Brian Holland, 2026 HousingWire Finance Leader

At Atlantic Bay, we've long believed that building something truly great starts with the right foundation: strong leadership, a people-first culture, and an unwavering commitment to doing things right, especially when no one is watching. That's simply how we operate.

So, when one of our own earns recognition on a national stage, we don't just celebrate the individual. We celebrate what it reflects about who we are and the rigid standard we hold ourselves to every day.

Which is why we're proud to announce that our Founder and CEO, Brian Holland, has been named a 2026 HousingWire Finance Leader.

HousingWire's Finance Leaders award honors the top finance executives across the housing industry who are “driving financial performance, expanding margins, improving liquidity, and helping their organizations access capital markets.” They shape strategy, enable growth, and “move the housing economy forward.” We can confidently say that Brian and his team have been doing exactly that since he opened Atlantic Bay's doors in 1996.

What started as a four-person mortgage office in Virginia Beach has, through trials, wins, and tough lessons, grown into a company built on the trust of hundreds of thousands of families across the country.

Along the way, the results have followed. In 2025 alone, Atlantic Bay served more than 12,000 homeowners and cut its average time to close to under 26 days, less than half the national average, while maintaining a 97% customer satisfaction score. And for the fourth year in a row, National Mortgage News named Atlantic Bay the #1 “Best Large Mortgage Company to Work For.”

Brian has often said, "It is all about our people who live out our core values every day. Many companies hire good people, but the difference maker for Atlantic Bay is our focus on retaining and growing the talented people that we hire." But that philosophy is more than something he tosses out casually. It's something you can see in every closing, community initiative, industry relationship, and team member across our footprint who shows up with passionate positivity and genuine care.

But it’s also reflected in the way the company is built. Atlantic Bay has always believed that what can feel like an individual sport in this industry works best as a team effort. Sales and operations work in lockstep, creating a system where Mortgage Bankers can focus on relationships and serving homeowners while the broader team ensures every loan moves smoothly behind the scenes. It’s a model designed to help people lead their best lives.

Culture shows up everywhere across the organization, from leadership that stays accessible and engaged to the sense of community that brings people together at sales trips and within the markets they serve. It’s a place where regional leaders advocate for their teams, where collaboration is valued over competition, and where people genuinely take pride in building something together.

That’s why this recognition means so much to the Atlantic Bay family. While the award carries Brian’s name, it reflects the team, the culture, and the shared commitment that power this company every day.

This recognition belongs to Brian, yes. But it also belongs to every single person who's shown up, done great work, and helped build something worth being proud of.

Congratulations, Brian. The foundation is strong, but the best is still ahead.