Ozark Lending Expands Under Mortgage Mania

Up-and-coming mortgage lender Ozark Lending Inc. is already expanding the Rogers loan origination office it opened in April. Michael Cupples, the Little Rock firm’s president, said the branch accounts for about 5 percent of Ozark’s revenue right now but he can see that total growing to 50 percent in the coming years.

Cupples said Jeff Clifton, a new minority owner in Ozark, will head the Northwest Arkansas office. The Rogers branch started with one loan officer and has already ramped up to four.

“Our goal is to have 15 employees in Rogers within the next six months,” Cupples said.

Ozark, a licensed mortgage lender in Arkansas, was among the state’s top tier of firms that did more than $100 million in 2003 mortgage originations. Cupples said it’s on pace to reach $130 million companywide this year.

Ozark employs 30 people at seven offices. The firm is also licensed in several surrounding states. Ozark Lending does first and second mortgages and focuses on specialty loans.