Mortgage firm targets Florida for expansion

Virginia Beach-based Atlantic Bay Mortgage Group, with Florida offices in Tampa, Lakeland and Orlando, has expanded to the Sarasota-Manatee market.

Longtime mortgage lender and area financial services executive Stephen Ackoury will oversee the operation, according to a release. He will initially be based out of Tampa, until the firm opens an office in the area, the company adds.

“Atlantic Bay looks at mortgages differently than the rest of the industry in a way that's better, faster and smoother,” Ackoury says in the statement. “Their process is efficient and orderly and makes sense for agents and borrowers.”

Ackoury was most recently branch manager with Security National Mortgage Co. for a year in Sarasota. Ackoury has also worked for American Bank and Synovus Bank in Sarasota, according to his LinkedIn page, and was also CFO for Bradenton-based Circle L Roofing from 2002 to 2005.

Founded in 1996, Atlantic Bay Mortgage Group was founded in 1996. It has more that 50 branches across nine states and is licensed to originate loans in 31 states.