Interview with Shtiliyana Panayotova
Hello, Shtiliyana! Please introduce yourself and tell us about your experience so far.
My name is Shtiliyana Panayotova, and I am the newest Mortgage Broker at Creditchoice. I have extensive personal experience as a consumer of bank loans, including utilising credit intermediation services. So, my journey began as a borrower, and today I am on the other side. With my personal experience, I will help clients make their dreams come true.
Tell us about your successes in 2024.
I have been working at Creditchoice since the beginning of the year, and during this time, I have helped facilitate 15 loans. I continue to communicate with my clients, who often seek my assistance for other activities related to their property, such as finishing works, for example. Our relationships are not just client-consultant; we exchange useful information with each other like friends.
What types of clients turn to you?
The clients who turn to me come from various fields – sales assistants in shops, teachers in elite schools, drivers in state enterprises, IT specialists in software companies, and more. One does not choose their clients. Our activity is aimed at everyone – both the most ordinary person and the wealthiest person may need a loan at some point. We are here to do the best for every client according to their capabilities and desires, so they can make an informed choice.
How do you help a client who wants to take out a loan from a bank?
I love working with people. I love having meetings. I strive to step into people’s shoes to know what I would do in their place. That’s why I try to help them, understand their situation, and do the best for them. Not everyone can afford to take time off work and visit banks in search of financing. Often, they just walk into the first office and take a loan. My job is to help the client by meeting at a time convenient for them to gather the necessary information. A Mortgage Broker is like a personal physician because you tell them everything. If a client does not share important information relevant to their profile, they might miss the opportunity for financing.
How does a meeting between you and your client usually proceed?
The most important thing during a meeting with a client is to win their trust. Therefore, right from the first introduction, I try to close the distance because the lending process is long and binding. We become close because the client shares very sensitive personal information with me as their Mortgage Broker, and they need to feel that from the very first meeting. I have quite a lot of experience working with people, and this helps me greatly in my relationships with clients.
Why should clients choose Creditchoice?
Creditchoice is a registered independent credit intermediary with the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) and a member of the AICP (Association of Credit Intermediaries in Bulgaria). The Creditchoice team consists of serious and experienced Mortgage Brokers. Every day, we exchange information and help each other, sharing different cases and opinions, thus working as a team. We have connections with builders, brokers, furniture stores, etc., and we provide recommendations and consultations to clients, and they like us for it.
What advice would you give to people who need financing?
I advise them to definitely contact a Mortgage Broker when they need bank financing because it will save them time, money, and effort. A broker can show them if their desire can be realised and explain the “fine print.” The Mortgage Broker will collect the necessary documents from various state institutions, structure the loan, and guide the client through the entire process.
