A Louisiana-based residential mortgage lender has expanded into North Carolina with offices in Wilmington and Southern Pines.

Assurance Financial has opened its local office at 1213 Culbreth Drive, Suite 207.

"We are currently leasing executive suites while we are looking for a permanent location, and have identified a location, to be announced in March," Pamm Jones,  the company’s area manager for the North Carolina region, said Monday.

Jones is a graduate of University of North Carolina Wilmington and has more than 25 years of mortgage lending experience, the release stated. Joining her on the office staff are loan officers Dave Starling and Freddy Dunn and loan assistant Jimi Schmitz.

Assurance Financial, headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and founded in 2001, is an independent banking firm not connected with any other bank or third-party lender, according to the release. It handles underwriting and processing in house.

In addition to North Carolina, the company currently operates in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Ohio. Its loan originators are also licensed in Texas, Florida and Arkansas, the release stated. Jones said that Assurance Financial does anticipate expanding further in North Carolina.