Will Grant was one of those Filipino-Americans that trail blazed
positive Filipino image by hard work, determination and
perseverance. To the “old-timers” in the Filipino-American
communities in the United States and Canada, Will Grant’s
name was synonymous to travel to the Philippines. First as the
Filipino Sales Manager -top honcho- of the American
President Lines (APL), and later as General Manager of Gem
Travel of Chicago. He successfully motivated thousands of
Filipinos both from the United States and Canada who had
never been in the Philippines since coming to this country long
before the Second World War.
Noting that the travel industry was slow in making him realize
his worthy goal of being financially independent, Wil l Picache
positive Filipino image by hard work, determination and
perseverance. To the “old-timers” in the Filipino-American
communities in the United States and Canada, Will Grant’s
name was synonymous to travel to the Philippines. First as the
Filipino Sales Manager -top honcho- of the American
President Lines (APL), and later as General Manager of Gem
Travel of Chicago. He successfully motivated thousands of
Filipinos both from the United States and Canada who had
never been in the Philippines since coming to this country long
before the Second World War.
Noting that the travel industry was slow in making him realize
his worthy goal of being financially independent, Wil l Picache
Grant changed career from travel to the field of financing — he was one of the Filipino in
the field. Will chucked records after records from day-one in 1974 up to the present time.
When he started in the field of financing, he concentrated and mastered residential loans
specializing in VA (Veterans’Administration’s) entitlement program, FHA (Federal Housing
Administration), and other conventional financing. He was in the right time, late 70’s to early
80’s, and at the right place: San Diego County, where Filipinos who were with the United
States Navy were economically doing well and were to retire from the Navy with bulging
funds ready, willing and able to buy a home
Will Grant was every where. His multi-million dollar production in home loan financing business
was the talk of the real estate industry in the County of San Diego, specially among Filipino-
American real estate firms, estates brokers and salespeople. Filipino-owned real estate
offices were mushrooming, and Will Grant was in their midst making sure that the answers to
loan application questions were answered correctly and backed up by proper
documentations. Being the first Filipino American in the real estate loan business, Will Grant
had no competition. He was sincere in his effort to assist the Filipinos in fulfilling the “American-
dream” — that of owning a home of their own. He took the time to call on them at their home
instead of going to his office.
Will Grant’s success was phenomenal. He was putting 12-14 hours a day, seven days a week.
His pager was by his bedside and his name was a household word among Filipino-American
families.
“Dreaming to own your home? Call Will Grant!”- was a common expression in the community as
well as in the real estate industry. And to give back more to the Filipino community, Will Grant
was very accessible and helpful to various civic, social, religious and political organizations in
the San Diego county either as a member or an officer. He was generous with his 3-T’s: talent,
time and treasure. His name was in the roosters of various Filipino-Americans associations.
He efficiently divided and provided his time, gratis et amore, so that his experience,
organizational and management talents were shared by the Filipino-American communities.
Starting in 1974 with the All State Savings and Loan, part of the multi-million dollars Sears
family, Will Grant was an outstanding producer from the day he became affiliated with All
State Savings and Loan, Will established an unbroken production record. At the local weekly
meeting of the S.D. County Board of Realtors, a weekly summary of sales were listed and
distributed. Will Grant’s name usually dominated the list giving one an impression that he was
the only lender in town. So when San Diego Federal Loan, one of the largest savings and
loans institutions in the State of California, opened their real estate financing department,
the first person the giant S&L planned was how to “pirate” Will Grant, and let him
originate real estate loans to his heart’s contents. With an army of loan processors to back
him up as part of the condition for Will to transfer to San Diego Loan Federal, Will Grant
established incredible records month after months. He was one of the top twenty in San Diego
county among residential home loan originators from various lenders averaging more than $40
million annually. You name an accolades or awards, he coveted them all.
It was not surprising in early 1985, when several senior executives of First Federal Savings
Bank of California, started inviting Will Grant for business luncheon meetings. They told him
that a branch in San Diego County was being planned and invited Will Grant to handle their
loan origination department. Once again, Will made a mark unheard of, and still unmatched in
the real estate industry. In the month of July 1985, he originated a record of 123 loans with
80% funding of the total applications all by himself. Unmatched. Phenomenal. Superlatives
used by the top executives of San Diego Loan Federal. With only seven other top caliber loan
originators, Will and his group originated $416 million of real estate loans! in 1989.
“Will Grant is a living legend,” declared one of the senior officers of a savings and loans bank.
“His contribution in building San Diego County by providing professional services to countless
customers is immeasurable. He made them realized and fulfilled that great American dream of
owning a home.”
Boasting nearly thirty years in the real estate community of San Diego industry, and holding
a California real estate sales license, Will Grant’s truly is a living legend in the field of real
estate financing.
Affiliated with major lending institutions in California, the number one state in real estate
financing, Will joined the then American Savings Bank. From the first day that he affiliated
with American Savings Bank, Will became a member of President’s Club, an award presented
to the bank’s top loan consultants statewide whose productions are much more than the
average producers. From American Savings, Will went to Home Savings of America and in March
of 1998, Home Savings of America merged with Washington Mutual Bank, a multi-billion
Seattle, Washington based financial institution. Since 2002, Will has been a Vice President,
Commercial Real Estate Lending for Provident Bank.
Will, a Manila city boy, attended San Beda College for his elementary and high school. He
came to San Francisco in 1957 to pursue his college and in 1962, graduated from the
University of San Francisco with a degree in BSBA.
Will is active in the Asian/American Business Association of San Diego, the Rotary Club, Mortgage
Bankers Commercial Lenders Association, and the Optimist Club. Will also participated in the
Senior’s YMCA Olympics/San Diegoin the 60 age and up basketball team.
He is married to the former Herminia Mendoza also of Manila. The Grants have four children and
7 grandchildren. They reside in the Del Cerro community of San Diego. #
the field. Will chucked records after records from day-one in 1974 up to the present time.
When he started in the field of financing, he concentrated and mastered residential loans
specializing in VA (Veterans’Administration’s) entitlement program, FHA (Federal Housing
Administration), and other conventional financing. He was in the right time, late 70’s to early
80’s, and at the right place: San Diego County, where Filipinos who were with the United
States Navy were economically doing well and were to retire from the Navy with bulging
funds ready, willing and able to buy a home
Will Grant was every where. His multi-million dollar production in home loan financing business
was the talk of the real estate industry in the County of San Diego, specially among Filipino-
American real estate firms, estates brokers and salespeople. Filipino-owned real estate
offices were mushrooming, and Will Grant was in their midst making sure that the answers to
loan application questions were answered correctly and backed up by proper
documentations. Being the first Filipino American in the real estate loan business, Will Grant
had no competition. He was sincere in his effort to assist the Filipinos in fulfilling the “American-
dream” — that of owning a home of their own. He took the time to call on them at their home
instead of going to his office.
Will Grant’s success was phenomenal. He was putting 12-14 hours a day, seven days a week.
His pager was by his bedside and his name was a household word among Filipino-American
families.
“Dreaming to own your home? Call Will Grant!”- was a common expression in the community as
well as in the real estate industry. And to give back more to the Filipino community, Will Grant
was very accessible and helpful to various civic, social, religious and political organizations in
the San Diego county either as a member or an officer. He was generous with his 3-T’s: talent,
time and treasure. His name was in the roosters of various Filipino-Americans associations.
He efficiently divided and provided his time, gratis et amore, so that his experience,
organizational and management talents were shared by the Filipino-American communities.
Starting in 1974 with the All State Savings and Loan, part of the multi-million dollars Sears
family, Will Grant was an outstanding producer from the day he became affiliated with All
State Savings and Loan, Will established an unbroken production record. At the local weekly
meeting of the S.D. County Board of Realtors, a weekly summary of sales were listed and
distributed. Will Grant’s name usually dominated the list giving one an impression that he was
the only lender in town. So when San Diego Federal Loan, one of the largest savings and
loans institutions in the State of California, opened their real estate financing department,
the first person the giant S&L planned was how to “pirate” Will Grant, and let him
originate real estate loans to his heart’s contents. With an army of loan processors to back
him up as part of the condition for Will to transfer to San Diego Loan Federal, Will Grant
established incredible records month after months. He was one of the top twenty in San Diego
county among residential home loan originators from various lenders averaging more than $40
million annually. You name an accolades or awards, he coveted them all.
It was not surprising in early 1985, when several senior executives of First Federal Savings
Bank of California, started inviting Will Grant for business luncheon meetings. They told him
that a branch in San Diego County was being planned and invited Will Grant to handle their
loan origination department. Once again, Will made a mark unheard of, and still unmatched in
the real estate industry. In the month of July 1985, he originated a record of 123 loans with
80% funding of the total applications all by himself. Unmatched. Phenomenal. Superlatives
used by the top executives of San Diego Loan Federal. With only seven other top caliber loan
originators, Will and his group originated $416 million of real estate loans! in 1989.
“Will Grant is a living legend,” declared one of the senior officers of a savings and loans bank.
“His contribution in building San Diego County by providing professional services to countless
customers is immeasurable. He made them realized and fulfilled that great American dream of
owning a home.”
Boasting nearly thirty years in the real estate community of San Diego industry, and holding
a California real estate sales license, Will Grant’s truly is a living legend in the field of real
estate financing.
Affiliated with major lending institutions in California, the number one state in real estate
financing, Will joined the then American Savings Bank. From the first day that he affiliated
with American Savings Bank, Will became a member of President’s Club, an award presented
to the bank’s top loan consultants statewide whose productions are much more than the
average producers. From American Savings, Will went to Home Savings of America and in March
of 1998, Home Savings of America merged with Washington Mutual Bank, a multi-billion
Seattle, Washington based financial institution. Since 2002, Will has been a Vice President,
Commercial Real Estate Lending for Provident Bank.
Will, a Manila city boy, attended San Beda College for his elementary and high school. He
came to San Francisco in 1957 to pursue his college and in 1962, graduated from the
University of San Francisco with a degree in BSBA.
Will is active in the Asian/American Business Association of San Diego, the Rotary Club, Mortgage
Bankers Commercial Lenders Association, and the Optimist Club. Will also participated in the
Senior’s YMCA Olympics/San Diegoin the 60 age and up basketball team.
He is married to the former Herminia Mendoza also of Manila. The Grants have four children and
7 grandchildren. They reside in the Del Cerro community of San Diego. #
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