$22.4B+
Total Funded
BUILDING STRONG COMMUNITIES ONE HOME LOAN AT A TIME
Nearly 30 years. Thousands of families. One unwavering commitment.
GEM Mortgage, a division of Golden Empire Mortgage, has been a trusted name in home lending since the beginning — and our foundation has never changed. We bring together decades of experience, cutting-edge lending tools, and a people-first philosophy that puts your homeownership goals at the center of every decision we make.
Integrity is not a talking point here. It is the standard we hold ourselves to every single day.
OUR MISSION
BE YOUR
BE YOUR
TRUSTED GUIDE
Our mission is simple: empower people on their journey to homeownership. We provide trusted guidance, personalized mortgage solutions, and tools to make smart financial choices, all with a focus on creating a smooth, transparent, and supportive experience.
- Trusted Guidance
- Smart Financial Choices
- Personalized Solutions
- Homeownership Focus
OUR VISION
TRANSFORMING
TRANSFORMING
LENDING THROUGH
TRUST AND CARE.
At GEM Mortgage, we envision a future where every individual and family has the opportunity to achieve the dream of homeownership with confidence and peace of mind. We strive to be the most trusted name in home lending, recognized not only for integrity and innovation, but for building relationships that last a lifetime. By combining personalized solutions, cutting-edge technology, and unwavering care, we aim to redefine the mortgage experience and create a legacy of stronger communities and brighter futures for generations to come.
OUR IMPACT
HELPING FAMILIES
HELPING FAMILIES
THRIVE WITH
INTEGRITY AND
expertise.
For nearly 30 years, GEM Mortgage has been more than a lender—we’ve been a trusted partner in helping people achieve homeownership by putting people firstprovidingaccessible credit,and deliveringexceptional service with integrity and expertise,we’ve built lasting relationships and empowered thousands of families to make smart financial choices and create a foundation for their future.
OUR CULTURE
DRIVEN BY PEOPLE,
DRIVEN BY PEOPLE,
GUIDED BY
INTEGRITY.
Our culture is built on people, integrity, and excellence. We believe in fostering lasting relationships and supporting one another with knowledge and collaboration, and cutting-edge tools. Every team member is empowered to deliver exceptional service, making the lending process clear, confident, and centered on the people we serve.
OUR VALUES
DRIVEN BY VALUES.
DRIVEN BY VALUES.
FOCUSED ON YOU.
Our values guide everything we do: from how we serve clients to how we collaborate as a team They reflect our commitment to people, integrity, innovation, and excellence, ensuring that every interaction builds trust, empowers smart decisions, and supports lasting relationships.
- People First: Our clients and team members are at the heart of every decision.
- Integrity: We act with honesty, transparency, and fairness in all we do.
- Excellence: We strive for the highest standards in service, knowledge, and results.
- Trusted Guidance: We provide the expertise and support clients need to make smart financial choices.
- Innovation: We embrace technology and creative solutions to make the lending process seamless.
- Relationship Focus: We build lasting connections that go beyond transactions.
- Empowerment: We give clients and employees the tools and confidence to succeed.
LEADERSHIP TEAM
Howard Kootstra
CEO
Joe Ewens
President
Rebecca Wegman
EVP/Operations
David Chesney
EVP/CFO
Robert Satnick
EVP Secondary Marketing
Madison M. Christian
General Counsel/ EVP – Legal and Compliance
WHY OUR CLIENTS
LOVE US
M
Great place to find your new home
Mr. Angel Santiago was the best. 10/10 recommend.
J
Robert was truly a blessing to us. He was on it! Every single question and concern that we had he addressed it and he really took the stress out of our 1st time buyer... Read more
Y
Ismail, Michael and their team provided Excellent customer service and made our experience of getting a loan stress free. They did all the footwork and made su... Read more
T
I will not do a loan without calling Melissa! Very professional and takes time to make sure everything is understood.
Clear communication through the beginning of the loan process to the very end at closing!
R
I had a great experience with Dan and Courtney, who walked me through the process from start to end. Both were very friendly, caring and professional. I would... Read more
Hank and his team were excellent to work with. They were on top of everything and got us what we needed.
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Golden Empire Mortgage, Inc.
NMLS# 2427
1200 Discovery Drive, Ste. 300
Bakersfield, California 93309
Golden Empire Mortgage, Inc.
NMLS# 2427
1200 Discovery Drive, Ste. 300
Bakersfield, California 93309
Golden Empire Mortgage, Inc. ("GEM") [NMLS ID No. 2427] is a California corporation whose principal business office is located at 1200 Discovery Drive, Ste. 300, Bakersfield, California 93309. GEM is a residential mortgage lender and servicer licensed by the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation pursuant to the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act under license no. 413-0360. GEM conducts residential mortgage lending activities in California and throughout the United States in the additional states by clicking here.
© Copyright GEM Mortgage 2026
*All Rights Reserved
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Contact Us Today
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