A NAMB Celebration · August 23

Broker Independence Day

On August 23, 1973, mortgage brokers founded their own voice in Washington. More than fifty years on, we celebrate the freedom to put borrowers first.

How to Celebrate Our Founding Story
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17 state affiliates 533,500+ loan originators represented 50+ years of advocacy
August 23 EST. 1973
The Founding

A voice of their own.

In 1973, a group of Florida brokers decided the industry needed someone in the room where the rules get written.

Washington, DC · 1973

The National Association of Mortgage Brokers was founded by the Florida Association of Mortgage Brokers, who wanted representation in Washington, DC.

That was the whole idea: independent professionals, organizing so the people closest to the borrower would have a seat at the table. From a single state association came a national one, built to advocate, educate, and represent the mortgage professionals and the communities they serve.

In 1995, NAMB elected its first female president, Patty McGill, and officially established Washington, DC as its headquarters. Over the next five decades, NAMB carried broker priorities to Capitol Hill again and again, on disclosure rules, loan originator compensation, trigger leads, and more.

NAMB was founded on August 23, 1973. That date, the day independent brokers first organized a national voice of their own, is the entire reason we mark Broker Independence Day. It is not an anniversary milestone or a marketing moment. It is the birthday of broker representation, and we celebrate it every August 23.

Five Decades Plus

The road from 1973.

A few of the moments that built the association brokers rely on today.

Aug 23, 1973

NAMB is founded

The Florida Association of Mortgage Brokers establishes NAMB to give brokers representation in Washington, DC. This founding date is the day we celebrate.

1995

A first, and a home base

NAMB elects its first female president, Patty McGill, and officially establishes Washington, DC as headquarters.

2023

Fifty years of service

On August 23, 2023, NAMB commemorates a half-century of uniting and elevating the mortgage industry.

Today

Still volunteer led, member driven

NAMB is affiliated with 17 state associations and represents more than 533,500 licensed and registered loan originators and 47,800 broker and lender businesses.

Explore the full 50-year timeline
Why It Matters

Independence is the advantage.

Broker Independence Day is a chance to remind clients and communities what an independent broker actually delivers.

Choice, not one menu

Independent brokers shop a wide network of lenders, so borrowers see options a single institution cannot match.

Local and personal

Brokers are small business owners in their own communities, accountable to the neighbors they serve.

Built to compete

Access to multiple lenders means brokers can pursue competitive pricing and the right loan for each borrower.

All of August

Celebrate the whole month.

Broker Independence Day lands on August 23, but the build-up is where the energy lives. Here is a flexible, week-by-week toolkit any member can run.

Week 1 · Aug 1-9

Know your roots

  • Share NAMB's founding story with your team
  • Post a "since 1973" graphic to your channels
  • Tell clients why you chose the broker path
Week 2 · Aug 10-16

Educate the borrower

  • Explain how a broker shops many lenders
  • Run a short "broker vs. bank" explainer
  • Spotlight a recent client win
Week 3 · Aug 17-22

Strength in numbers

  • Recruit a colleague to join NAMB
  • Support advocacy through NAMBPAC
  • Thank a state affiliate volunteer
Aug 23 · The Day

Broker Independence Day

  • Post with #BrokerIndependenceDay
  • Celebrate your team and your clients
  • Wear NAMB colors: navy, red, teal

Independence is worth defending.

The strongest way to honor August 23 is to keep the broker community growing. Join, support, or connect today.

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