Top-Producing Chicago-Area Mortgage Leaders Leave Fairway for Rate’s Profit & Loss Platform

Vito Roppo and Nick Ferrante open new Elmhurst branch, bringing $155 million in production to Rate

CHICAGO, Sept. 02, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rate, a leading fintech company, today announced that Chicago-area mortgage leaders Vito Roppo and Nick Ferrante have joined the company from Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation to open a new branch in Elmhurst, Illinois. Roppo and Ferrante each join Rate as Producing Partnership Branch Managers of a profit-and-loss operation. Together, they bring $155 million in production.

The Elmhurst opening advances Rate’s broader expansion of its profit-and-loss platform, which gives established mortgage leaders greater responsibility for local performance while providing access to Rate’s technology, marketing, and operational resources. It also strengthens the company's presence in Chicago’s western suburbs with two producers who have deep ties to the local real estate community.

“We saw in Rate a profit and loss platform that can help us deliver an even better experience for our customers and real estate partners,” said Roppo. “The company has a historically strong presence in Chicago, along with the technology and support to help us move quickly and keep growing. It felt like the best place to satisfy more homebuyers and close the most amount of loans.”

“Our business is built from strong local relationships and a clear sense of how we want to operate,” said Ferrante. “Rate gives producers room to make decisions and move quickly, and that fits how Vito and I work. We can preserve what has made our business successful while gaining additional resources to keep growing.”

Jim Eboli, Executive Vice President and Midwest Divisional Manager at Rate, said the addition represents a significant recruiting win for the company and its Midwest division.

“Vito and Nick are accomplished producers who have built a strong business in the western suburbs,” said Eboli. “Adding leaders of their caliber is a major win for us. They know how to perform, and we’re ready to give them everything they need to grow at Rate..”

The Elmhurst branch adds to Rate’s recruiting momentum as the company continues to attract established mortgage professionals looking for the resources and support to grow their businesses.

About Rate

Rate believes true wellness is when your financial, physical and mental health are in harmony. Our mission is to inspire people to live longer, happier and more fulfilling lives. We’ve already helped more than 2 million Americans get into their homes. Now we’re helping them thrive inside their homes—and everywhere else in their lives. To further our mission, Rate is building the world’s largest wellness community to give people the tools, resources and support to build a life they truly love. Learn more at rate.com and download the Rate App today.

Recognition: Chicago Agent Magazine’s Lender of the Year (seven consecutive years); NerdWallet’s Best Mortgage Lender for First-Time Homebuyers (2025) and multiple Best Mortgage Lender recognitions; Fortune’s Best Mortgage Lenders (2025); Forbes’ Best Mortgage Lenders (2025); Motley Fool’s Best Mortgage Lenders (2025); and Motley Fool / MarketWatch’s Most Recommended Mortgage Lender in America (2024).

Disclaimer: Guaranteed Rate, Inc.; NMLS #2611; 3940 N Ravenswood, Chicago, IL 60613; 866-934-7283. For licensing information, visit nmlsconsumeraccess.org. Equal Housing Lender. Conditions may apply. Applicant subject to credit and underwriting approval. Not all applicants will be approved for financing. Receipt of application does not represent an approval for financing or interest rate guarantee. Refinancing your mortgage may increase costs over the term of your loan. Restrictions may apply.

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