At Oak Leaf Community Mortgage, we are proud to be part of something bigger. As a mortgage company powered by North Shore Trust and Savings, our work is rooted in a 105-year legacy of community commitment, financial strength, and a shared belief in putting people first.
While Oak Leaf represents a modern, forward-looking approach to home lending, the foundation behind everything we do traces back more than a century, to a simple but powerful idea: neighbors helping neighbors achieve homeownership.
A Legacy That Guides Us
In 1921, North Shore Trust and Savings was founded by a group of local residents, many of them immigrants, who recognized that traditional banks were not meeting the needs of working families.
Instead of waiting for change, they created it.
By pooling their savings, they built a community-focused financial institution grounded in trust, accessibility, and shared opportunity.
That vision quickly became reality:
More than 100 years later, that same mission continues to shape how we serve our clients at Oak Leaf Community Mortgage.
A New Chapter: Oak Leaf Community Mortgage
The integration of Oak Leaf Community Mortgage into North Shore Trust and Savings in late 2023 marked an important step forward in expanding how we serve our communities.
Today, Oak Leaf operates as the dedicated mortgage division of North Shore Trust, combining deep local roots with specialized lending expertise. This partnership allows us to offer a broader range of solutions while maintaining a highly personalized, client-first experience.
With the strength and stability of a 105-year institution behind us, we are able to deliver both traditional and innovative lending options designed to meet the unique needs of today’s homebuyers.
Expanding What’s Possible in Home Lending
At Oak Leaf Community Mortgage, we focus on creating flexible pathways to homeownership.
Our expanded portfolio includes a wide range of traditional and portfolio mortgage products, along with innovative programs such as:
These solutions are designed to remove common barriers and provide clients with more control and confidence throughout the homebuying process.
At the same time, our reach has grown. With loan production offices in Aurora, Plainfield, Waukegan, Lindenhurst, and Chicago, we are able to serve more communities across Chicagoland while maintaining a local, relationship-driven approach.
Built on Relationships, Then and Now
From front porch conversations in 1921 to today’s digital mortgage experience, one thing has remained constant: relationships come first.
At Oak Leaf Community Mortgage, we take the time to understand each client’s goals, challenges, and opportunities. Every recommendation, every loan structure, and every interaction is guided by that understanding.
Because behind every mortgage is a person, a family, and a future.
Strength You Can Rely On
Being powered by North Shore Trust and Savings means more than history, it means stability.
Through economic shifts, market changes, and evolving customer needs, North Shore has remained a steady and trusted financial partner for over a century. That same disciplined, long-term approach supports everything we do at Oak Leaf.
It allows us to think beyond transactions and focus on lasting outcomes for the people and communities we serve.
Powered by People
Our strength comes from the people behind the work.
At North Shore Trust, long-tenured team members bring decades of experience and deep community knowledge. At Oak Leaf, our mortgage professionals contribute specialized expertise and a commitment to delivering exceptional lending experiences.
Together, we offer:
Looking Ahead
As we celebrate 105 years of North Shore Trust and Savings, we also look ahead to what comes next for Oak Leaf Community Mortgage.
Our role is to carry this legacy forward by continuing to expand access to homeownership, developing innovative solutions, and strengthening the communities we serve.
At Oak Leaf Community Mortgage, we are proud to be part of that story and even more excited to help write the next chapter.
