WHAT'S
WHAT? L O A N O F F I C E R S V S . M O R T G A G E B R O K E R S
If you've started researching the home-buying process, you've probably heard the terms
"loan officer" and "mortgage broker." These professionals play similar roles, but are
fundamentally different:
• A LOAN OFFICER is an individual who works directly for a bank or credit union and offers
loans from the financial institution that employs them.
• A MORTGAGE BROKER is not associated with a particular bank or credit union. Instead, they
research loans from a number of different sources and enter into mortgage contracts with
various lenders.