Gene Gaia

Senior Loan Officer 

Gene Gaia brings more than three decades of mortgage experience and a lifetime of leadership, sales, and customer service to his role as Senior Loan Officer at Southern Security Mortgage. He takes pride in guiding borrowers through the lending process with honesty, patience, and personal attention.

A Memphis native, Gene graduated from Catholic High School in 1960. Soon afterward, he enlisted in the United States Air Force, serving from October 1960 through October 1964. He was honorably discharged with the rank of Airman First Class. Following his military service, Gene began his sales career with Sears in the building materials department. In 1968, he joined Athens Distributing, a wholesale wine and spirits company. After eight months in the display department, he was promoted to area sales. When Tennessee authorized liquor and wine sales in restaurants and bars in 1971, Gene founded and managed the company's on-premises division. After seven successful years, he returned to the retail side of the business as Retail Sales Manager.

In 1985, Gene joined United Wholesale as General Product Manager. While there, he purchased his first retail wine and spirits store in 1987 and opened a second location just eight months later. After 25 years in the industry, Gene began a new chapter in mortgage lending.

Gene entered the mortgage industry in 1993 as a partner, owner, and loan officer with Realty Mortgage in West Memphis, Arkansas. In 2000, he opened Colonial Mortgage in Memphis and operated the company until 2010. He later continued serving borrowers through Evolve Mortgage, Pearl Mortgage, and Luminate Bank. Gene also spent eight years with Bank of England Mortgage in Arkansas, further expanding his knowledge and experience in residential lending.

Today, Gene brings his extensive experience to Southern Security Federal Credit Union. His approach is simple: listen carefully, explain every step clearly, and help each borrower find a financing solution that fits their individual needs.

For Gene, mortgage lending is not simply about closing loans - it is about building trust, serving people, and helping families move confidently toward their goals.