After more than 20 years, Tiffany Leigh Raynes of Patchogue, New York, has emerged as a prominent figure in the mortgage industry. Since 2023, she has been the senior vice president of credit and underwriting at Nations Direct Mortgage. In this capacity, she oversees underwriting managers, quality control, and non-care departments while handling day-to-day escalations related to loan files and credit guidelines. She is also responsible for developing credit policies and procedures, introducing new loan products to enhance the company’s offerings, and ensuring the underwriting team operates efficiently.
Reporting directly to the chief operating officer, Ms. Raynes collaborates on projects that redefine underwriting technology and its financial aspects, testing these systems for accuracy and ensuring loans comply with agency guidelines. Additionally, she plays a key role in training underwriters, facilitating team meetings on customer service and communication, and maintaining the company’s high service standards.
Before her current role, Ms. Raynes served as vice president of credit risk at Champions Funding LLC from 2022 to 2023. Her tenure at loanDepot.com LLC saw her rapidly progress from underwriting supervisor in 2020 to regional underwriting manager by 2021. Prior to that, she garnered experience as director of support services at Nationwide Equities Corporation from 2019 to 2020. One of her most significant career milestones was during her time at The Money Source Inc., where she held various roles between 2011 and 2019. As vice president of credit risk originations, Ms. Raynes played an instrumental role in transforming the company from a small mortgage banker into a major correspondent lender.
Ms. Raynes’ early career includes serving as a reverse mortgage underwriter at the First National Bank of Layton, now First Community Bank Utah, from 2010 to 2011. Before that, she was a reverse mortgage manager at East Coast Capital from 2009 to 2010, lead reverse mortgage underwriter and manager at Lend America in 2009, and mortgage underwriter at Somerset Mortgage Bankers from 2005 to 2009.
Ms. Raynes laid a strong educational foundation with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education and teaching from St. Joseph’s University in New York, completed in 2003. Reflecting on her path, although she initially pursued a career in education, the limited teaching opportunities at the time led her to finance, where her brother helped her secure an entry-level position in the mortgage industry. Her natural aptitude for management and ability to quickly absorb complex information allowed her to advance rapidly within the field.
Ms. Raynes attributes her success to her strong work ethic and commitment to excellence, which she considers essential qualities for effective leadership. She embraces challenges with resilience and believes that successful management is a collaborative effort. She holds a deep respect for her staff, recognizing that teamwork is crucial for both individual and organizational success. Committed to fostering an inclusive work environment, Ms. Raynes always values her team’s input and empowers them in decision-making processes.
In advising aspiring professionals, Ms. Raynes emphasizes the importance of hard work and perseverance. She believes that success requires dedication, stating, “You have to put in the work to be able to grow. If you have goals, just work toward them. Things don’t just appear; you have to work hard in order to be successful. Nothing changes if nothing changes. If you’re not making changes in your life, you can’t expect things to change.”
Outside of her professional life, Ms. Raynes enjoys spending time with her family and is actively involved in her local church. She participates in family activities such as traveling for soccer and skiing. In the coming years, she is eager to continue her professional growth with Nations Direct Mortgage, with the goal of contributing to the company’s expansion from a mid-sized firm to a larger entity while advancing into a leadership role. Ms. Raynes aspires to become a chief credit officer or chief risk officer, or hold a similar executive role, as she remains committed to making a significant impact in the industry.