Our Mortgage Team

Alisa has 15 years of Mortgage Banking experience, with an extensive background in Correspondent Lending and Risk Management Mortgage Underwriting.  Alisa holds numerous certifications in the Mortgage industry, as well as a Masters in Education and Doctorate of Education from Miracle University.

Ben has been in the mortgage business in one form or another since 1991. His experience ensures he understands all of the aspects of home lending. Whether you are buying a new home, refinancing or improving your current property, Ben delivers customer service centered on your needs.

Ben is married with two grown kids.  When he’s not working on a mortgage, you’ll likely find him somewhere around St. Louis swimming, biking, or running.

Damir Krajina has over 12 years of banking experience, starting as a teller, then a branch manager, and now mortgage. Damir is passionate about helping people through the home buying process, talking them through the financial aspect and the stresses that come with purchasing a home.

“With every mortgage transaction, I like to build a friendship and really get to know what their needs are and guide them as best as possible.”

Damir was born in Bosnia, lived in Germany for six years, and moved to the U.S. at age 10. He graduated from Mehlville High School and University of Missouri-St. Louis. For fun, he enjoys playing soccer and going to the gym.

There is nothing more rewarding to me than being able to help people purchase their first home. After nearly 15 years in the industry, I still beam with pride every time I go to a closing for first-time homebuyers. There’s just something special about it.

That said, all of my clients receive a kind of customer service that I’m confident a majority of the industry doesn’t provide. I walk them through every detail on the front end, and I make myself and my team readily available to answer their questions the moment they arise. I’ve had potential clients who chose to go with another lender after talking to me, but then they’ve called to say they made a mistake in doing so. I’m happy to say that I’ve never experienced the opposite.

Although many mortgage bankers will comment on their great customer service, I’m able to back that up with my experience and knowledge of the business. While every client’s situation is unique in its own way, it’s rare that I come across something I haven’t seen before and don’t know how to handle. If I see a hurdle, I address it at the start instead of waiting until it becomes an “emergency.” No one wants to find out there are possible deal killers a week from the closing date.

I was born in Nashville but moved to Collinsville, Illinois, when I was young. Since this city was close to St. Louis, Missouri, I became a huge Cardinals fan. I moved back to Nashville in 2006 and am amazed at how much this city has changed and grown. I like that you can live in a relatively rural area and still be downtown in about 20 minutes.

When I’m not busy at work, I’m busy chasing my little boy. I love playing golf, but it doesn’t love me back. My wife and I travel when we get the chance and are trying to get in as many island trips as possible now, because we can sense Disney World lurking around the corner.

Joe started his career as a loan officer in 2002.  He then made the move to selling real estate.  After nine years of helping many families realize their dream of home ownership, Joe made the decision to jump back into the financing side of the industry.  Due to his experience on both sides of the transaction, Joe is easily able to help his clients maneuver the home buying process.  Joe also has extensive experience in the investment home/vacation home market.  Whether buying a condo for a second home or a single-family residence for investment purposes, Joe will help you navigate these transactions with ease.  Joe lives in his hometown of Collinsville, Illinois, where he raises his son Alex.

John is excited to be a mortgage lender at Midwest BankCentre. He has been in the banking industry for the past several years and has gained experience in many areas of lending. John takes the time to educate his clients and counsels borrowers in selecting a loan program that serves their best interest while providing expert advice throughout the entire process.

He gains clients through financial advisors, insurance agents, real estate agents and most importantly through personal referrals from satisfied clients. John earned his bachelor’s degree in Finance and his master’s degree in Business Administration from Missouri State University.

Jorge Medina is a Senior Mortgage Lender with Midwest BankCentre.  Jorge’s focus is to develop and maintain business relations with local communities by assisting with his knowledge in the mortgage industry.  Mr. Medina loves assisting first time homebuyers, credit challenged individuals, Business Owners, and engaging with the Hispanic Community.  Working with Jorge as a first-time homebuyer makes it easier to understand the process.  Mr. Medina began homeownership at the age of 20, so it is understandable the challenges, questions, and stress this process can cause.

Jorge has been in the banking industry for seven years and of those years, five of them have been in the Mortgage Industry.  Mr. Medina’s Education came from Southwestern Illinois College, where he holds an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration.

When Mr. Medina, is free he spends most of his time with his Wife (Alyssa), and daughter (Stella).

Marc Laidley joined Midwest BankCentre as a bilingual senior mortgage loan officer. He focuses on helping local Hispanic community members achieve home ownership goals, specializing in ITIN and portfolio loans. His addition extends the bank’s progress in building shared prosperity in the region through access to affordable capital. Marc has worked in bank and mortgage lending for more than six years. He was formerly a high school Spanish teacher and residential Realtor in Missouri and Illinois.

Sam is here to make your dream of home ownership a reality. He has been in the banking industry for many years in the consumer lending and small business spaces.

Sam strives to turn every interaction into a lifelong partnership. He is dedicated to understanding your needs and finding the most optimal solution to meet your goals. He’ll walk you through every step of the process, to ensure transparency and a timely close.

Sam is a St. Louis native currently residing in the Richmond Heights neighborhood. He enjoys reading, hanging out with friends, and staying active in his spare time.

Tom has over 20 years experience in the banking and finance industry and has been with Midwest BankCentre since 2010. His experience ensures he understands all of the aspects of home lending. Whether you are buying a new home, refinancing or improving your current property, Tom delivers customer service centered on your family’s needs. Tom will help you select the type of loan that is right for you; VA, FHA, Conforming Loans, Construction Loans, Jumbo Mortgages and First Time Buyer Programs. You can be sure that Tom will guide you through all of the steps to help put yourself in a better financial situation.

Tom was born and raised in St. Louis. He attended Clayton High School in St. Louis and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Texas Christian University.