Jeff Zajac named SPAAR Affiliate of the Month for April 2026

Jeff Zajac has been named SPAAR’s Affiliate of the Month for April 2026. He is an active member of SPAAR’s YPN Committee and brings his expertise in the mortgage and credit union industry to his volunteer work. Jeff has been an area sales manager for more than 22 years and works at Trustone Home Mortgage/Trustone Credit Union.

One of Jeff’s favorite success stories involved a challenging client situation, which ultimately led to both a successful closing and a lasting professional relationship.

Jeff received a referral from Mr. X, who had been denied by multiple local lenders due to credit challenges and the unique nature of the property he was trying to purchase. Although Jeff made no promises, he agreed to take another look, hoping there might be a viable path forward.

After reviewing Mr. X’s credit, it was clear that his score was too low to qualify for a purchase at that time. However, Jeff and Mr. X went through his credit report together and identified two specific steps that could help improve his score quickly. Mr. X followed the recommendations exactly, and within a week, his credit improved significantly.

Even with this progress, another hurdle remained: the property itself presented challenges due to its unique condo structure. Through a creative internal approach, Jeff was able to secure approval and move the loan forward despite the complexities.

Despite the significant obstacles, the loan successfully closed. At the closing, Jeff met the listing agent—who, nine years later, is one of his closest friends and business partners.

When asked which famous person he would choose to have dinner with, Jeff shared that he would prefer one last dinner with his father.

He also reflected on the best piece of advice he has received: “Be yourself. Don’t be someone else around other people. Be you. If that’s not good enough, then to heck with it.”

When Jeff isn’t volunteering with SPAAR or working at Trustone Equal Housing Opportunity, he can often be found on the rink. Jeff has served as a referee and coach for youth hockey, and he has also officiated at several state tournaments and, most recently, a national tournament.

Congratulations, Jeff, on being selected as SPAAR’s Affiliate of the Month!