Marcus Bontrager is executive vice president at Freedom Mortgage, overseeing operations across four key channels and managing a team of nearly 850 employees. Since joining the company in 2017, Bontrager has played a critical role in scaling operations and implementing efficiencies across the Direct-to-Consumer, Wholesale, Loss Mitigation and Default servicing channels.
Over the past year, Bontrager led the overhaul of Freedom Mortgage’s loan assumptions process — a complex task that became urgent as assumable loans gained popularity in a high-rate environment. Previously handling around 50 assumption loans annually, Bontrager restructured the entire workflow, introduced automation, trained staff and shifted the team to a more efficient platform. As a result, the company has now processed over 4,000 assumable loans in just 18 months, achieving a 40x increase in volume.
In 2024, his team helped the company fund over $13 billion in loans through the Direct-to-Consumer channel, supporting borrowers even amid elevated interest rates. His operational strategies have not only cut processing times by nearly a week but also positioned the company to handle future demand with fewer resources by leveraging automation and strategic staffing.
Bontrager is also active in mentorship and industry engagement, serving on a vendor advisory board and supporting multiple charitable causes. Internally, he is known for guiding his teams through major transitions while ensuring efficiency and accuracy across thousands of loan files. His behind-the-scenes leadership continues to impact both the company’s performance and its borrowers’ outcomes in meaningful ways.
Name:
Marcus Bontrager
Title:
Executive Vice President
Company Name:
Freedom Mortgage
