A Red Deer mortgage company is now part of a national network, but its founder says the most notable impact of the change will be on its name.
Regional Mortgage Corp. is now operating as Dominion Lending Centres — Regional Mortgage Group, after becoming a Dominion franchise. Dave McNabb, who started Regional in 1997, said the business remains independently owned and operated.
Dominion operates across Canada through more than 1,800 mortgage professionals. Its profile has grown in recent months, with Don Cherry of Hockey Night In Canada fame now pitching the company.
McNabb said such marketing power and name recognition should help his small company grow. He added that Dominion has other resources, such as its own mortgage brand, that Regional can now use.
“A lot of technical resources that, as a small independent, it’s very difficult to get.”
Although the deal was struck in December, its only now being publicized, he said.
“We’re just really getting rolling with it.”
Dominion has access to more than 90 lending institutions, including banks, credit unions and trust companies.
Regional, which has a satellite office in Spruce Grove, was a Red Deer Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year in 2003 and was the Central Alberta branch of the Canadian Home Builders Association’s Professional Member of the Year for 2004 and 2006. In 2009, McNabb was also named Independent Mortgage Broker of the Year at the CMP Canadian Mortgage Awards.