• In 1980 a group of mortgage lending professionals formed the initial committee to explore the idea of a South Puget Sound mortgage lenders trade association. After much planning and discussion, the Puget Sound Mortgage Lenders Association was formed in early 1981 with John Clifford as the first President. Early membership meetings were held at Lakewood Terrace and board meetings were held at lunch time at Stanley & Seaforts restaurant in Tacoma.
• In 1983, the general membership meetings were moved to the Executive Inn in Fife, and the board meetings were scheduled at a place of the president's choosing. In 1990, the Association experimented with a breakfast meeting held at the Tacoma Dome Hotel. This continued until the fall of 1991 when the meetings were moved back to evenings, and held at C.I. Shenanigans. In 1999, the meetings were moved to their current location at the Fircrest Golf and Country Club. The tradition of social events began in 1983, and these special events have become an integral and much anticipated part of the year.
• Training seminars were offered as early as 1982, and have always been an important focus of the Association.Throughout the years the Association has also awarded many scholarships to enable members to attend the School of Mortgage Banking.
• The Association was incorporated in 1983, and expanded beyond Pierce County into both Thurston and Kitsap counties. The Association has grown from less than 20 members in the early days to its present membership, representing nearly all of the major real estate lenders in the the south Puget Sound.

Presidents of the Association