PRIMIS MORTGAGE CEO JOHN OWENS NAMED A 2026 HOUSINGWIRE VANGUARD
Recognition honors Owens’ leadership, vision and impact on the mortgage industry
WILMINGTON, N.C. – Primis Mortgage President and CEO John Owens has been named a 2026 HousingWire Vanguard, recognizing his leadership, vision and impact on the mortgage industry.
The HousingWire Vanguards award honors C-suite executives and senior leaders whose vision and business impact are helping move the mortgage, real estate and homebuilding industries forward.
For more than three decades, Owens has built and led successful mortgage organizations by combining entrepreneurial vision with a people-first leadership philosophy. He founded Ameritrust Companies in 1995 and led the organization through its successful sale in 2015. He later founded SeaTrust Mortgage in 2020 and guided it through its acquisition by Primis Bank in 2022. Owens is also the author of The Corporate Cure, a business leadership book focused on building healthier, higher-performing organizations.
Under Owens’ leadership, Primis Mortgage has expanded its national reach, strengthened its operational infrastructure and invested in technology and artificial intelligence to create a more efficient, scalable mortgage platform. Since the 2022 acquisition, the company has achieved approximately 236% workforce growth and 254% growth in its loan officer team while expanding its lending footprint to 45 states and the District of Columbia.
“This recognition reflects the effort, trust and passion of the entire Primis Mortgage team,” said Owens. “Our growth has never been about becoming bigger for the sake of being bigger. It is about building a company where talented people can thrive, customers truly come first, and creative leadership and innovative thinking lead to new and better solutions. I am proud of what we have accomplished together and even more excited about what we are building next.”
Owens has placed culture at the center of Primis Mortgage’s growth strategy, emphasizing customer obsession, high trust, integrity, passion and personal and professional growth.
“John has a rare ability to connect a bold, long-term vision with the people and practical decisions needed to bring it to life,” said Pam Jenkins, Chief Operating Officer of Primis Mortgage. “He challenges us to think differently, operate with discipline and never lose sight of the culture behind our results. This recognition is incredibly well deserved.”
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About Primis
Primis Bank (Member FDIC) is a high-growth, forward-thinking bank committed to building a better banking experience for consumers, businesses, and communities. With industry-leading digital tools, a relentless focus on customer care, and a culture built around doing things the right way—not the easy way—Primis continues to invest in growth, innovation, and people.
About Primis Mortgage
Primis Mortgage was born out of the belief that the mortgage industry as a whole can do better but saw an opportunity to be the best. Primis Mortgage acts like an independent mortgage company, but leverages the stability and resources of a bank. Our network of mortgage experts lends in 45 states (and Washington D.C.) with more on the way; bringing faster processes, better products, and ultimate transparency to its customers.