LAS VEGAS — Executives with two credit unions that are veryexperienced mortgage lenders urged credit unions to appoint“housing czars” in their CUs to help build their mortgagebusiness.

Chief lending officer for 66 FCU, Mark Wilburn, acknowledgedbefore a breakout session at ACUMA's 15th annual conference this week that they chose theterm housing czar because it was catchy.

However he also emphasized the importance of having a businessdevelopment officer who knew and believed in the CU and its missionas a mortgage lender in the community.

Wilburn, who's with a $600 million credit union is inBartlesville, Okla., described a position that was partcheerleader, part visionary and part manager, which requiressomeone who almost takes on the position as avocation and not justa job.

Kathie Spurling, real estate manager at the $3.2 billion Ent FCUin Colorado Springs, Colo., agreed and discussed how importanttheir business development staff has been keeping the CU in themiddle of the community where it makes most of its mortgageloans.

Her CU has more than 40% of its purchase money loans insuredfrom government programs from the Federal Housing Administration orVeterans Administration.

“But that's not surprising for us as we have four military basesin our field of membership,” Wilburn said.