Our Mortgage Lenders

We’re a different kind of bank

We’re Paragon Bank. When you bank with us, it’s like banking with a neighbor. You know us, and we know your business. You can trust us to make decisions quickly. Plus, your money stays in your community. And there’s no downside because you have access to the technologies and solutions you might only expect from big banks.

Our banking model is rare. We focus on friendliness, relationships, helping you grow your business, and making life better in the communities we serve. The seeds that would become Paragon Bank were planted in the early 2000s. After a flurry of bank acquisitions and mergers, home-grown, independent banks nearly vanished from the Memphis landscape. This concerned veteran banker Robert Shaw who believed that small and mid-size businesses in Memphis deserved a local financial partner who really cared about their success.

Shaw hand-picked respected bankers, men and women who shared his vision, and together they founded Paragon National Bank in 2004. Their mission was to always deliver friendly, personalized service and state-of-the-art solutions to help businesses grow. They clearly succeeded because the bank’s neighborly, civic-minded style has attracted legions of loyal customers, resulting in four banking center locations and numerous awards for being the area’s best community bank and a best place to work.

Today, we’re still rooted in — and rooting for — Memphis. Our success with small and mid-size business customers has enabled our Small Business Capital Group to grow and serve businesses around the country.

Crews Wellford is a Mortgage Consultant at Paragon Bank. Crews joined the bank in 2017. He is a graduate of the University of Alabama with a B.S. Degree in Financial Planning from the college of Human Environmental Sciences. Since joining Paragon Crews completed the Mortgage University course and Compliance with Federal Lending Regulations offered by the Tennessee Bankers Association. Crews is an active member with USA Swimming and The JCC of Memphis Basketball

Stephen Rodda has been in the mortgage banking and finance industry for over 15 years. He began his mortgage lending career at BB&T Bank (now Truist) in 2007. In 2010, Mr. Rodda joined Vining Sparks as Vice President on the mortgage trading desk. In 2020, Stephen returned to his mortgage lending roots and currently serves as Vice President, Mortgage Loan Officer at Paragon Bank. In this role, Stephen is dedicated to providing outstanding mortgage solutions and best in class service to homebuyers, real estate agents, builders, attorneys, and more.

Andrea has more than 18 years of experience in mortgage and banking. She began her mortgage and banking career in Memphis and, for the last 17 years, has been a staple in the Oxford, MS and North MS market. Her greatest strength as a mortgage loan officer is communication, and she enjoys talking with customers and helping to determine the best product for them. She continues actively communicating with her customers throughout the process of getting the loan and keeps them informed on its progress, helping customers with questions that arise during the loan process and after the loan has closed. She is meticulous about gathering the documents needed and making sure the information is as accurate as possible to be sure that the flow of the loan is smooth.

Originally from Bartlett, TN, Andrea now lives in Water Valley, MS with her husband, Tim. Together they have five children and two granddaughters, Chandler and Haven. Andrea is a member of the Oxford – Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce and serves as an ambassador for the Chamber of Commerce. She is also an active member of Anchor Baptist Church in Oxford.

Whether it is conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, jumbo or portfolio, Paragon has a solution for you.

It’s our privilege to help you achieve your dreams.

We’re a different kind of bank

Meet Our Mortgage Lending Professionals

Michael Brennan

Crews Welford

Stephen Rodda

Chris Waggoner

Gina DiCicco

Andrea Rutherford