TULSA, OK, August 23, 2013 – Gateway Mortgage Group, a privately held mortgage company offering originations, servicing and correspondent lending, announced that the company has partnered with National Homebuyers Fund, Inc. (NHF) to offer the NHF Sapphire grant and down payment assistance program. Gateway is one of only five lenders to offer the unparalleled nationwide program.

The down payment assistance program provides a non-repayable grant and was created to help homeowners offset the highest one-time costs associated with buying a new home – down payment and closing costs. The grant can total up to 5% of the new home’s total value, with no limit on the sales price of the home. “NHF Sapphire is a perfect match for our mission of strengthening communities through homeownership,” said Scott Henley, chief production officer. “This program will help make the road to homeownership more accessible for our customers across the nation.”

“NHF Sapphire is a perfect match for Gateway’s national footprint, which now covers more than 35 states,” said Elizabeth Robertson, director of bond programs at Gateway. “We are excited to add this program to our product offerings. NHF Sapphire is another way Gateway can stand apart from other mortgage lenders with both our customers and referral partners.”

Additionally, the NHF Sapphire program does not come with first-time homebuyer requirements and it’s available to qualified buyers with a FICO score over 620. National Homebuyers Fund, Inc. (NHF) is a non-profit public benefit corporation and Instrumentality of Government under Internal Revenue Service code section 115. Gateway now offers the program in all of its Mortgage Centers other than Oklahoma and Texas.

About Gateway First Bank 

Gateway First Bank is a leading financial institution that provides banking and mortgage services for consumers and commercial customers. Headquartered in Jenks, Oklahoma, Gateway is a $1.9 billion asset sized bank with a strong mortgage operation.  Gateway is one of the largest banking and mortgage operations in the United States with six bank branches in Oklahoma, over 160 mortgage centers in 42 states, and almost 1,600 employees.  Learn more at www.GatewayFirst.com. Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender (NMLS 7233)

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