Anabel Lino, 39, Lending Manager, Apex Bank
When Anabel Lino says she is passionate about helping members of East Tennessee’s Latino community achieve their homeownership dreams, she isn’t messing around. The Mexico native has spent 15 years at Apex Bank and has been instrumental in growing Apex Casa, a targeted division within the bank focused on Latino mortgage lending to assist a population that has traditionally and systematically been underserved.
The changes for Latino borrowers have been life changing.
When you reflect on your career so far, which achievement stands out most?
What stands out most is my rapid success growing Apex Casa, a Latino mortgage lending division at Apex Bank. Within a couple years, the team grew to become a Top 250 NAHREP Loan originator in the country. It is incredibly rewarding making homeownership accessible to individuals who once thought it was beyond their reach.
What is the greatest professional obstacle you’ve had to overcome and how did you overcome it?
Building trust has been my greatest professional challenge, especially in my role as an advocate for clients navigating the financial system. Many individuals in the Latino community have historically been underserved and skeptical of financial institutions. Building trust involves not only demonstrating expertise and reliability but also fostering genuine relationships. This commitment to building trust has not only strengthened my relationships with clients but has also contributed significantly to the growth of my division.
What will you focus on in 2025?
In 2025, my primary focus will be on breaking our records from 2023 and 2024 to ensure that we continue to be among the best in the country.
What is your biggest professional dream?
My dream is to lead the top lending team in the country to make homeownership possible for everyone. This means providing personalized support, assisting underserved communities and developing programs that address their unique challenges.
What mistake did you learn the most from?
The biggest lesson I learned is that while I can offer support and resources, individuals must be willing to seek and accept help for real change to happen. This taught me the importance of fostering a sense of ownership on the people I work with. When people are invested in their own progress, they are more likely to succeed.
What motivates you?
My family inspires me every day to strive for excellence and lead by example. I want to create a brighter future for them and the communities we serve. Professionally, there’s nothing that compares to the joy I feel when I help families achieve their dream of homeownership. Each time a client thanks me after purchasing a home, I am profoundly reminded of the impact my work has on their lives. Those moments reaffirm my belief in the importance of what I do: transforming dreams into reality and making a lasting difference.