Chris Hutchens is rejoining Guaranteed Rate in a newly expanded role: producing area manager and senior vice president of mortgage lending. Based out of Wilmington, North Carolina, Hutchens will provide management and mentorship to loan officers there, as well as at a new location in Pinehurst and in surrounding areas.

Hutchens previously spent more than eight years at Guaranteed Rate, as a vice president of mortgage lending, before leaving in 2022 to become a branch leader at Movement Mortgage.

Reflecting on his return in a press release, Hutchens said, “It’s cliché, but sometimes you don’t know what you have until it’s gone … I enjoyed nearly a decade with this team before, so my trusted referral partners are thrilled to see me return.”

Jeff Nelson, Guaranteed Rate’s Southeast divisional manager, echoed the sentiment. “Chris Hutchens’ return to the Guaranteed Rate team is a significant boost, especially given his expertise in mortgage originations and strong reputation in the Carolinas,” Nelson said.

Hutchens is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Wilmington’s Cameron School of Business and, since 1997, has been one of the region’s leading loan originators with more than $2 billion in originated loan volume to his name.

“I couldn’t be more excited to be back and hope to finish my career here!” Hutchens said.