Page 97 - South Mississippi Living - September, 2015

FOR MORE REFLECTIONS OF THE GULF COAST >> www.smliving.net September 2015 • SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living 97
Valerie Galle’
FBT Mortgage LLC, President
6911 Washington Ave., Ocean Springs, MS 228.872.1020 www.FBTonline.com
IN BUSINESS
What would you like our readers
to know about your business? FBT Mortgage LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of First Bank and Trust. Currently FBT has 15 branches located in Florida, Mississippi, and Louisiana and we are busy planning to open several additional locations in the next few months. FBT Mortgage started out as Capital Trust Mortgage before I sold my company to First Bank and Trust of New Orleans.
What do you like best about what you do? I think purchasing a home
is one of the most exciting occasions in a person’s life.. I take pride in the fact that we are able to enjoy being by our client’s side for these important milestones. All home-buying
experiences are memorable and it is our goal to make sure the process is smooth, hassle free, and memorable for all of the right reasons!
What sets your business apart from others in the same field? At FBT Mortgage we make sure we have a personal connection with our clients. We don’t see them as a number or a goal to make. I am most passionate about telling the community that home ownership is attainable. It doesn’t have to be just a dream-FBT Mortgage can make it a reality. Most people are very surprised about the variety of loan options they could be approved for, like FHA or VA loans, which make purchasing a home more affordable. I make sure we help walk
them through the steps to put them in a better positon, which benefits them in many areas of their life. I want our clients to know that we’re working together, and my team of experts and I are there for them for the long haul.
As a child, what did you dream
of becoming when you grew up? Of course as a child I never saw myself as a president of a mortgage company, but I did know I wanted to be successful. I can recall going to a family reunion when I was younger and while my cousins were talking where they were going, after the event, I was busy talking with a successful family member about an idea of how to fill a business niche in the community. I wanted to be
successful and wasted no time trying to obtain my goal. I graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a degree in Advertising and Marketing in just three years. I have learned that creativity is a necessary component in all careers and I apply it daily to provide the best solutions for our customers and to motivate our team.
Tell us about one valuable lesson you learned along the way: Treat everyone the way you would want to be treated and do everything you can do to help your clients. If you go to bed at night knowing you did all you can do, then you did all you can do, there is a peace in that.