Aleksandar “Alex” Bokich, a mortgage banker from Chicago of Serbian origin, has an exceptional 36-year career in home lending. He entered the mortgage business in March 1989, and after collaborating with several large brokerage firms, he decided to launch his own business, built on the rich experience he gained over decades of work.
In his youth, before entering the lending business, Bokich honed his sales skills by selling ads door-to-door for a local magazine – a job he calls “probably the hardest job he ever had,” but one that, he says, was also a great life lesson.
“Everything I learned on the street meant a lot to me in my later career and prepared me for mortgage banking. The most important thing was that I lost the fear of the word ‘NO’,” Alex Bokich told Serbian Times. He graduated with a degree in business administration from Andrews University and later earned an MBA in marketing from DePaul University.
His career then took off: As early as 1991, he was named the most productive loan manager at Bank of America and held that title for a full 20 years. Since then, he has held high management positions at banks and mortgage companies.
More Than Three Decades of Trust and $2 Billion in Loans
Throughout his career, Alex Bokich has closed over $2 billion in home loans, ranking him among the top 1% of mortgage agents in the country. He is widely recognized for his success and influence in the business – he received the prestigious Scotsman Guide “Top Producer” award in 2022 and has been featured in media such as Chicago Agent Magazine’s “Who’s Who” list.
“In addition to English, I am fluent in Serbian, so over 50% of my total production to date has come from ‘my people’ from the former Yugoslavia. Now, after 36 years in the business, I want to expand my operations and provide support to all Serbs and Balkan people in America. Given the complexity of the mortgage process and rising interest rates, it is more important than ever to work with an experienced professional. This is not the time to work with someone who has just entered the business.”
Interest rates for home loans are still high, but Bokich has a solution for those problems too:
“My team and I have proven our effectiveness when rates were 9% and when they were 2%. I will always tell a client what is in their best interest, NOT what is in the bank’s interest or the broker’s commission. My clients, whether Serbian or not, can have complete confidence in me from start to finish. And my relationship with clients doesn’t end with closing the loan, but is a lifelong connection. That’s just the beginning,” he says, adding:
“My job is to be the first to call them when interest rates fall and when it pays to refinance. I always have a clear answer when the right time for that is.”
Built a Career on “Word-of-Mouth” Referrals
“Since 1989, I have always strived to do things the right way and in the best interest of my clients, regardless of which part of the former Yugoslavia they came from. I am extremely proud that most of my clients have taken out loans through me multiple times and have recommended entire generations of family members and friends. There’s nothing better than working on loans for the children of my original clients, especially since my team is always updated to follow constantly evolving mortgage guidelines,” he notes.
Over the past 36 years, Alex’s business has been built entirely on word-of-mouth referrals throughout the Chicago, Milwaukee, and Northwest Indiana areas.
“Now I have decided to start my own business and focus on home mortgages. My goal is to expand my experience and the dedicated team I work with from the Midwest to a national level, to reach out and help all our people across the USA.”
Personally: Family, Faith, Community
Outside of work, Alex is dedicated to his family and church, where he has been an active member for decades. He never misses any of his three children’s sporting events, and he also contributes to the community as the head coach of the men’s basketball team at a local academy – a role that perfectly reflects his passion for youth mentorship and sports.
Through his rich experience, leadership roles, community involvement, and people-centered innovative approach to the mortgage business, Alex Bokich has built a reputation as a top mortgage banker and an influential figure in his field.
And all of you living in the USA who wish for Aleksandar Bokich to help you get a home loan under the most favorable conditions can contact him by phone at +1 (847) 867-1143 or by email at: alexanderbokich@gmail.com.
Author: Antonije Kovačević Photo: Privatna arhiva