Safety Harbor, FL—September 7, 2010 WFG National Title Insurance Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Portland, Oregon based Williston Financial Group, has opened its Florida agency headquarters in Safety Harbor, near St. Petersburg. WFG is currently licensed and operating in 33 states nationwide. The company is a full service provider of title insurance and real estate settlement services for lender, commercial and residential transactions, and has been approved by both the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”) and Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”).
The role of the Florida office will be to recruit and support title agencies in the issuance of WFG title insurance throughout the state. Michael Sexton, a mortgage and title insurance industry veteran of almost 25 years, will be the state manager. “WFG is entering the Florida market at the right time,” said Sexton. “Although the economy has been volatile for a few years now, this is an excellent time to establish operations and provide a new approach to the traditional agent-underwriter relationship.”
Sexton believes the role of the title underwriter is to support its independent title agencies. “Our job is to help our agents in every way possible, providing information, counsel and technology.”
Williston Financial Group President & CEO Patrick Stone states that the company plans aggressive growth nationally, which will benefit the St. Petersburg area as well. “We will be growing rapidly, as it is the most opportune time in the market’s history to make cost effective acquisitions. Moreover, the real estate settlement services industry has become internally focused, creating a disconnect with clients forced to adjust to a challenging market dynamic.” Stone points out that the WFG logo consists of three “C’s”; Communication, Collaboration and Co-existence. “We stress communication, seek opportunities for collaboration and do not exist without our clients.”
Stone is no stranger to the settlement services and mortgage lending industry. He completed a lengthy and distinguished career with underwriting giant Fidelity National Financial by serving eight years as its president, COO and director, and was also the CEO of Fidelity National Information Systems. He has also been the Vice Chairman of Metrocities Mortgage and served as a director for First American Corporation prior to founding WFG.
Stone indicates that WFG will continue its plans to grow, and that it should have offices or agents in over forty states before the end of the year. “We already retain some of the best and most experienced people in the industry, have strong financial backing and the highest Financial Stability Rating available,” he said. “We are already actively processing a significant number of real estate transactions on behalf of our clients.”
About WFG National Title Insurance Company
WFG National Title Insurance Company, a Williston Financial Group Company, is a national provider of premium title insurance and settlement services to the real estate and mortgage industry. The company also delivers a wide variety of residential and commercial mortgage lender services, including default and real estate owned transactions. The company enjoys a Financial Stability Rating of A’ (A prime) as assigned by Demotech, Inc. Built around the directive to “communicate, collaborate, coexist,” WFG National Title Insurance Company is committed to applying a new philosophy to the traditional mortgage and real estate industry, taking the time and cost out of real estate transactions in order to best meet the changing needs of its clients, agents and associates. For more information, please go to www.WillistonFinancial.com.