(PRNewswire) Indianapolis - Oak Street Mortgage LLC, Indiana's fastest growing company, is opening its 28th branch office in the northwest Chicago suburb of Schaumburg, Illinois.

"We chose Schaumburg because it's a solid suburban location from which to draw top talent," said Steve Alonso, Chairman and CEO of Oak Street Mortgage. "We're very excited about having greater access not only to the Illinois market, but to other states as well."

"Oak Street's Schaumburg office is opening with a staff of 10 employees. We're forecasting our staff to increase to 40 by the end of 2004," said Shawn Greve, Director of Lending at the new office. "People like this area, and we feel that this location will make it easier for us to hire the best of the best and give them the tools to succeed," said Greve.

The Oak Street Mortgage office is located at 1475 East Woodfield Road. Oak Street Mortgage LLC, headquartered in Carmel, Indiana, provides loans for home purchase, mortgage refinancing, and debt consolidation. An outstanding customer experience, along with a fast, simple loan process, has made the company a leading player in the mortgage industry since it's founding in 1999. It now spans 25 states and expects to originate $2.0 billion in mortgage loans in 2003.

"What sets Oak Street Mortgage apart from our competitors is our culture and values," said Alonso. "Quite simply, our customers come first."

That customer-focused philosophy is an integral part of the new Schaumburg lending office. "We have a Customer Bill of Rights that each employee must adhere to," Greve said. "It's more than ink on paper -- we really live it."

To reach a loan specialist in Oak Street's Schaumburg office, customers may call Oak Street's national toll-free number, 1-800 LOAN NOW. Additional information can be found at http://www.oakstreetmortgage.com.