, and they all deserve the highest honor in the space."

The complete list of awardee honorees is published in the December issue of HW magazine. The digital edition can be viewed online at https://www.housingwire.com/articles/47526-meet-the-2018-hw-vanguard-award-winners.

About HousingWire:

HousingWire is the most influential source of news and information for the U.S. mortgage and housing markets. Built on a foundation of independent and original journalism, HousingWire reaches over 40,000 newsletter subscribers daily and over 4 million unique visitors each year. Our audience of mortgage, real estate, financial services and fintech professionals rely on us to Move Markets Forward. Visit https://www.HousingWire.com or https://www.solutions.housingwire.com to learn more.

About Transformational Mortgage Solutions:

Transformational Mortgage Solutions (TMS) is a management consulting firm providing a full range of advisory services to owners and executives of companies in the mortgage lending business. Our clients include banks, credit unions, and independent mortgage lenders, as well as companies providing financing/solutions/services to mortgage lenders. We are able to help companies regardless of size. We provide three main advisory services: consulting, coaching and communications.

Also, as a public service, TMS is dedicated to informing and educating industry professionals through the weekly "Lykken on Lending" podcast as well as providing speakers at conferences and other industry events and consumers through "Today's Mortgage Minute" and through appearances on national television networks such as the FOX Business Network.

More information: https://transformationalmortgagesolutions.com/.

Leading mortgage industry management consulting firm Austin, Texas-based Transformational Mortgage Solutions (TMS), today announced that Founder and Chief Transformational Officer David Lykken has been named a 2018 Vanguard Award honoree by HousingWire (HW) magazine.

Simplifile’s Mark Ladd Named 2018 HousingWire Vanguard

PROVO, Utah /ScoopCloud/ -- Simplifile, a leading provider of real estate document collaboration and recording technologies for lenders, settlement agents, and counties, announced today that Vice President of Regulatory and Industry Affairs Mark Ladd has been recognized by HousingWire magazine in its fourth annual HW Vanguard Awards(TM) program.

Ladd was honored for his advocacy and leadership efforts on behalf of the real estate industry through the American Land Title Association (ALTA), the Mortgage Industry Standards Maintenance Organization (MISMO, the Property Records Industry Association (PRIA) and other industry-related organizations.

As HousingWire noted in its profile of Ladd from the December 2018/January 2019 issue, "When it comes to advocacy and leadership, the real estate community has no greater ally than Simplifile's VP of Regulatory and Industry Affairs Mark Ladd. Through his work with various industry organizations, Ladd has been able to keep his finger on the pulse of federal, state and local initiatives. Ladd played a key role in the GSEs' decision to accept electronically recorded security instruments, eliminating an additional barrier to digital mortgage adoption."

The HW Vanguard Awards(TM) program recognizes C-level industry professionals who have become leaders in their respective fields within housing and mortgage finance - those whose leadership is moving markets forward, each and every day. This year's 52 honorees were chosen by HousingWire's editorial board for their influences to both their companies and the industry as a whole.

"As the Vanguards award program continues to grow and to be more successful, the entry point gets tighter," said Jacob Gaffney, HousingWire Editor-in-Chief. "These winners are truly the best Vanguards in the mortgage finance industry, and they all deserve the highest honor in the space."

"In addition to representing a wide range of talent and expertise in the mortgage finance economy, this year's Vanguard honorees represent much of the change happening within the mortgage industry," Online Editor Caroline Basile said.

When asked by HousingWire to reflect on practices or advice that have led to his success, Ladd relayed advice that takes root not only in matters of success, but also change.

"It's easier to turn the wheels on a car that is moving than one that is standing still," said Ladd. "Move ahead, but be willing to change directions."

To see the full list of winners, visit https://www.housingwire.com/articles/47526-meet-the-2018-hw-vanguard-award-winners.

About HW Media:
HW Media is the leading digital community for real estate, financial services and fintech professionals to engage, connect and gain knowledge. Founded in 2016 through the acquisition of HousingWire, HW Media is based in Dallas, Texas with team members across the country. HW Media is owned by Riomar Capital.

About HousingWire:
HousingWire is the most influential source of news and information for the U.S. mortgage and housing markets. Built on a foundation of independent and original journalism, HousingWire reaches over 40,000 newsletter subscribers daily and over 4 million unique visitors each year. Our audience of mortgage, real estate, financial services and fintech professionals rely on us to Move Markets Forward. Visit https://www.HousingWire.com or https://www.solutions.housingwire.com/ to learn more.

About Simplifile:
Simplifile, the nation's largest e-recording network, was founded in 2000 to connect settlement agents and county recorders via its e-recording service. Today Simplifile has broadened its services to include collaboration tools and post-closing visibility for mortgage lenders and settlement agents working together on real estate documents. Through Simplifile, users can securely record, share, and track documents, data, and fees with ease.

To learn more, visit https://simplifile.com or call 800.460.5657.

Simplifile, a leading provider of real estate document collaboration and recording technologies for lenders, settlement agents, and counties, announced today that Vice President of Regulatory and Industry Affairs Mark Ladd has been recognized by HousingWire magazine in its fourth annual HW Vanguard Awards(TM) program.

Related link: https://simplifile.com/

FormFree President and Housing Finance Icon Faith Schwartz Receives 2018 HousingWire Vanguard Award

ATHENS, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- FormFree(R) announced today that Faith Schwartz, a member of FormFree's board of directors and the company's acting president, has been honored with HousingWire's 2018 HW Vanguard Award(TM) in recognition of her career contributions to the housing finance industry.

Schwartz is celebrated for her prominent role in rebuilding communities after the housing crisis as the inaugural executive director of the HOPE NOW Alliance and for her career dedication to advancing housing policy and mortgage technology to best serve consumers. In addition to guiding FormFree's expansion as acting president, Schwartz is principal of Housing Finance System Strategies, an advisory firm she founded in 2016.

"Faith's passionate advocacy for progress on behalf of consumers has moved mountains in housing policy and mortgage technology," said FormFree CEO and Founder Brent Chandler. "She has been an invaluable partner to FormFree as we scale for the next stage in our development."

"FormFree's vision for revolutionizing the way borrower integrity is assessed and accessed has been nothing short of prescient," said Schwartz. "I am honored to be recognized for my role with this fast-moving fintech and excited for what the future holds as FormFree continues to catalyze breakthroughs in mortgage and consumer financial technology."

"As the Vanguard Awards program continues to grow... the entry point gets tighter," said HousingWire Editor-in-Chief Jacob Gaffney. "These winners are truly the best in the mortgage finance industry."

This year, 52 Vanguard Award honorees were chosen by HousingWire's editors for their vital contributions to the housing industry. Honorees are profiled at https://www.housingwire.com/articles/47526-meet-the-2018-hw-vanguard-award-winners and in the December/January issue of HousingWire.

About HousingWire:
HousingWire is the most influential source of news and information for the U.S. mortgage and housing markets. Built on a foundation of independent and original journalism, HousingWire reaches over 40,000 newsletter subscribers daily and over 4 million unique visitors each year. Our audience of mortgage, real estate, financial services and fintech professionals rely on us to Move Markets Forward. Visit https://www.housingwire.com/ or https://www.solutions.housingwire.com/ to learn more.

About FormFree(R):
FormFree is a fintech company whose market-leading AccountChek(R) Asset Reports are used by lenders nationwide to verify borrower assets, employment and income in minutes. To date, more than 1,000 U.S. lenders have ordered over 1.25 million AccountChek Asset Reports, delighting their customers with a paperless experience and reducing origination timelines by up to 20 days. FormFree offers automated analysis and standardized delivery to lenders and their investors using a secure ReIssueKey(TM). A HousingWire TECH100(TM) company for four consecutive years, FormFree is based in Athens, Georgia.

For more information, visit https://www.formfree.com or follow FormFree on LinkedIn.

Twitter: #FormFree @HousingWire @faithschwartz1 #2018HWVanguards

FormFree(R) announced today that Faith Schwartz, a member of FormFree's board of directors and the company's acting president, has been honored with HousingWire's 2018 HW Vanguard Award(TM) in recognition of her career contributions to the housing finance industry.

Related link: https://www.formfree.com/

NotaryCam’s Rick Triola Named A 2018 HousingWire Vanguard

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- NotaryCam(R), the leader in online notarization and original provider of mortgage eClosing solutions, today announced that its Founder and CEO Rick Triola has been named a 2018 Vanguard by HousingWire magazine as part of its fourth annual HW Vanguards Awards(TM) program. In the magazine's profile on Triola, the HousingWire editorial staff noted Triola's role as a "pioneer in the field of digital mortgages," having completed the first eNotary mortgage closing in 2004, the first remote online notarization (RON) transaction in 2012 and the first mortgage remote online closing (ROC) in 2014.

The HW Vanguard Award(TM) recognizes leaders of businesses contributing to the growth of the housing economy and its various sectors, including lending, servicing, investments, and real estate. This year's 52 honorees were chosen for the vital contributions made to their companies as well as the dynamic ways they are impacting the industry.

"In addition to representing a wide range of talent and expertise in the mortgage finance economy, this year's Vanguard honorees represent much of the change happening within the mortgage industry," Online Editor Caroline Basile said.

Triola's contributions to the changes in the industry can be summed up by what he considers to be his secret to success: "The secret to my success is plain and simple hard work -- grinding it out on the field while most folks don't even know the game is being played."

For the full list of this year's honorees, visit https://www.housingwire.com/articles/47526-meet-the-2018-hw-vanguard-award-winners.

About HW Media:

HW Media is the leading digital community for real estate, financial services and fintech professionals to engage, connect and gain knowledge. Founded in 2016 through the acquisition of HousingWire, HW Media is based in Dallas, Texas with team members across the country. HW Media is owned by Riomar Capital.

About HousingWire:

HousingWire is the most influential source of news and information for the U.S. mortgage and housing markets. Built on a foundation of independent and original journalism, HousingWire reaches over 40,000 newsletter subscribers daily and over 4 million unique visitors each year. Our audience of mortgage, real estate, financial services and fintech professionals rely on us to Move Markets Forward. Visit https://www.housingwire.com or https://www.solutions.housingwire.com to learn more.

About NotaryCam:

After pioneering the world's first remote online notarization (RON), career real estate executive Rick Triola founded NotaryCam in 2012, and shortly thereafter, the company completed the first mortgage remote online closing (ROC) in 2014. Today, NotaryCam is the leader in online notarization and mortgage eClosing solutions, having notarized documents worldwide for hundreds of thousands of customers in all 50 states. The company's patented eClose360(R) platform delivers the "perfect" online mortgage closing in every jurisdiction with a flexible workflow for document recording and unparalleled identity verification, security and customer convenience. NotaryCam also proudly maintains an industry-leading 99.8 percent customer satisfaction rating.

Visit https://www.notarycam.com for additional information or to get a document notarized today.

Twitter: @NotaryCam #ROC #RON #digitalmortgage #emortgage #eclosing #enotary

NotaryCam, the leader in online notarization and original provider of mortgage eClosing solutions, today announced that its Founder and CEO Rick Triola has been named a 2018 Vanguard by HousingWire magazine as part of its fourth annual HW Vanguards Awards program. In the magazine's profile on Triola, the HousingWire editorial staff noted Triola's role as a "pioneer in the field of digital mortgages."

Related link: https://www.notarycam.com/

LBA Ware CEO Lori Brewer Receives 2018 HousingWire Vanguard Award for Innovation in Mortgage Tech

MACON, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- LBA Ware(TM), provider of the leading automated incentive compensation and sales performance management platform for mortgage lenders, announced today that company Founder and CEO Lori Brewer is a recipient of HousingWire's 2018 HW Vanguard Award(TM).

"As the Vanguards award program continues to grow and to be more successful, the entry point gets tighter," said HousingWire Editor-in-Chief Jacob Gaffney. "These winners are truly the best in the mortgage finance industry, and they all deserve the highest honor in the space."

Brewer was recognized for her entrepreneurial acumen and significant contributions to the body of research shaping the current industry conversation around loan originator compensation. As the founder of LBA Ware, Brewer developed and brought to market CompenSafe(TM), the first and only compensation platform explicitly built for the mortgage industry. Since its launch, the platform has received lender acclaim and boasts an astounding zero-percent customer attrition rate.

"More lenders than ever are experiencing the power of sales performance data to fine-tune their loan originator compensation strategy, improve margins and protect revenues," said Brewer. "I'm proud to carry the torch for this cause, and I look forward to helping even more lenders transform their productivity in 2019."

Brewer's thought leadership on the subject of compensation and loan originator productivity is highly regarded by mortgage industry leaders. Her speaking appearances in the last year include the NEXT women's mortgage technology summit, The Mortgage Collaborative's semi-annual conferences, HousingWire's inaugural engage.marketing conference and the Mortgage Bankers Association's Human Resources Symposium and Annual Convention and Expo. She has been named a Woman of Influence by HousingWire, one of Mortgage Banking's Most Powerful Women by National Mortgage Professional and an Elite Woman in Mortgage by Mortgage Professional America.

Now in its fourth year, the Vanguard Awards program recognizes executives in the housing finance space for their exemplary leadership. This year's 52 winners come from various sectors of the housing economy, including residential mortgage lending, servicing, investing and real estate. Honorees were selected by HousingWire editorial staff based on their accomplishments over the last year. For a complete list of 2018 honorees, visit https://www.housingwire.com/articles/47526-meet-the-2018-hw-vanguard-award-winners.

About LBA Ware:

Founded in 2008, LBA Ware's mission is to inspire opportunity by delivering solutions that are essential to the way mortgage companies operate. We are a trusted partner and play a key role in our clients' success by enabling them to motivate, incentivize and better leverage the human potential within their organization. Our applications automate traditionally manual business processes for which an existing software solution does not exist, empowering lenders to create an integrated software environment that maximizes their productivity and operational efficiency.

For more information about LBA Ware and our software solutions, visit https://lbaware.com.

Twitter: @LBAWare @HousingWire #2018HWVanguards

LBA Ware(TM), provider of the leading automated incentive compensation and sales performance management platform for mortgage lenders, announced today that company Founder and CEO Lori Brewer is a recipient of HousingWire's 2018 HW Vanguard Award(TM).

Related link: https://lbaware.com/

MQMR President Michael Steer Named Mortgage Industry ‘Vanguard’ by HousingWire Magazine

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Mortgage Quality Management and Research, LLC (MQMR) announced today that its President Michael Steer has been recognized by HousingWire magazine in its fourth annual HW Vanguard Awards(TM) program. Steer was honored for his efforts in building a diverse workforce and establishing a strong corporate culture that values employee feedback and community service.

As the magazine noted in its profile on Steer:
Steer...believes in a "hire the best" philosophy, a method that's led the company to hire from different age ranges and backgrounds...Nearly 80% of MQMR's workforce is female, and more than a third are minorities. Additionally, the age range of the company's employees stretches from 21 to 63...This year, Steer implemented Officevibe, an internal, anonymous survey platform, to allow MQMR employees to provide direct and honest feedback on the organization and offer suggestions on how the work environment can be improved...Additionally, Steer led the charge on MQMR's philanthropic efforts this year, which include a volunteer day at Camp Impact, a camp for underprivileged children, and the company's internal "MQMR Goes Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness" campaign.

The HW Vanguard awards recognize individuals who have made vital contributions to their company, as evidenced by expanding products and services that are changing the industry. This year, 52 winners were chosen, many of whom are founders or co-founders of their businesses. The 2018 Vanguards were chosen by HousingWire's editorial board based on their accomplishments in 2018 in both their companies and the industry sector they represent.

"As the Vanguards award program continues to grow and to be more successful, the entry point gets tighter," said Jacob Gaffney, HousingWire Editor-in-Chief. "These winners are truly the best Vanguards in the mortgage finance industry, and they all deserve the highest honor in the space."

HousingWire asks each of the Vanguard winners to reflect on practices or advice that have led to their success, leading Steer to highlight the quality of employees at MQMR.

"Constant education, professional development and growth - there is always something, or someone, you can learn from, which is why you should always surround yourself with people smarter than you and to hire the best available," Steer said. "Not only are you bound to build a team that challenges and motivates you, but I've also found that diversity naturally flows from this strategy, which further helps create a dynamic work environment that promotes constant learning and growth both personally and professionally."

For the full list of this year's honorees, visit https://www.housingwire.com/articles/47526-meet-the-2018-hw-vanguard-award-winners.

About HW Media:
HW Media is the leading digital community for real estate, financial services and fintech professionals to engage, connect and gain knowledge. Founded in 2016 through the acquisition of HousingWire, HW Media is based in Dallas, TX with team members across the country. HW Media is owned by Riomar Capital.

About HousingWire:
HousingWire is the most influential source of news and information for the U.S. mortgage and housing markets. Built on a foundation of independent and original journalism, HousingWire reaches over 40,000 newsletter subscribers daily and over 4 million unique visitors each year. Our audience of mortgage, real estate, financial services and fintech professionals rely on us to Move Markets Forward. Visit https://www.housingwire.com or https://www.solutions.housingwire.com to learn more.

About Mortgage Quality Management and Research, LLC (MQMR):
MQMR bridges the gap between risk and compliance through its suite of risk-related services. Since its inception, MQMR has launched multiple products and services to assist lenders in navigating regulatory requirements, including providing mortgage compliance consulting throughout the origination process, conducting internal audit risk assessments and ongoing internal audit support, servicing QC and subservicing oversight to master servicers, and filling the void of meeting vendor management oversight requirements. With 2,000+ operational reviews of mortgage companies, subservicers, document custodians, and vendors annually, MQMR prides itself on being an industry leader in counterparty risk and compliance. To learn more, visit https://www.mqmresearch.com/, https://subsequentqc.com/, and https://hqvendormanagement.com/.

Mortgage Quality Management and Research, LLC (MQMR) announced today that its President Michael Steer has been recognized by HousingWire magazine in its fourth annual 2018 HW Vanguard Awards(TM) program. Steer was honored for his efforts in building a diverse workforce and establishing a strong corporate culture that values employee feedback and community service.

Related link: https://www.mqmresearch.com/

JenCap Holdings LLC to Acquire Risk Innovations, a Specialty Insurance Business

ATLANTA, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- JenCap Holdings LLC (JCH), a specialty insurance business, announced today that it has agreed to acquire privately-held Risk Innovations LLC, a specialty wholesale insurance broker based in Atlanta, Georgia. Financial terms were not disclosed.

"Risk Innovations has specialized in worker's compensation since its inception and was a strategic target for JenCap," commented John F. Jennings, President and Chief Executive Officer of JCH. "Bruce Peddle and his team have built one of the few highly successful wholesale distribution platforms for worker's compensation and we are excited to help them expand that operation within JenCap."

Risk Innovations was founded in 2002 and has been led by Bruce Peddle since then.

JenCap Holdings (JCH) was formed in March 2016 by global alternative asset manager The Carlyle Group and JCH management to consolidate specialty insurance distribution businesses, including managing general agents, program managers and transactional wholesale brokers. The acquisition of Risk Innovations is the eighth transaction by JCH since its founding, and places the company among the largest wholesale brokers in the U.S.

Bruce Peddle, President of Risk Innovations stated, "We are very excited about the opportunities that the strategic partnership with JenCap will provide. By utilizing established JenCap divisions, carriers and agency partners, Risk Innovations will further expand our programs, markets and capabilities nationwide."

Marsh, Berry & Company, Inc. served as financial advisors to Risk Innovations.

About JenCap Holdings LLC:

JenCap Holdings is a premier national specialty insurance distribution platform that includes program management businesses, managing general agencies, specialty program underwriters and transactional wholesale brokers. JenCap Holdings has assembled a management team with the sector insight and experience to drive organic growth and strategic acquisitions leveraging technology and advanced data analytics. JenCap Holdings is headquartered in New York.

About Risk Innovations, LLC:
Risk Innovations is a specialty wholesale insurance broker based in Atlanta, Georgia with another office located in Kansas City, Mo. Risk Innovations was founded in 2002 and is one of the premier worker's compensation insurance distribution platforms in the country.

For more information on JenCap, visit: http://jencapholdings.com/

JenCap Holdings LLC (JCH), a specialty insurance business, announced today that it has agreed to acquire privately-held Risk Innovations LLC, a specialty wholesale insurance broker based in Atlanta, Georgia. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Related link: http://www.jencapholdings.com/

Bank of Southern California, N.A. Opens West Los Angeles Office

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Bank of Southern California, N.A. (OTC Pink: BCAL), a community business bank headquartered in San Diego, Calif., is pleased to announce its continued expansion in Los Angeles with the opening of a new production office in West Los Angeles.

The office, located at 11150 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 890, will be Bank of Southern California's fifth location in the County, further demonstrating its commitment to the vibrant Los Angeles business community.

"The opening of this production office further expands our network and presence in the region, providing us with the opportunity to meet the growing demand of businesses throughout Los Angeles County," said Nathan Rogge, President and CEO of Bank of Southern California.

"The West Los Angeles market is attractive, not only because of its proximity to the Bank's existing footprint, but also because of the number of thriving and prosperous businesses in the region left unserved by larger banks," Rogge added.

The West Los Angeles office will be staffed with Soly Cangarlu, Branch Manager, Jackline Saidian, Branch Service Manager, and Ann Torrico, Managing Director. They each bring deep, local roots and extensive industry and market expertise.

"The company's strategic vision is to become a leading community business bank serving the Southern California region, and grow into the Bank's name as it implies," said Rogge. "Bank of Southern California has grown significantly in recent years through a combination of organic growth and acquisition, and we are continuing to pursue new market growth opportunities in 2019."

"Our clients recognize the value of our relationship-based, solutions-driven approach, which combines the sophisticated financial expertise and tools of a large bank with the genuine, personalized service and local engagement of a community bank. We are pleased that we can now better serve Orange County businesses," concluded Rogge.

About Bank of Southern California:

A growing community bank, established in 2001, Bank of Southern California, N.A., with headquarters in San Diego, Calif., is locally owned and managed, and offers a range of financial products to individuals, professionals and small-to-medium sized businesses. The Bank's solution-driven, relationship-based approach to banking provides accessibility to decision makers and enhances value through strong partnerships with its clients.

The Bank currently operates ten branches in San Diego County, Los Angeles County, the Coachella Valley in Riverside County, as well as production offices in Orange County and West Los Angeles.

For more information, please visit https://www.banksocal.com/ or call (858) 847-4780.

Bank locations: https://www.banksocal.com/about-us/locations/

Tickers: OTC Pink:BCAL / OTC:BCAL / OTCMKTS:BCAL / OP: BCAL

Bank of Southern California, N.A. ( OTC Pink: BCAL / OTCMKTS:BCAL ), a community business bank headquartered in San Diego, Calif., is pleased to announce its continued expansion in Los Angeles with the opening of a new production office in West Los Angeles.

Related link: https://www.banksocal.com/

Chuck Simpson of EPIC to Present on Hazard Recognition at 2018 OSHA Oil and Gas Safety and Health Conference

HOUSTON, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that Senior Risk Control Consultant Chuck Simpson will present at OSHA Oil & Gas Safety and Health Conference on Tues., Dec. 4 at 3 p.m. at the Hilton Americas in Houston, Texas.

The OSHA Oil & Gas Safety and Health Conference gathers key decision-makers within management and executive positions to foster a better understanding of how industry and OSHA can work together to improve safety performance through cooperation, best practices, knowledge sharing and relationship building.

Simpson's presentation, "Beyond Hazard Recognition - Recognizing Hazard Precursors" will discuss how to effectively recognize clues in the work environment that have the potential to develop into a hazard, and how to mitigate the hazard before it is present.

Click here to see the full agenda: https://www.oshasafetyconference.org/Agenda.aspx.

About Chuck Simpson, senior risk control consultant, EPIC:

Chuck Simpson is a health and safety professional with more than 30 years of experience helping companies develop and implement risk management systems in a variety of industries.

Prior to joining EPIC, Simpson served as president of Work Safe International, LLC where he worked on both on- and off-shore projects in the United States, Mexico, Canada, South America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

Simpson has experience in the sulfur operations, pipeline, fabrication, oil and gas drilling, vessel operations and food processing industries. He is a certified safety professional (CSP) and a widely recognized expert on Contractor Safety Management, OSHA Recordkeeping and Hydrogen Sulfide Safety.

Simpson has presented lectures at the ASSE Safety Professional Development Conference and Exposition, OSHA Oil and Gas Safety Conference, the International Conference on Offshore Safety, the Gulf Coast Safety and Training Group, and the Sulphur Institute's Sulphur World Symposium in the United Arab Emirates.

Simpson is an active participant in the ASSE, Gulf Coast Safety Training Group and serves as Chairman for the ANSI Z390 Hydrogen Sulfide Training Committee. He earned his bachelor's degree in international studies from the University of South Alabama.

About EPIC:

EPIC is a unique and innovative retail property and casualty and employee benefits insurance brokerage and consulting firm. EPIC has created a values-based, client-focused culture that attracts and retains top talent, fosters employee satisfaction and loyalty and sustains a high level of customer service excellence.

EPIC team members have consistently recognized their company as a "Best Place to Work" in multiple regions and as a "Best Place to Work in the Insurance Industry" nationally.

EPIC now has more than 1,400 team members operating from 50 offices across the U.S., providing Property and Casualty, Employee Benefits, Specialty Programs and Private Client solutions to more than 20,000 clients.

With run rate revenues greater than $400 million, EPIC ranks among the top 20 retail insurance brokers in the U.S. Backed by Oak Hill Capital Partners, the company continues to expand organically and through strategic acquisitions across the country.

For additional information, please visit https://www.epicbrokers.com/.

EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants ('EPIC'), a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that Senior Risk Control Consultant Chuck Simpson will present at OSHA Oil and Gas Safety and Health Conference on Tues., Dec. 4 at 3 p.m. at the Hilton Americas in Houston, Texas.

Related link: https://www.epicbrokers.com/

David McNeil of EPIC Named 2018 Broker of Excellence by CalMutuals Joint Powers Risk and Insurance Management Authority

ONTARIO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that Principal and Risk Management Consultant David McNeil has been selected as a 2018 Broker of Excellence by The California Association of Mutual Water Companies - Joint Powers Risk & Insurance Management Authority (CalMutuals-JPRIMA).

"JPRIMA relies solidly on the skills and support of committed insurance brokers like David," said CalMutuals JPRIMA President and CEO Jim Byerrum. "We view his contributions as an integral part of our success and proudly call him a valued partner and trusted advisor."

McNeil serves on several federal, state and local task forces for critical infrastructure exposure mitigation, transfer and avoidance. He is executive producer and an advisory member of the American Association of Water Distribution & Management (AAWD&M) Thought Leadership Lab Video Module Series, a resource that helps CalMutuals-JPRIMA insureds/members stay abreast of risk management best practices and emerging issues. He represents scores of mutual water companies, public water districts and investor owned utilities, with many client relationships spanning decades of service.

"It's an honor to be recognized by CalMutuals JPRIMA as a Broker of Excellence," said McNeil. "Its dedication to providing high-quality, cost-effective risk management and insurance products and services to its members is exceptional, and I look forward to continuing our work together."

CalMutuals JPRIMA was founded in 2016 after enactment of AB656 (Garcia), authorizing mutual water companies to form and participate in a joint powers authority, to provide pooled insurance for mutual water companies and other water systems. Since then the CalMutuals JPRIMA has grown from 14 members to over 250 members representing a wide range of water suppliers across California, including some of the state's largest. CalMutuals JPRIMA is governed by a nine-member board of directors from around the state and is currently developing a portfolio of risk management and safety tools for its members.

David McNeil can be reached at david.mcneil@epicbrokers.com or 909-919-7508

About EPIC:

EPIC is a unique and innovative retail property and casualty and employee benefits insurance brokerage and consulting firm. EPIC has created a values-based, client-focused culture that attracts and retains top talent, fosters employee satisfaction and loyalty and sustains a high level of customer service excellence.

EPIC team members have consistently recognized their company as a "Best Place to Work" in multiple regions and as a "Best Place to Work in the Insurance Industry" nationally.
EPIC now has more than 1,400 team members operating from 50 offices across the U.S., providing Property and Casualty, Employee Benefits, Specialty Programs and Private Client solutions to more than 20,000 clients.

With run rate revenues greater than $400 million, EPIC ranks among the top 20 retail insurance brokers in the U.S. Backed by Oak Hill Capital Partners, the company continues to expand organically and through strategic acquisitions across the country.

For additional information, please visit: https://www.epicbrokers.com/.

EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants ("EPIC"), a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that Principal and Risk Management Consultant David McNeil has been selected as a 2018 Broker of Excellence by The California Association of Mutual Water Companies - Joint Powers Risk & Insurance Management Authority (CalMutuals-JPRIMA).

Related link: https://www.epicbrokers.com/

Cloudvirga taps former Altisource CTO as executive vice president of technology

IRVINE, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Cloudvirga(TM), a leading provider of digital mortgage software, today announced that mortgage industry veteran James Vinci has been selected to fill the firm's newly created executive vice president of technology position. In this role, Vinci will execute Cloudvirga's technical vision, oversee initiatives to strengthen developer talent and collaborate across departments to scale technical initiatives to the company's explosive growth.

Vinci has 25 years of experience overseeing technology strategy, product development and service provider partnerships at leading mortgage technology companies. Prior to joining Cloudvirga, Vinci held multiple C-level positions at Equator, an affiliate of real estate and mortgage technology firm Altisource (NASDAQ: ASPS). Vinci spent his early career building business process automation solutions for Xerox Professional Services (NYSE: XRX) and other mortgage services providers.

"James' deep, hands-on leadership in mortgage process automation is a huge boon for Cloudvirga as we continue our ambitious vision of delivering unmatched cost savings and borrower satisfaction to top mortgage lenders," said Cloudvirga CEO Michael Schreck. "We are proud to welcome James to the team."

"Lender demand to automate business workflows is at an all-time high, making it a particularly exciting time to join the Cloudvirga team," said Vinci.

Two years after breaking ground, Cloudvirga continues to capture the financial endorsement of prominent investors and lenders alike with its pioneering digital mortgage technology. In the last six months, the firm has raised $50 million in private-equity funding and expanded its product lineup beyond the acclaimed Enterprise POS with the launch of Mobile POS and announcement of an upcoming Broker POS in partnership with ARIVE.

For a list of current job opportunities available at Cloudvirga, visit https://www.cloudvirga.com/company/careers/.

About Cloudvirga(TM):

Cloudvirga's digital mortgage point-of-sale (POS) software, powered by the intelligent Mortgage Platform(r), uniquely combines a world-class borrower experience with a truly automated lender workflow that radically cuts overall loan costs, increases transparency and reduces the time to close a loan. Led by top fintech veterans with a track record of building successful mortgage technologies, Cloudvirga's customer base includes nine of the top 40 non-bank mortgage originators. To date, Cloudvirga has raised over $77 million from some of the country's top lenders and private-equity firms.

For more information, visit https://www.cloudvirga.com/ or follow Cloudvirga on LinkedIn.

Twitter: @Cloudvirga #digitalmortgage #peoplemovers

Cloudvirga(TM), a leading provider of digital mortgage software, today announced that mortgage industry veteran James Vinci has been selected to fill the firm's newly created executive vice president of technology position. In this role, Vinci will execute Cloudvirga's technical vision, oversee initiatives to strengthen developer talent and collaborate across departments to scale technical initiatives to the company's explosive growth.

Related link: https://www.cloudvirga.com/

LBA Ware Recruits Veteran Mortgage Compensation Leader Mari Denton as Director of Client Success

MACON, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- LBA Ware(TM), the leading provider of automated incentive compensation and sales performance management software for mortgage lenders, today announced the appointment of Mari Denton as director of client success. An experienced finance professional, Denton has spent the last decade of her career in senior roles at some of the nation's largest banks and independent mortgage lenders. Her firsthand experience with the challenges lenders face administering compensation will make her a valuable ally to LBA Ware's clients as she works to maximize the value they receive from the company's market-leading platforms.

"Mari's insider experience addressing complex lender issues like loan officer compensation, together with her data-driven approach to problem-solving, make her the ideal advocate for our valued clients," said LBA Ware founder and CEO Lori Brewer. "She has already made a big impact on how clients engage with our software, and I fully expect her input to help shape our next generation of lender platforms."

"Helping lenders make sense of their vast and often under-utilized data sources is tremendously rewarding for me," said Denton. "My passion is enabling clients to distill actionable insights from data and deploy solutions that provide the right information at the right time to drive business results."

Prior to joining LBA Ware, Denton was vice president in charge of performance analytics and compensation administration for Irving, Texas-based Caliber Home Loans, one of the highest-volume mortgage lenders in the United States. Before that, she served as vice president of compensation administration and plan analysis for Nationstar Mortgage, now Mr. Cooper (NASDAQ: COOP), and held financial analyst roles at Capital One (NYSE: COF) and Citigroup (NYSE: C). Denton spent her early career as an accountant for various public and privately held firms. She earned her economics degree from the University of Texas at Dallas.

Denton will manage LBA Ware's growing client success team. A list of available positions can be found on LinkedIn.

About LBA Ware:

Founded in 2008, LBA Ware's mission is to inspire opportunity by delivering solutions that are essential to the way mortgage companies operate. We are a trusted partner and play a key role in our clients' success by enabling them to motivate, incentivize and better leverage the human potential within their organization. Our applications automate traditionally manual business processes for which an existing software solution does not exist, empowering lenders to create an integrated software environment that maximizes their productivity and operational efficiency. For more information about LBA Ware and our software solutions, visit https://lbaware.com.

Twitter: @LBAWare #peoplemovers #mortgagebanking #clientsuccess

LBA Ware(TM), the leading provider of automated incentive compensation and sales performance management software for mortgage lenders, today announced the appointment of Mari Denton as director of client success. An experienced finance professional, Denton has spent the last decade of her career in senior roles at some of the nation's largest banks and independent mortgage lenders.

Related link: https://lbaware.com/

Enrolled Agent Jeffrey Schneider, EA, CTRS, NTPIF of SFS Tax and Accounting Services Earns ACT-E Designation

STUART, Fla. /ScoopCloud/ -- Jeffrey Schneider, EA, CTRS, NTPIF, ACT-E of SFS Tax & Accounting Services and SFS Tax Problem Solutions in Stuart, Florida, a tax preparation and tax resolution firm, has received the Advanced Crypto Tax Expert designation (ACT-E).

The cryptocurrency taxation training and designation assures that the tax professional can handle even the most complicated crypto clients and that they understand the tax complexities of cryptocurrency and blockchain and can provide quality crypto tax preparation.

Schneider specializes his practice in tax preparation and problem-solving. He opened his firm in 1999. He holds the designation of Enrolled Agent and Certified Tax Resolution Specialist. He also received his master's degree from Long Island University in New York City.

Schneider is a member of the American Society of Tax Problem Solvers (ASTPS). He is a national lecturer and teaches other tax professionals on a variety of complex tax subjects.

"The three administrative levels of the Internal Revenue Service are Audits, Collections, and Appeals ... oh my. I became an enrolled agent so that I can help all taxpayers in their dealings with all levels of the Internal Revenue Service." ( Quote from "Now What? I Got a Tax Notice from the IRS. Help!")

Schneider has been serving clients in Florida and throughout the U.S. for more than 40 years. The company offers a wide variety of services that include crypto tax preparation, cannabusiness tax compliance, federal and state tax problem resolution, as well as individual and business tax preparation.

More information about the firm, its partners and services is at its website https://sfstaxacct.com/.

Visit the website, https://sfstaxproblemsolutions.com/ to receive your FREE Report, "7 Secrets the IRS Doesn't Want You To Know."

Jeffrey Schneider, EA, CTRS, NTPIF, ACT-E of SFS Tax & Accounting Services and SFS Tax Problem Solutions in Stuart, Florida, a tax preparation and tax resolution firm, has received the Advanced Crypto Tax Expert designation (ACT-E).

Related link: https://sfstaxproblemsolutions.com/

Bindable announces an investment round led by EPIC, Motive Partners and Wafra

BOSTON, Mass. /ScoopCloud/ -- Bindable, an insurance technology company whose goal is to transform the affinity distribution of insurance, today announced an investment from EPIC Holdings, the corporate parent overseeing investments across the entire EPIC platform, including EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants, and a Wafra advised fund, in conjunction with Motive Partners, a global private equity firm focused on investing in financial technology companies.

The investment will support Bindable's continued platform development and growth initiatives. In connection with the investment, Bindable and EPIC have entered into a commercial agreement where Bindable will provide a turnkey software solution to EPIC and its program and affinity business that will enable EPIC to better engage its customers through technology, product diversification and market growth.

Headquartered in Boston, Bindable has built a premier multi-product digital platform for insurance distribution through ecosystem and affinity channels. Bindable's software enables customized partner distribution and rapid market expansion for industry leaders and brands alike. Bindable has proven itself to be a highly differentiated solution through its client engagements with leading insurance companies, financial institutions, brokers and affinity groups.

Bill Suneson, Co-founder and CEO of Bindable, commented: "We've built our platform to transform the distribution of insurance through sponsored channels and we're pleased to partner with EPIC, Motive Partners and Wafra to not only support our vision but also provide the strategic capacity to help us drive that change. We seek to enable the insurance industry to better serve customers through preferred channels and this new capital will help us realize our vision."

John Hahn, CEO of EPIC Holdings, commented: "Our investment in Bindable reflects EPIC's continued interest in investing and partnering with technology-based solutions and platforms that help us transact our business more efficiently and effectively with our clients."

Scott Kauffman, Partner at Motive Partners, commented: "We believe Bindable has created a platform that is well positioned for rapid growth, as insurance carriers and brokerages increasingly rely on digital and tech-enabled distribution solutions. I look forward to working with Bill Suneson and John Hahn to help Bindable achieve our shared vision."

Greenberg Traurig served as legal advisor to Motive Partners and EPIC in connection with the transaction. Fenwick & West LLP served as legal advisor to Wafra in connection with the transaction. Osborn Maledon served as legal advisors to Bindable in connection with the transaction.

About Bindable:

Bindable is a full-stack, tech-enabled solutions provider built for modern insurance distribution. Through its MyLifeProtected and Policy Crusher(tm) platforms, Bindable offers insurance companies, intermediaries and affinity groups a comprehensive suite of digital products and software services designed to further engage and monetize their customers.
For more information, visit https://www.bindable.com/.

About EPIC Holdings:

EPIC Holdings is the corporate parent overseeing investments across the entire EPIC platform, which includes the firm's retail insurance brokerage and consulting business (EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants); programs, affinity, and MGA/MGU business, warranty and InsureTech Initiatives (EPIC Specialty Programs & Investments).

Led by CEO John Hahn and President Steve Denton, EPIC Holdings focuses on identifying and pursuing opportunities to invest in and acquire businesses across the EPIC platform. This includes expanding the firm's Program/MGA footprint, aggressively participating in the InsureTech revolution, and developing new, creative distribution ideas and concepts, while remaining focused on EPIC's vision and strategy to drive specialization across the entire organization. For additional information, please visit https://www.epicbrokers.com/.

About Motive Partners

Motive Partners is a sector-specialist investment firm that is focused on technology enabled companies that power the financial services industry. Based in New York and London and comprised of investors, operators and innovators, Motive Partners brings differentiated expertise, connectivity and capabilities to create long-term value in financial technology companies. For more information, visit https://www.motivepartners.com/.

About Wafra

Wafra and its advisory affiliates have discretionary and non-discretionary assets under management (including undrawn capital commitments) exceeding $23 billion (estimated as of June 30, 2018) and invest across a wide range of asset classes. In its pursuit of investments, Wafra seeks to connect its investors, partners and stakeholders to foster an exchange of ideas and innovations. For more information please visit https://www.wafra.com/.

Bindable, an insurance technology company whose goal is to transform the affinity distribution of insurance, today announced an investment from EPIC Holdings, the corporate parent overseeing investments across the entire EPIC platform, including EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants, and a Wafra advised fund, in conjunction with Motive Partners, a global private equity firm focused on investing in financial technology companies.

Related link: https://www.epicbrokers.com/

EPIC Buys Direct Retail Wine Industry Business From Paragon Insurance Holdings

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today the purchase of a retail wine industry book of business from Managing General Agency (MGA) Paragon Insurance Holdings LLC. The accounts in question came to Paragon in the fall of 2017 when they acquired wine industry specialist John Sutak Insurance Brokers, along with two winery programs from the Argo Group.

The purchase underscores EPIC's commitment to further growing their wine industry client relationship and becoming a leading provider of risk management and insurance services to wineries across the country.

Said EPIC Wine Industry Practice Leader Michael McNulty, "Given our roots in California and the West, we have long served grape growers, wine producers and others in the business across the region. The addition of Paragon's direct retail wine industry clients is a true 'win, win, win' for all involved.

"EPIC further grows and strengthens an important area of specialty, Paragon sharpens their focus on their core MGA and Programs business, and the wineries in question gain the strong representation, industry expertise, service excellence, and aggressive client advocacy that have been hallmarks of EPIC since our founding."

Michael McNulty can be reached at michael.mcnulty@epicbrokers.com or 415-356-3909.

About EPIC:

EPIC is a unique and innovative retail property and casualty and employee benefits insurance brokerage and consulting firm. EPIC has created a values-based, client-focused culture that attracts and retains top talent, fosters employee satisfaction and loyalty and sustains a high level of customer service excellence.

EPIC team members have consistently recognized their company as a "Best Place to Work" in multiple regions and as a "Best Place to Work in the Insurance Industry" nationally.

EPIC now has more than 1,400 team members operating from 50 offices across the U.S., providing Property and Casualty, Employee Benefits, Specialty Programs and Private Client solutions to more than 20,000 clients.

With run rate revenues greater than $400 million, EPIC ranks among the top 20 retail insurance brokers in the U.S. Backed by Oak Hill Capital Partners, the company continues to expand organically and through strategic acquisitions across the country.

For additional information, please visit https://www.epicbrokers.com/.

EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today the purchase of a retail wine industry book of business from Managing General Agency (MGA) Paragon Insurance Holdings LLC. The accounts in question came to Paragon in the fall of 2017 when they acquired wine industry specialist John Sutak Insurance Brokers, along with two winery programs from the Argo Group.

Related link: https://www.epicbrokers.com/

Paragon Insurance Holdings to Sell its Direct Retail Wine Industry Business

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Paragon Insurance Holdings LLC today announced the sale of the firm's direct retail wine industry business to retail insurance broker EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants. The accounts in question came to Paragon in the fall of 2017 when they purchased wine industry specialist John Sutak Insurance Brokers, along with two winery programs from the Argo Group.

Effective January 1, 2019, Paragon will transition its portfolio of direct retail winery clients to EPIC, one of the nation's ten largest privately held retail insurance brokers. The purchase will expand and strengthen EPIC's own commitment to their existing and future wine industry clients.

Paragon will continue to underwrite and broadly provide insurance services to the wine industry on a national basis, and the transaction allows Paragon to maintain a clear strategic focus on the firm's core program management and underwriting expertise, centered on serving the needs of their partners in the retail insurance brokerage community.

"We are excited about the transaction and eliminating any possible ambiguity about the strength of our commitment to serving and supporting our retail insurance brokerage partners," said Erik Kriens, SVP Business Development at Paragon.

"We know EPIC Wine Industry Practice Leader Mike McNulty and the EPIC team well from many years of working with them on the specialty programs and MGA front. We are confident that they will provide outstanding service, strong advocacy, and effective representation to the wine industry clients they are acquiring from us," Kriens added.

Any inquiries can be directed to Erik Kriens at Paragon Insurance Holdings in San Francisco: ekriens@paragonisngroup.com or (860) 629-0849.

About Paragon:

A broadly diversified MGA, Paragon provides unique opportunities and solutions to retail agents, insurance carriers, reinsurers and vendor partners.

Please visit https://www.paragoninsgroup.com/ for additional information.

Paragon Insurance Holdings LLC today announced the sale of the firm's direct retail wine industry business to retail insurance broker EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants. The accounts in question came to Paragon in the fall of 2017 when they purchased wine industry specialist John Sutak Insurance Brokers, along with two winery programs from the Argo Group.

Related link: http://www.paragoninsgroup.com/

Bank of Southern California NA Hires Juliana Rowland as Managing Director in Orange County

SAN DIEGO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Bank of Southern California, N.A. (OTC Pink: BCAL / OTCMKTS:BCAL), a community business bank headquartered in San Diego, has announced the appointment of Juliana Rowland as Managing Director in Orange County. She will be responsible for cultivating new client relationships for the Bank with a focus on Orange County's business community.

Bank of Southern California first entered the market in January 2018 with the opening of a production office in the city of Orange and plans to open a full-service branch early next year.

Mrs. Rowland brings nearly 14 years of banking experience, most recently serving as Business Banking Sales Manager, First Vice President for CommerceWest Bank in Irvine. She holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas.

"Juliana will be a great asset to our experienced business banking group. Her expertise, leadership, and commitment to the business community will be a valuable resource to both our team and clients," said Tony DiVita, Executive Vice President and Chief Banking Officer.

"We look forward to Juliana's contributions as Bank of Southern California continues to build upon its success and realize additional growth opportunities in Orange County," concluded DiVita.

About Bank of Southern California:

A growing community bank, established in 2001, Bank of Southern California, N.A., with headquarters in San Diego, CA, is locally owned and managed, and offers a range of financial products to individuals, professionals and small-to-medium sized businesses. The Bank's solution-driven, relationship-based approach to banking provides accessibility to decision makers and enhances value through strong partnerships with its clients.

The Bank currently operates eleven branches in San Diego County, Los Angeles County, the Coachella Valley in Riverside County, as well as a production office in Orange County.

For more information, please visit https://www.banksocal.com/ or call (858) 847-4780.

Tickers: OTC Pink:BCAL / OTC:BCAL / OTCMKTS: BCAL / OP: BCAL

Bank of Southern California, N.A. (OTC Pink: BCAL / OTCMKTS:BCAL), a community business bank headquartered in San Diego, has announced the appointment of Juliana Rowland as Managing Director in Orange County. She will be responsible for cultivating new client relationships for the Bank with a focus on Orange County's business community.

Related link: https://www.banksocal.com/

Michael Power Joins Frenkel and Company – an EPIC Company in New York

NEW YORK, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- Frenkel & Company - an EPIC Company announced today that risk management and insurance professional Michael Power has joined the firm's operations in New York as a Principal.

Power will be based in Frenkel's New York, N.Y. office at 350 Hudson Street and report to Phil Remig, Northeast Region Senior Vice President, Operations and Sales.

Power will be responsible for new business development; management of property/casualty insurance programs; and providing risk management strategies and solutions to mid-market and large clients across a range of industries, with a specialty focus on the complex needs of the Real Estate industry.

Power joins Frenkel from the New York office of Lockton Companies, where he was Senior Vice President and Northeast Real Estate Practice Leader. Power previously worked for Willis Towers Watson (Senior Vice President, New York Real Estate Practice Leader) and Wells Fargo Insurance Services in New York.

"We are excited to further expand and enhance our operations in the Greater New York City area and across the Northeast with Mike's addition," said Phil Remig. "He is highly regarded for his professional knowledge; for building strong, positive relationships; and for providing exceptional service to his clients. Mike will be a terrific addition as we continue to deepen and strengthen our exceptional team both regionally and across the country."

Power attended Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York, where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in General Business. Professionally, he holds the Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation.

Michael Power can be reached at mpower@frenkel.com or 201-356-1113 (office).

About EPIC:

EPIC is a unique and innovative retail property & casualty and employee benefits insurance brokerage and consulting firm. EPIC has created a values-based, client-focused culture that attracts and retains top talent, fosters employee satisfaction and loyalty and sustains a high level of customer service excellence.

EPIC team members have consistently recognized their company as a "Best Place to Work" in multiple regions and as a "Best Place to Work in the Insurance Industry" nationally.

EPIC now has more than 1,400 team members operating from 50 offices across the U.S., providing Property & Casualty, Employee Benefits, Specialty Programs and Private Client solutions to more than 20,000 clients.

With run rate revenues greater than $400 million, EPIC ranks among the top 20 retail insurance brokers in the United States. Backed by Oak Hill Capital Partners, the company continues to expand organically and through strategic acquisitions across the country.

For additional information, please visit https://www.epicbrokers.com/.

Frenkel & Company - an EPIC Company announced today that risk management and insurance professional Michael Power has joined the firm's operations in New York as a Principal. Power will be responsible for new business development; management of property/casualty insurance programs; and providing risk management strategies and solutions.

Related link: https://www.epicbrokers.com/

Tandis Nili Joins Frenkel and Company – an EPIC Company as Global Services Division Leader

NEW YORK, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- Frenkel & Company - an EPIC Company announced today that risk management and insurance professional Tandis Nili has joined the firm's operations in New York as Senior Vice President and leader of the Global Services Division. Nili is based in Frenkel's New York, NY office at 350 Hudson Street and reports to John F. Kelly, President and CEO of Frenkel & Company.

In her new role, Nili is responsible for leading the integration of EPIC and Frenkel capabilities and resources related to designing, implementing and managing global risk management strategies and solutions for large clients with international footprints.

Prior to joining Frenkel, Nili served as a Director of the Small & Medium Enterprises (SME) Division at Aon, and earlier as Vice President in the National Casualty Brokerage Group, working on complex liability programs for various high profile clients worldwide. Nili also served as a member of Aon's Casualty Coverage Consultation, Advocacy and Claims Resolution Practice, advocating for clients in General and Products Liability as well as Umbrella and Excess Liability program and coverage disputes.

Recognized twice as an insurance industry "Power Broker" by Risk and Insurance Magazine, Nili has counseled numerous clients on liability coverage and business and regulatory issues, as well as assisting them in choosing and implementing appropriate risk management strategies.

"We are excited to further expand and enhance our operations in the greater New York City area and across the Northeast with Tandis' addition," said John F. Kelly. "She is highly regarded for her professional knowledge; for building strong, positive relationships; and for providing exceptional service to her clients. Tandis will be a terrific addition as we continue to deepen and strengthen our exceptional team both regionally and across the country."

Academically, Nili attended Boston University where she received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance and International Management. She went on to earn her Juris Doctor Degree from New York Law School. Professionally, Nili holds the Associate in Risk Management (ARM) designation.

Tandis Nili can be reached by email at tnili@frenkel.com and by phone at 212.488.1882.

About EPIC
EPIC is a unique and innovative retail property & casualty and employee benefits insurance brokerage and consulting firm. EPIC has created a values-based, client-focused culture that attracts and retains top talent, fosters employee satisfaction and loyalty and sustains a high level of customer service excellence.

EPIC team members have consistently recognized their company as a "Best Place to Work" in multiple regions and as a "Best Place to Work in the Insurance Industry" nationally.

EPIC now has nearly 1,400 team members operating from 50 offices across the U.S., providing Property & Casualty, Employee Benefits, Specialty Programs and Private Client solutions to more than 40,000 clients

With run rate revenues greater than $400 million, EPIC ranks among the top 15 retail insurance brokers in the United States. Backed by Oak Hill Capital Partners, the company continues to expand organically and through strategic acquisitions across the country.

For additional information, please visit https://www.epicbrokers.com/.

Frenkel & Company - an EPIC Company announced today that risk management and insurance professional Tandis Nili has joined the firm's operations in New York as Senior Vice President and leader of the Global Services Division. Nili is based in Frenkel's New York, NY office at 350 Hudson Street and reports to John F. Kelly, President and CEO of Frenkel & Company.

Related link: https://www.epicbrokers.com/

MCT Hires Industry Veteran Rhiannon Bolen as Regional Sales Manager to Satisfy Increasing Demand for its Product and Service Offerings

SAN DIEGO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Mortgage Capital Trading, Inc. (MCT), a leading mortgage hedge advisory and secondary marketing software firm, announced that Rhiannon Bolen has joined the company's sales team as one of its Regional Sales Managers and will be responsible for overseeing the Southern territory.

"We are pleased to have Rhiannon join our growing sales team, who has a diverse background dedicated to the mortgage industry with a focus on sales expansion," said Curtis Richins, president at MCT. "As a company, MCT has added a number of new innovative capital markets focused services and technology that has created increasing marketplace demand and thus opened up new revenue opportunities for us that require experienced salespeople like Rhiannon to help manage."

Rhiannon comes to MCT most recently from Lenders One where she held the position of Regional AVP for the Western Region, working with mortgage lenders of all types to arrive at various solutions that help reduce business costs and stay ahead of industry trends pertaining to processes and technology.

Prior to Lenders One, Rhiannon was the Regional Vice President of South Region Field Sales for Arch Mortgage Insurance. At Arch, she helped hire and train a team of Account Managers and was responsible for creating sales strategies and managing and developing various territories which led to over achievement of sales production goals. Before Arch, Rhiannon spent much of her career in the credit risk space working in regional and national outside sales roles in the mortgage insurance industry.

"I am excited to join MCT, which has become a clear industry leader in hedge advisory services and secondary marketing software," stated Bolen. "MCT is known as a forward-thinking organization that has a sterling reputation among its lender clients, partners, and the investor community. The company is comprised of an extraordinary group of highly dedicated, passionate secondary marketing professionals that are constantly innovating and providing next-level client service. In any role that I've been in, my goal has always been to help my clients be more successful. Given MCT's position in the market amongst our competition, our ability to innovate and our un-wavering focus on dedicated client support, I really see this as an opportunity to help my clients leverage our offerings to better improve their capital markets strategies."

Rhiannon has been off to the races in her new role starting with the MBA's Annual Conference & Expo held in Washington, D.C. in October 2018. More details on Rhiannon's role, territory, and contact information can be found on the MCT website: https://mct-trading.com/contact/

About MCT:

Founded in 2001, Mortgage Capital Trading, Inc. (MCT) has grown from a boutique mortgage pipeline hedging firm into the industry's leading provider of fully-integrated capital markets services and technology. MCT offers an array of best-in-class services and software covering mortgage pipeline hedging, best execution loan sales, outsourced lock desk solutions, MSR portfolio valuations, business intelligence analytics, mark to market services, and an award-winning comprehensive capital markets software platform called MCTlive! MCT supports independent mortgage bankers, depositories, credit unions, warehouse lenders, and correspondent investors of all sizes.

Headquartered in San Diego, California, MCT also has offices in Philadelphia, Santa Rosa, Los Angeles and Dallas. MCT is well known for its team of capital markets experts and senior traders who continue to provide the boutique-style hands-on engagement clients love. For more information, visit https://mct-trading.com/ or call (619) 543-5111.

Mortgage Capital Trading, Inc. (MCT), a leading mortgage hedge advisory and secondary marketing software firm, announced that Rhiannon Bolen has joined the company's sales team as one of its Regional Sales Managers and will be responsible for overseeing the Southern territory.

Related link: https://mct-trading.com/

How Much Does It Cost to Open a Restaurant? 350 Independent Restaurant Owners Share Their 2018 Startup Costs and Financial Performance

PHOENIX, Ariz. /ScoopCloud/ -- RestaurantOwner.com has released the report of their 2018 Cost to Open a Restaurant Survey. The report summarizes input gathered from over 350 independent restaurant owners and operators regarding their startup costs as well as their financial performance.

A copy of the survey report is available at: https://www.restaurantowner.com/public/How-Much-Does-it-Cost-to-Open-a-Restaurant.cfm

The median restaurant startup cost was $375,000. This equates to a median cost of $113 per square foot, or $3,586 per seat. Many factors affected cost including remodel vs. new construction, free standing building vs. tenant space, and whether the restaurant was full service, limited service, bar or tavern, catering business, or takeout and delivery.

"New construction was more costly than remodeling. The median cost of building a restaurant from the ground up, not including real estate, was $650,000," said COO Joe Erickson.

Remodeling a non-restaurant space was the second most costly, with a median cost of $425,500. Remodeling an existing restaurant space was the least costly, with a median cost of $275,500. Consequently, the median sales to investment ratio was highest for remodeling an existing restaurant space (4.2:1), versus either remodeling a non-restaurant space (2.1:1) or new construction (2.0:1).

The median size of restaurant startups was 3,070 square feet, and 120 seats. This size resulted in a median of 31 square feet per seat. Kitchens occupied about 31% of the restaurant space, with a median size of 1,000 square feet.

The median annual sales across all service types was $1.125 million. That financial performance resulted in a median annual revenue of $325 per square foot, or $10,567 per seat. Median time to profitability was 5 months. 25% of owners reported that their restaurant was profitable within the first 2 months and another 25% took 12 months to become profitable. The median net income reported was 5.5%.

About RestaurantOwner.com:
RestaurantOwner.com provides leadership, financial management and operational training and resources to independent restaurant owners and managers to improve the guest experience, employee engagement and achieve better financial results.

More information: https://www.restaurantowner.com/.

*IMAGE FOR MEDIA: https://www.restaurantowner.com/members/images/1474c.png
*Image Caption: page three example from the comprehensive 2018 report.

RestaurantOwner.com has released the report of their 2018 Cost to Open a Restaurant Survey. The report summarizes input gathered from over 350 independent restaurant owners and operators regarding their startup costs as well as their financial performance.

Related link: https://www.restaurantowner.com/

SafeChain Adds Blockchain to SafeWire to Further Safeguard Real Estate Wire Transactions

COLUMBUS, Ohio /ScoopCloud/ -- SafeChain, the industry leader in wire fraud prevention software for land title, announced today it has added blockchain to its wire fraud prevention platform SafeWire(TM), making the company the first in the industry to do so. The addition of blockchain to SafeWire provides increased security for real estate wire transactions by ensuring fraudsters cannot tamper with wiring instructions undetected.

"SafeChain is committed to stamping out wire fraud in the real estate industry," said Tony Franco, CEO and co-founder of SafeChain. "By coupling an ultra-secure, distributed ledger with SafeWire's identity verification and bank-level authentication technology, we have made the real estate wire transaction significantly more difficult to hack, thus providing home buyers, title companies and real estate agents additional assurance that their transaction is as fraud-free as possible."

The SafeWire platform safeguards real estate wire transactions by verifying participants' identities and account ownership and providing a secure portal to transmit wiring instructions. With blockchain, SafeWire now offers a tamper-proof storage mechanism for wiring instructions that notifies users immediately if an unauthorized party attempts to alter the instructions.

"Today, real estate wire fraud is being perpetrated primarily through business email compromise schemes, where fraudsters spoof the email accounts of legitimate participants to fraudulently divert funds. However, this won't always be the case, as fraudsters become more sophisticated in their attempts," said Robert Zwink, CTO and co-founder of SafeChain. "Blockchain provides the most advanced data security available today, and adding this element to SafeWire ensures that our customers' transactions are secure both today and in the future."

About SafeChain:

SafeChain makes real estate transactions safer and simpler. Built by real estate title experts in collaboration with banking technologists, SafeChain tackles the inefficiencies of the buying and selling process from the inside-out to help title companies, mortgage bankers and realtors decrease costs and deliver a better experience for customers. Leveraging the most advanced technologies, including blockchain, SafeChain increases the speed and security of closings to deliver faster transactions and better consumer confidence.

For more information visit: https://www.safechain.io/.

SafeChain, the industry leader in wire fraud prevention software for land title, announced today it has added blockchain to its wire fraud prevention platform SafeWire(TM), making the company the first in the industry to do so. The addition of blockchain to SafeWire provides increased security for real estate wire transactions by ensuring fraudsters cannot tamper with wiring instructions undetected.

Related link: https://www.safechain.io/

Former Roostify exec joins Cloudvirga as chief customer success officer

IRVINE, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Cloudvirga(TM), a leading provider of digital mortgage software, today announced the appointment of Jesse Decker to the role of chief customer success officer. Decker will lead the company's customer success division and work collaboratively with its product development and marketing teams to help leading mortgage lenders leverage the full potential of Cloudvirga's revolutionary point-of-sale (POS) products.

Decker has more than two decades of experience overseeing enterprise technology transformations and customer success programs. Before joining Cloudvirga, she was vice president of client services at mortgage fintech Roostify, where she supported successful implementations at several banks and independent mortgage lenders. Previously, she served as a management consultant for Booz Allen Hamilton and other top-tier consulting firms, where she delivered advisory services to clients in financial services, telecommunications and other sectors.

"The cry for digital technology that meaningfully improves the customer experience and reduces the cost to produce a mortgage has never been louder," said Decker. "I'm thrilled to bring my experience helping major lending institutions implement transformative technology that delights customers to Cloudvirga, and I look forward to helping lenders take control over their margins in a tight market."

"Cloudvirga's obsession with solving the mortgage cost problem has resonated deeply with top lenders, igniting our rapid growth," said Cloudvirga CEO Michael Schreck. "We are proud to expand our senior team with an experienced leader who knows the digital mortgage space as well as Jesse does."

Since its founding just two years ago, Cloudvirga has grown to serve nine of the top 40 mortgage lenders in the United States with a rapidly expanding suite of digital mortgage solutions that includes its award-winning Enterprise POS, recently-launched Mobile POS and a highly anticipated Broker POS in partnership with ARIVE.

For a list of current job opportunities available at Cloudvirga, visit https://www.glassdoor.com/Jobs/Cloudvirga-Jobs-E1342665.htm.

About Cloudvirga(TM):

Cloudvirga's digital mortgage point-of-sale (POS) software, powered by the intelligent Mortgage Platform(R), uniquely combines a world-class borrower experience with a truly automated lender workflow that radically cuts overall loan costs, increases transparency and reduces the time to close a loan. Led by top fintech veterans with a track record of building successful mortgage technologies, Cloudvirga's customer base includes nine of the top 40 non-bank mortgage originators. To date, Cloudvirga has raised over $77 million from some of the country's top lenders and private-equity firms.

For more information, visit https://www.cloudvirga.com/ or follow Cloudvirga on LinkedIn.

Twitter: @Cloudvirga #digitalmortgage #peoplemovers

Cloudvirga(TM), a leading provider of digital mortgage software, today announced the appointment of Jesse Decker to the role of chief customer success officer. Decker will lead the company's customer success division and work collaboratively with its product development and marketing teams to help leading mortgage lenders leverage the full potential of Cloudvirga's revolutionary point-of-sale (POS) products.

Related link: https://www.cloudvirga.com/

New Survey Finds More Than 75-percent of Travelers Experience Travel Mishaps, Yet Few Protect Themselves with Travel Insurance

NEW YORK, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- A new survey conducted by travel insurance comparison site TravelInsurance.com found that even though travelers are concerned with travel disruptions and many have experienced mishaps while on vacation, fewer than half of those surveyed have purchased travel insurance. Of those who didn't purchase travel insurance, only a third even considered it.

"The results from the survey show a clear disconnect - respondents have real concerns about travel interruptions and have experienced them first-hand, yet they do not consider the many benefits of travel insurance," said Stan Sandberg, co-founder of TravelInsurance.com.

"Our survey revealed that the most common reasons why travelers disregard travel insurance are: they believe it's too expensive; they don't understand the coverage or the rules of purchasing it; and they believe they just don't need it. By dramatically simplifying the travel insurance shopping experience - and giving travel consumers a transparent view of the value proposition of travel insurance - TravelInsurance.com is helping to educate travel consumers to shop and buy with confidence."

The survey asked more than 1,000 individuals who travel multiple times a year about their leisure travel habits in 2018, along with what concerns they have when booking their vacations. Below are some key findings.

Travel Spend:

The survey found that more than one in five (22%) will spend more than $5,000 on travel this year, with almost half (47%) spending more than $2,500. Older travelers tend to spend the most as they typically have greater disposable incomes, take longer trips and spend more on vacation travel than their younger counterparts.

Travel Concerns:

According to the survey, the top three travel concerns for travelers were weather-related disruptions, the possibility of illness or injury affecting a trip, and terrorism. These concerns are also the top risks addressed by most travel insurance plans.

The survey further drilled down into travelers' concerns about the weather. More than three quarters of respondents (78%) indicated that they're at least thinking about the weather at their arrival destination when booking a trip. However, more than half (52%) said they rarely or never take into consideration the weather in their departure city when booking a trip.

Travel insurance with trip cancellation coverage is one of the most effective ways to protect an investment in non-refundable vacations year-round, but it can be especially important during the increasingly active hurricane season and during winter months when storms are more likely. These both coincide with some of the busiest leisure travel months of the year.

Travel Interruptions:

While many vacations go smoothly, survey results point to rampant delays. Three out of four respondents (76%) have experienced a flight delay in the past, and nearly half (48%) have had their luggage lost or stolen. Another third (35%) have experienced either getting sick or traveling with someone who has gotten sick while on a trip.

Flight was delayed	76%
Luggage/personal belongings were delayed or lost	48%
Flight was cancelled	40%
You needed to change/cancel your plans due to personal reasons	35%
You or someone in your party got sick or injured during the trip	35%
You missed your connection	31%
You are someone in your party got sick or injured before the trip	17%
You needed to change/cancel your plans due to work-related reasons	14%
You needed travel assistance (i.e., you needed a last-minute change, car rental, hotel accommodations, or you needed help with travel in a country where you don’t speak the language, etc.)	14%
Luggage/personal belongings were stolen	6%

Travel Insurance:

Most consumers are worried about travel disruptions, and most have experienced them in the past, yet more than half (54%) have never purchased travel insurance and two thirds (65%) of those have never even considered it. The survey also showed that about half (47%) of respondents didn't know whether or not their health insurance provided coverage while traveling, especially when traveling abroad. Travel insurance plans can provide medical and emergency evacuation coverage for international travel.

The reasons travelers don't purchase travel insurance show that there remains a number of misconceptions about the value proposition of travel insurance and the benefits it provides. TravelInsurance.com was founded on the primary goal of addressing those misconceptions. By offering a simple and transparent shopping experience where consumers can compare plans and providers quickly, TravelInsurance.com gives consumers an affordable way to protect against the travel disruptions that concern them the most.

"Many people don't think they need travel insurance or that it's too expensive. However, today's frequent travel disruptions and lost travel expenses would suggest otherwise," continued Sandberg. "Travel cancellation coverage can cost as little as four percent (4%) of a trip's total cost, which if something goes wrong and you have to miss your trip, can save you thousands of dollars in the long run. Coverage for emergency travel medical and evacuations can cost even less."

For more information on travel insurance and travel tips, visit https://www.travelinsurance.com/

A new survey conducted by travel insurance comparison site TravelInsurance.com found that even though travelers are concerned with travel disruptions and many have experienced mishaps while on vacation, fewer than half of those surveyed have purchased travel insurance. Of those who didn't purchase travel insurance, only a third even considered it.

Related link: https://www.travelinsurance.com/

Simplifile’s Nancy Alley Lauded as One of Mortgage Banking’s Most Powerful Women by National Mortgage Professional

PROVO, Utah /ScoopCloud/ -- Simplifile, a leading provider of real estate document collaboration and recording technologies for lenders, settlement agents and counties, today announced that Vice President of Strategic Planning Nancy Alley was recognized by National Mortgage Professional Magazine on its 2018 list of Mortgage Banking's Most Powerful Women.

Alley was recognized for shaping products and standards that have driven technology innovation in the mortgage industry throughout her 27-year career. In addition to her role helping Simplifile develop the market's leading electronic lender-settlement collaboration and post-closing documentation tools, Alley is a member of the Mortgage Industry Standards Maintenance Organization (MISMO) board, where she makes substantial contributions to formation and adoption outcomes of industry standards.

No stranger to "firsts" in the mortgage industry, Alley founded SignOnline in May 1999, the same year the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA) was passed and nearly a year before The Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce (E-Sign) Act became law. After SignOnline was acquired by eSignSystems in October 2001, Alley played a prominent role at Xerox Mortgage Services, the provider of the BlitzDocs intelligent collaborative network.

"The mortgage industry remains one of the last great frontiers to be digitally transformed, and I am determined to help it reach its full potential," Alley said. "Each day I am inspired by interacting with industry colleagues who are passionately committed to transforming the biggest financial decision that the vast majority of Americans will ever make."

"Nancy is truly dedicated to helping lenders make every transaction as 'e' as possible through her work at Simplifile," said Simplifile President Paul Clifford. "She has been the driving force behind many big wins for both our organization and the industry at large, including persuading the government sponsored enterprises to accept electronic security instruments for e-recorded loans and creating an electronic closing and post-closing loop unlike anything else in the market through our integration with Docutech's Solex eClosing platform. I commend her for her many achievements."

National Mortgage Professional Magazine's recognition program honors women who have been "instrumental to a major industry innovation" and who are "leaders in the mortgage profession." Honorees are selected by editorial staff based on criteria that include professional accomplishments, scope of management and professional network following.

For a complete listing of this year's honorees, visit: https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nmpmedia/nmp_201810/index.php#/54.

About National Mortgage Professional Magazine:

National Mortgage Professional Magazine has become "The Source for Top Originators" - that connects the mortgage professional community under various media formats. Our exceptional team of industry-seasoned monthly contributors combined with our knowledgeable editorial staff, all with meaningful expertise in their respectful disciplines, provide the most up-to-date news, insight and advice for today's mortgage professional. We are committed to ensuring that today's industry is equipped with the most comprehensive understanding of mortgage news available through our many resources, including, but not limited to, articles in the print edition of National Mortgage Professional Magazine and 38 state-specific e-editions, the NMP Daily and NMP Ticker email newsletters, the exclusive daily news stories and postings on our website ( https://nationalmortgageprofessional.com ), and our regular series.

About Simplifile:

Simplifile, the nation's largest e-recording network, was founded in 2000 to connect settlement agents and county recorders via its e-recording service. Today Simplifile has broadened its services to include collaboration tools and post-closing visibility for mortgage lenders and settlement agents working together on real estate documents. Through Simplifile, users can securely record, share, and track documents, data, and fees with ease.

To learn more, visit https://simplifile.com or call 800-460-5657.

Simplifile, a leading provider of real estate document collaboration and recording technologies for lenders, settlement agents and counties, today announced that Vice President of Strategic Planning Nancy Alley was recognized by National Mortgage Professional Magazine on its 2018 list of Mortgage Banking's Most Powerful Women.

Related link: https://simplifile.com/

Bank of Southern California, NA Announces Third Quarter 2018 Financial Results (OTC:BCAL)

SAN DIEGO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Bank of Southern California, N.A. (OTC Pink: BCAL) announced quarterly net income of $874,988 for the third quarter of 2018, compared to $1,088,043 for the third quarter of 2017. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, net income was $3,253,441, compared to $2,830,295 for the nine months ended September 30, 2017. Results for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2018, include approximately $1.2 million and $1.6 million, respectively, in expenses related to the acquisition of Americas United Bank (OTC Pink: AUNB), which was completed on July 31, 2018.

Commenting on the recently completed acquisition of Americas United Bank, Nathan Rogge, President and CEO of Bank of Southern California said, "We are pleased to welcome Americas United Bank customers, employees, and shareholders to Bank of Southern California. We look forward to capitalizing on our newly expanded footprint and realizing greater efficiencies for the benefit of our shareholders, customers and the communities we serve."

"In addition to leveraging Americas United Bank's talented employees, we also hired several tenured and experienced commercial bankers to further expand on the small business opportunities in the market. We are well positioned to meet the needs of the Southern California business community and look forward to continued growth and success," concluded Rogge.

Total assets at September 30, 2018, were $735 million, up 57% from $468 million at September 30, 2017. Total loans increased to $607 million at September 30, 2018, compared to $387 million at September 30, 2017, an increase of $219 million, while total deposits were $633 million at September 30, 2018, compared to $418 million at September 30, 2017, an increase of $215 million. The increase in total assets, loans and deposits is largely attributable to the acquisition of AUNB, which added approximately $190 million in loans and $203 million in deposits on July 31, 2018.

Other Financial Highlights
* Net interest income for the quarter ended September 30, 2018, increased 27.5% to $6.7 million from $5.3 million in the prior quarter, primarily from the 26% increase in average earning assets. Net interest margin of 4.23% includes 6 basis points of fair valuation accretion, which is similar to prior quarters. Net interest income will increase, along with average earning assets, in the fourth quarter as we realize a full period post-merger and the relative impact of fair value accretion is also expected to increase in the fourth quarter.
* Additional cost savings related to synergies from the acquisition of AUB, such as post-conversion data processing expenses, will continue to be realized in the fourth quarter.
* Nonperforming assets were 0.51% of total assets at September 30, 2018, compared to 0.53% in the prior quarter. The allowance for loan losses (ALLL) was 0.65% of total loans at September 30, 2018, compared to 0.83% in the prior quarter; however, when including over $2.8 million in loan fair value credit marks (LFVCM), the ALLL and LFVCM represent 1.11% of total loans.
* The Bank continues to be "well-capitalized". After raising $26 million in capital earlier in 2018 and completing the merger July 31, 2018, the Bank reported total risk-based capital of 14.3% as of September 30, 2018, up from 13.5% at December 31, 2017.

[Quarterly Financial Highlights Table Follows]

For more details about our quarterly results, please visit the "About Us" / "Financials" page of our website - https://www.banksocal.com/about-us/financials/ - and follow the link labeled: Quarterly Results and Trends

About Bank of Southern California:
A growing community bank established in 2001, Bank of Southern California, N.A., with headquarters in San Diego, CA, is locally owned and managed, and offers a range of financial products and services to individuals, professionals, and small-to-mid sized businesses. The Bank's solution-driven, relationship-based approach to banking provides accessibility to decision makers and enhances value through strong partnerships with its clients. The Bank currently operates eleven branches in San Diego County, Los Angeles County, and the Coachella Valley in Riverside County, and a production office in Orange County.

For more information, please visit https://www.banksocal.com/ or call (858) 847-4780.

Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may contain comments or information that constitute forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) and Bank of Southern California intends for such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions of that Act.

Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. They often include the words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "estimate," or words of similar meaning, or future or conditional verbs such as "will," "would," "should," "could," or "may." Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, nor should they be relied upon as representing management's views as of any subsequent date. Future events are difficult to predict. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties and actual results may differ materially from those presented, either expressed or implied, in this news release. Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to: the ability of the Bank to successfully execute its business plan; changes in interest rates and interest rate relationships; changes in demand for products and services; the degree of competition by traditional and non-traditional competitors; changes in banking legislation or regulation; changes in tax laws; changes in prices, levies and assessments; the impact of technological advances; the outcomes of contingencies; trends in customer behavior as well as their ability to repay loans; and changes in the national and local economy.

Bank of Southern California undertakes no obligation to update or clarify forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contact: Tony DiVita
Bank of Southern California
(858) 847-4783
tdivita@banksocal.com

Bank of Southern California Quarterly Financial Highlights (Unaudited)
		Quarterly					9 Months YTD
($$ in thousands except per share data)		2018	2018	2018	2017	2017
		3rd Qtr	2nd Qtr	1st Qtr	4th Qtr	3rd Qtr	2018	2017
EARNINGS
Net interest income	$	6,736	5,282	4,851	4,711	4,802	16,869	13,041
Provision for loan losses	$	450	400	300	0	0	1,150	271
NonInterest income	$	577	602	1,098	799	380	2,277	1,410
NonInterest expense	$	5,587	3,652	4,053	3,245	3,389	13,292	9,477
Income tax expense	$	401	526	524	1,132	705	1,451	1,872
Net income	$	875	1,306	1,072	1,134	1,088	3,253	2,830

Basic earnings per share	$	0.11	0.19	0.20	0.22	0.21	0.49	0.55
Average shares outstanding		7,689,827	6,991,327	5,281,297	5,221,606	5,219,095	6,654,150	5,179,196
Ending shares outstanding		8,398,092	6,998,750	6,953,720	5,223,627	5,221,197	8,398,092	5,221,197

PERFORMANCE RATIOS
Return on average assets		0.52%	1.00%	0.90%	0.95%	0.96%	0.77%	0.87%
Return on average common equity		3.77%	6.85%	8.53%	9.08%	8.93%	5.93%	8.10%
Yield on loans		5.30%	5.38%	5.13%	4.94%	5.39%	5.26%	5.08%
Yield on earning assets		4.87%	4.78%	4.78%	4.62%	4.85%	4.78%	4.58%
Cost of deposits		0.72%	0.62%	0.53%	0.47%	0.41%	0.63%	0.36%
Net interest margin		4.23%	4.22%	4.27%	4.17%	4.46%	4.21%	4.24%
Efficiency ratio		76.40%	62.06%	68.13%	58.87%	65.40%	69.42%	65.58%

CAPITAL
Tangible equity to tangible assets		11.14%	14.54%	14.14%	10.10%	10.12%	11.14%	10.12%
Book value (BV) per common share	$	11.77	11.00	10.79	9.51	9.31	11.77	9.31
Tangible BV per common share	$	9.49	10.81	10.59	9.25	9.04	9.49	9.04

ASSET QUALITY
Net loan charge-offs (recoveries)	$	(29)	341	(9)	210	(106)	304	(95)
Allowance for loan losses (ALLL)	$	3,922	3,443	3,385	3,076	3,286	3,922	3,286
ALLL to total loans		0.65%	0.83%	0.83%	0.77%	0.85%	0.65%	0.85%
Loan fair value credit marks (LFVCM)	$	2,834	681	759	779	847	2,834	847
ALLL and LFVCM to total loans		1.11%	0.99%	1.01%	0.97%	1.07%	1.11%	1.07%
Nonperforming loans	$	3,733	2,747	1,272	1,362	1,086	3,733	1,086
Other real estate owned	$	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Nonperforming assets to total assets		0.51%	0.53%	0.24%	0.28%	0.23%	0.51%	0.23%

END OF PERIOD BALANCES
Total loans	$	606,753	414,925	409,196	399,402	387,790	606,753	387,790
Total assets	$	734,923	521,437	522,118	479,512	467,976	734,923	467,976
Deposits	$	632,803	442,046	444,300	407,485	417,519	632,803	417,519
Loans to deposits		95.88%	93.86%	92.10%	98.02%	92.88%	95.88%	92.88%
Shareholders' equity	$	98,865	77,006	75,016	49,698	48,619	98,865	48,619
Full-time equivalent employees		94	65	73	76	63	94	63

AVERAGE BALANCES (QTRLY) \| \| (YTD)
Total loans	$	540,165	407,779	403,693	394,864	359,961	452,590	349,090
Earning assets	$	632,508	501,776	460,636	447,834	426,992	535,650	411,325
Total assets (net of AFS valuation)	$	670,942	525,934	484,628	471,271	450,737	565,060	435,160
Deposits	$	569,424	446,815	425,641	419,101	401,147	482,113	386,972
Shareholders' equity	$	92,091	76,440	50,983	49,548	48,325	73,322	46,704

Tickers: OTC Pink:BCAL / OTC:BCAL / OTCMKTS: BCAL / OP: BCAL / OTCMKTS:AUNB / OTC:AUNB

Bank of Southern California, N.A. (OTC Pink: BCAL) announced quarterly net income of $874,988 for the third quarter of 2018, compared to $1,088,043 for the third quarter of 2017. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, net income was $3,253,441, compared to $2,830,295 for the nine months ended September 30, 2017. Results for the quarter and nine months ended Sept. 30, 2018, include approximately $1.2 million and $1.6 million, respectively, in expenses related to the acquisition of Americas United Bank (OTC Pink: AUNB), which was completed on July 31, 2018.

Related link: https://www.banksocal.com/

Digital insurance agency Matic named a Central Ohio ‘Best Place to Work’ by Columbus Business First

COLUMBUS, Ohio /ScoopCloud/ -- Matic, a digital insurance agency whose technology enables borrowers to purchase homeowner's insurance during the mortgage transaction, has been named one of Central Ohio's top employers by Columbus Business First.

Columbus Business First's 'Best Places to Work' program has highlighted top workplaces in Central Ohio since 2005. Of the more than 200 nominations received this year, 50 honorees were selected through workplace satisfaction surveys administered independently by Omaha, Nebraska-based Quantum Workplace.

2018 has been a year of aggressive growth for Matic, which expanded its Columbus operations center with an April move to the Miranova Place office complex and has added more than a dozen new team members since the beginning of the year.

Matic's achievement was honored at an awards luncheon on Tuesday at the downtown Columbus Hyatt Regency hotel. A full list of 2018 honorees and their rankings was published in Columbus Business First.

"It's an incredible honor to be recognized by our team members as a great employer," said Jeffrey Snyder, vice president, Matic. "Our business mission is to simplify the homeowners insurance process, but we're just as devoted to building a thriving culture where people feel valued and are excited to come to work each day."

About Matic:

Matic is a technology-driven insurance agency focused on helping lenders and loan officers better integrate homeowner's insurance into the lending process. By using loan application information and first-of-its-kind technology, Matic provides homebuyers multiple policy options within seconds, helping loan officers close their loans faster. Matic delivers the most trusted, affordable insurance policies available thanks to its partnerships with a diverse network of insurance carriers. Today's borrowers expect a digital home-buying experience, and Matic gives them the digital insurance experience to match.

For more information, visit https://matic.com/ or follow Matic on LinkedIn.

Matic, a digital insurance agency whose technology enables borrowers to purchase homeowner's insurance during the mortgage transaction, has been named one of Central Ohio's top employers by Columbus Business First.

Related link: https://maticinsurance.com/

NotaryCam’s to Offer Complimentary Notarizations for Active Duty, Retired U.S. Military Members in Honor of Veterans Day

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- NotaryCam(R) today announced it would offer free remote online notarization (RON) sessions to United States veterans and current service members in honor of Veterans Day as part of its semi-annual "Help a Hero" initiative. From Friday, November 9 through Monday, November 12, active duty and retired service members can connect to a live notary public via NotaryCam's secure virtual signing room to legally notarize, sign and execute documents and agreements online from anywhere in the world.

"The brave men and women of our armed forces deserve our respect, and Veterans Day provides the perfect opportunity for us to demonstrate our appreciation for the sacrifices these individuals make in the name of our freedom," said NotaryCam founder Rick Triola. "NotaryCam is honored to provide our remote online notarization services to our veterans and active duty military members at no charge this Veterans Day."

NotaryCam has held its Help a Hero promotion for Memorial Day and Veterans Day since 2013. Current U.S. military service members and veterans who wish to take advantage of this offer need only notify their notary and present a valid military or Veterans ID card during the promotion. USAA, Navy Federal Credit Union and Pentagon Federal Credit Union members are also eligible for the promotion. For more information, please visit https://www.notarycam.com/.

About NotaryCam:

After pioneering the world's first remote online notarization (RON), career real estate executive Rick Triola founded NotaryCam in 2012, and shortly thereafter, the company completed the first remote online closing (ROC) in 2014. Today, NotaryCam is the leader in online notarization and mortgage eClosing solutions, having notarized documents worldwide for hundreds of thousands of customers in all 50 states. The company's patented eClose360(R) platform delivers the "perfect" online mortgage closing in every jurisdiction with a flexible workflow for document recording and unparalleled identity verification, security and customer convenience. NotaryCam also proudly maintains an industry-leading 99.8 percent customer satisfaction rating.

Visit https://www.notarycam.com for additional information or to get a document notarized today.

Twitter: @NotaryCam #VeteransDay #notarization

NotaryCam(R) today announced it would offer free remote online notarization (RON) sessions to United States veterans and current service members in honor of Veterans Day as part of its semi-annual "Help a Hero" initiative. From Friday, November 9 through Monday, November 12, active duty and retired service members can connect to a live notary public via NotaryCam's secure virtual signing room to legally notarize, sign and execute documents and agreements online from anywhere in the world.

Related link: https://www.notarycam.com/

IDS Promotes Clint Salisbury to Sales and Marketing Team, Travis Carroll to Head of Implementation

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah /ScoopCloud/ -- Mortgage document preparation vendor International Document Services, Inc. (IDS), announced it has promoted two employees to provide additional support in mission-critical areas of the organization. Former Manager of Implementation Clint Salisbury has moved to the Sales and Marketing team, and Travis Carroll, who previously worked on IDS's Integrations team, has moved into Salisbury's role as head of the Implementation department.

"Clint and Travis are two of the finest that IDS has to offer," said IDS Vice President and General Manager Mark Mackey. "As IDS begins to set the stage for the exciting changes to come in 2019, shifting these two valuable assets makes use of their unique talents to better meet prospect and client needs in the year to come while continuing to maintain the stellar level of customer service that has been our organization's trademark from day one."

"I look forward to working with all of the great people on our sales and marketing team and I am grateful for the opportunity to inform players in the mortgage industry about all of the great things the idsDoc system can do for them," said Salisbury.

Salisbury originally joined IDS in 2008 as in-house counsel on the Compliance team. In October 2015, Salisbury assumed responsibilities for the Implementation team, which he had helped establish. Carroll started at IDS in October 2014 as a business analyst on the Integrations team, having previously worked in product and implementation management at Docutech.

"I'm excited for the opportunity to lead our client on-boarding efforts," said Carroll. "With our knowledgeable team of specialists, and the robust features that are built into the idsDoc platform, the implementation cycle is very fluid. As more mortgage lenders join the IDS family, it will be my pleasure to share in their success."

About IDS, Inc.:

IDS, a Reynolds and Reynolds company, was founded in 1986 in Salt Lake City, Utah, and is a nationwide provider of mortgage documents and compliance. IDS services include electronic signatures, closing documents, initial disclosures, document fulfillment and integration with leading loan origination systems and eClosing platforms. The IDS flagship doc prep solution, idsDoc, is recognized in the industry for its ability to be customized to meet specific lender needs, particularly in regards to major industry compliance changes.

Learn more at: https://info.idsdoc.com/.

Mortgage document preparation vendor International Document Services, Inc. (IDS), announced it has promoted two employees to provide additional support in mission-critical areas of the organization. Former Manager of Implementation Clint Salisbury has moved to the Sales and Marketing team, and Travis Carroll, who previously worked on IDS's Integrations team, has moved into Salisbury's role as head of the Implementation department.

Related link: https://info.idsdoc.com/

Simplifile Adds 30 Northeastern, Mid-Atlantic Jurisdictions To E-recording Network

PROVO, Utah /ScoopCloud/ -- Simplifile, a leading provider of real estate document collaboration and recording technologies for lenders, settlement agents, and counties, today announced that 30 additional recording jurisdictions located in nine states throughout the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic U.S. have joined Simplifile's e-recording network.

"With the addition of these new jurisdictions, Simplifile continues to expand its e-recording footprint throughout the U.S., enabling mortgage lenders, title and settlement professionals, and county recorders to electronically record and exchange documents with ease," said Simplifile President Paul Clifford.

"Our enthusiasm for onboarding new counties to Simplifile's e-recording platform only continues to grow as recording districts report back the multitude of ways in which Simplifile's platform has improved their record-keeping process."

The newest additions to Simplifile's e-recording network are:

* Town of Bolton, Conn.
* Town of Brookfield, Conn.
* Town of Enfield, Conn.
* Town of Lebanon, Conn.
* Town of Oxford, Conn.
* Town of North Canaan, Conn.
* Town of Simsbury, Conn.
* Washington County, Maine
* Allegany County, Md.
* Charles County, Md.
* Dorchester County, Md.
* Frederick County, Md.
* Garrett County, Md.
* Kent County, Md.
* Worcester County, Md.
* Barnstable Land Court, MA
* Plymouth County Land Court, Mass.
* Worcester North Land Court, Mass.
* Rockingham County, N.H.
* Union County, N.J.
* Hamilton County, N.Y.
* Delaware County, N.Y.
* Erie County, Pa.
* Butler County, Pa.
* North Cumberland County, Pa.
* Bath County, Va.
* Charles City, Va.
* Goochland County, Va.
* Henrico County, Va.
* Portsmouth City, Va.

More than 80 percent of the U.S. population lives in a recording district that uses Simplifile's e-recording platform. Simplifile gives counties the ability to securely review, stamp, record and return documents electronically, thereby reducing the amount of time it takes to process documents and saving office resources. To date, 1,862 jurisdictions participate in Simplifile's e-recording network.

To view a current list of all jurisdictions within the Simplifile e-recording network, visit https://simplifile.com/services/e-recording/e-recording-counties/.

About Simplifile:

Simplifile, the nation's largest e-recording network, was founded in 2000 to connect settlement agents and county recorders via its e-recording service. Today Simplifile has broadened its services to include collaboration tools and post-closing visibility for mortgage lenders and settlement agents working together on real estate documents. Through Simplifile, users can securely record, share, and track documents, data, and fees with ease.

To learn more, visit https://simplifile.com/ or call 800.460.5657.

Simplifile, a leading provider of real estate document collaboration and recording technologies for lenders, settlement agents, and counties, today announced that 30 additional recording jurisdictions located in nine states throughout the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic U.S. have joined Simplifile's e-recording network.

Related link: https://simplifile.com/