Cornerstone Capital Bank Forms Joint Ventures with Texas, North Carolina Homebuilders

Launch of Twin Tree Mortgage, Liberty Ridge Lending delivers faster, more certain closings for builders and streamlined financing for buyers

DALLAS, Texas — March 25, 2025 — Cornerstone Capital Bank, a preeminent national provider of residential mortgage finance and loan servicing solutions and consumer, commercial, and institutional banking services, has launched two joint venture companies with homebuilders in Texas and North Carolina.

With the addition of Twin Tree Mortgage (Texas) and Liberty Ridge Lending (North Carolina), Cornerstone has now formed and managed joint venture mortgage companies for 15 homebuilders nationwide. These new companies deliver faster loan approvals and a seamless mortgage experience for homebuyers while giving homebuilders greater certainty in closing homes on time, better control of their backlog, and a dedicated home financing and bank partner in Cornerstone. By integrating into the home purchase process, Cornerstone serves as a high-quality extension of the homebuilder’s brand.

“Cornerstone is known as the nation’s best partner for homebuilders,” said Mike Iorio, senior vice president of strategic partnerships at Cornerstone. “Through our suite of builder solutions—encompassing preferred lending relationships, bona fide independent joint venture mortgage companies, and advisory services for mortgage, loan servicing, and insurance, Cornerstone leverages intimate community knowledge and local relationships. We provide tailored solutions to help builders navigate successfully through market-specific challenges. Additionally, our experts have access to unique bank portfolio and affordable lending programs that help more deserving homebuyers qualify for mortgages, which ultimately assists our builder partners in selling more homes.”

Twin Tree Mortgage, based in Waxahachie, Texas, is a joint venture with Elmwood Homes that provides tailored mortgage solutions for homebuyers throughout the greater Dallas market. “With Twin Tree Mortgage, we now have a lending partner that fully understands how we do business and can customize the process to fit our needs,” said Elmwood Homes co-owner Ed Merkel. “This joint venture with Cornerstone has transformed home financing from a potential obstacle into a value-add for our business.”

Mike Newton, president of Cornerstone’s builder division, said, “I’m excited for this partnership and the benefits it brings to Elmwood Homes and its homebuyers. Twin Tree’s mortgage process is fully aligned with Elmwood’s homebuilding operations, eliminating delays and surprises and providing a better homebuying experience.”

Based in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Liberty Ridge Lending is a partnership with local homebuilders JSJ Builders and Ben Stout Construction. The company serves homebuyers across Fayetteville and the surrounding Raleigh suburbs, with a strong focus on assisting military families near Fort Bragg.

“Our partnership in Liberty Ridge Lending demonstrates our shared commitment to make homeownership more accessible and provide seamless financing solutions for buyers,” said Chris Blount, regional manager of the Atlantic Coast region at Cornerstone. “Facilitating this collaboration has been an exciting journey, and I look forward to the positive impact this partnership with JSJ Builders and Ben Stout Construction will have on our community.”

About Cornerstone Capital Bank
Based in Houston, Texas, Cornerstone Capital Bank is a premier national provider of residential mortgage finance, loan servicing, and consumer, commercial, and institutional banking services. The organization’s 1,500 team members across the country are guided by a core Mission, Vision, and Convictions statement. Cornerstone has served families and businesses in more than 600,000 mortgage financing, commercial financing, and deposit account relationships. Cornerstone holds certified Fortune Great Place to Work® status, is recognized as “Top Workplace” in major markets, and has earned multiple Best Workplaces™ awards. Formed through the 2022 merger of Cornerstone Home Lending and The Roscoe State Bank, Cornerstone Capital Bank has a combined operating history dating back to 1906. Upon merger closing, Cornerstone was the highest capitalized new bank in Texas history. For more information, visit www.cornerstonecapital.com.

Press Contact:
Henry Drennan
Strategic Vantage Marketing & Public Relations
(615) 497-8358
[email protected]

Cornerstone Contact:
TL Nguyen
Vice President of Marketing
(713) 353-7505
[email protected]