Hickory Point Bank & Trust - Champaign, Illinois

Simon Y.

My wife and I recently closed on our first home, and without Mitch’s help, it simply wouldn’t have been possible. As international graduate students on F-1 visas, securing a mortgage was an uphill battle. Most lenders were unfamiliar with our situation—our non-citizen status and the unique nature of our graduate student income, which comes from semester-based assistantship appointments rather than a traditional annual salary.

We initially worked with two other lenders, both of whom struggled to navigate our employment and visa circumstances. The first lender raised concerns about the home’s existing solar panel loan, and while we did not reach the underwriting stage with them, we doubted their ability to handle our case in terms of our employment situations. The second lender seemed promising at first, but as we progressed, their communication became vague, with phrases like “hopefully that won’t be a problem for underwriting”. After two weeks, they ultimately denied our application, citing a requirement for a three-year employment continuance—something we simply couldn’t provide as graduate students. They also requested EAD cards, which we didn’t have for since we were still enrolled as students and hadn’t graduated.

At this point, we were desperate—until we were introduced to Mitch by our realtor. From our very first call, Mitch immediately understood our situation and confidently assured us, “I’ve got you. We have experience handling hundreds of cases like yours.” That reassurance alone lifted a huge weight off our shoulders. On the same day, Mitch guided us through the application process, ensuring everything was completed and submitted efficiently. He was incredibly responsive via text, answering every question almost immediately and requesting any necessary documents promptly. Within an hour of back-and-forth communication, our application was officially submitted.

Over the following weeks, Mitch remained attentive and responsive, addressing all our inquiries without delay. Thanks to his expertise, the underwriting process was seamless—no unexpected roadblocks, no last-minute issues. When our closing day arrived, Mitch walked us through the mountain of documents with efficiency, clarity, and professionalism, making the process smooth and stress-free. In less than an hour, we officially became homeowners—just as he had promised from the beginning!

Mitch is an exceptional mortgage lender—responsive, professional, and highly knowledgeable. In today’s world, it’s rare to find someone as capable and committed as he is. If you’re a graduate student, an international student, or anyone with a complex financial situation looking for a mortgage lender, look no further. Mitch WILL get it done, no questions asked. I will be recommending Mitch from Hickory Point Bank & Trust to my friends, family, and fellow graduate students for years to come.

Thank you, Mitch!

Susan S.

We recently used Mitch at Hickory Point Bank for our mortgage lender. Mitch was great through the entire process. He was very responsive during the process and ensured that my husband and I understood what was needed. The entire process was smooth and stress free.

Marie T.

Mitch was wonderful for our mortgage experience. He is very knowledgable and kept in contact during the process. He gave us some good options to save us money as well. My husband and I would highly recommend him and HPB.

Jia W.

We used Hickory Point Bank for our mortgage and Mitch was very helpful every step of the way. Really quick and clear communication the entire time to help ensure a smooth process. We really appreciate all the help!

Eric A.

Me and my wife just got our first mortgage with the help of Mitch Wilson at HPB. Mitch was so professional and took time on several occasions to talk with us, answer any questions, and put our fears at ease. Mitch helped us get together all needed documents and held our hand through the whole process. I would highly recommend Mitch to anyone looking for a mortgage!

Hamideh T.

This is our first loan for us. My husband and I recently worked with Mitch Wilson at Hickory Point Bank & Trust to secure our this loan, and we couldn't be happier with the experience! Mitch guided us through every step, ensuring we understood and felt comfortable with the entire process. I appreciate his prompt availability by phone and text to answer questions. For first-time buyers like us, his support was invaluable. Thanks to him, we now own our first house 🙂

Patricia B.

This is my third loan with Mitch, so I have some experience as my basis for review. Mitch goes up and beyond to help organize a client, and help them get to closings successfully. He stays in close communication and never gets impatient over the years that I’ve asked probably what could be silly or obvious questions.

He and his staff are “always” available and I just couldn’t speak highly enough both from the experiential level, but also that he’s a really good human being that I enjoy working with, and so will you!

Katherine D.

My husband and I went through Mitch Wilson for our first home loan and cannot recommend him and Hickory Point Bank & Trust enough! He walked us through the process and made sure we understood and were comfortable with every step. Not only that, but he was available by phone and text to ask questions and run numbers for us on the spot. His guidance was invaluable for confused first-timers like us. This is the personal touch you get from a local bank like Hickory Point that you don't get from big chain banks. Thanks to him, we now have our first home for our young family!