Award-Winning Mortgage Broker:
Awards, Recognition & Community Impact
Christopher Armantrout has served Robertson County homebuyers since 2015 — earning recognition from local community organizations, national industry associations, and the borrowers he's helped along the way. Service is not a tagline here. It's the foundation.
Media & Press
Award-Winning Broker: Featured in Local & National Media
Christopher and Valor Mortgage have been featured in national industry publications and local media outlets, and recognized by Robertson County organizations for their commitment to community and lending excellence.
Christopher Armantrout was quoted as a featured industry expert in Scotsman Guide — one of the mortgage industry's most respected national trade publications — offering frontline insight on how rapid rate volatility and shifting buyer expectations are impacting borrowers across the Greater Nashville market. The piece highlights how Christopher is navigating one of the most challenging rate environments in recent memory, helping buyers who came in expecting January's rates reconcile with today's market reality.
Read the Article — Scotsman GuideChristopher joined The Hub for a long-form conversation about founding Valor Mortgage in 2019, navigating the brokerage through the pandemic, and what it actually takes to get Middle Tennessee families into homes. A candid look at the practice behind the paperwork — and why he built an independent brokerage in Springfield rather than joining a bank.
Listen to the Full Episode — 14:45Named a finalist in the Mortgage Company category two years in a row. Finalists are chosen entirely by public nomination and community vote, so back-to-back recognition reflects lasting trust from Robertson County neighbors.
2026 Finalist Announcement 2025 Finalist AnnouncementIn the year Valor Mortgage was founded, Christopher was recognized as a finalist for Best Bank/Mortgage Company in Robertson County, TN — just months after opening. A first-year recognition driven entirely by community nomination.
Christopher is an active voice in Robertson County's media landscape, participating in local radio discussions about homeownership, community lending, and small business insights on WSGI Radio — connecting with neighbors across Middle Tennessee.
Visit WSGI Radio on YouTubeDiscover what makes Tennessee a great place to live, work, and build your future. Watch our community spotlight video.
Visit realtennessee.comRecognition
Mortgage Broker Awards: Industry Recognition
Each of the following recognitions came from community nomination, lender performance rankings, or third-party review.
Selected by Expertise.com as one of the top mortgage refinance providers in Clarksville, TN for 2026. Expertise.com independently researches and scores local providers on reputation, credibility, experience, availability, and professionalism when selecting providers in each market.
View Expertise.com Profile
Recognized by United Wholesale Mortgage as a Top 1% Certified Partner for 2022.
Ranked in the Top 1% of loan originators in the State of Tennessee by United Wholesale Mortgage — based on verified loan volume and performance across all UWM broker partners in the state.
Ranked among the Top 20 Purchase Loan Officers in the State of Tennessee by United Wholesale Mortgage in 2022 — based on verified purchase loan volume and performance across all UWM broker partners in the state.
Valor Mortgage holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, accredited since March 2026. BBB accreditation requires a demonstrated commitment to resolve consumer complaints and adhere to BBB's Standards for Trust.
Verify BBB AccreditationValor Mortgage holds a verified Google Business Profile with a 5.0 rating across 100+ reviews. Every review is public, so you can read what past borrowers say in their own words.
View Google ReviewsIndependently ranked
Top Mortgage Brokers in Springfield, TN
See Valor Mortgage on TrustAnalytica’s list of top mortgage brokers in Springfield, TN →
Community & Non-Profit Partners
Service beyond
the closing table
The name Valor Mortgage didn't come from a branding agency. It came from a four-day disaster relief mission to the Florida Panhandle in the fall of 2018, in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Michael — one of the most powerful storms to ever strike the continental United States.
Christopher and three others flew to Panama City, Florida on a twin-prop plane to assist devastated communities. What followed was unlike anything they expected — priority flight status in no-fly zones, a FEMA detainment, military escorts, and a Secret Service detail. The experience cemented a conviction that service to others is not optional. It is the point.
That mission led directly to a partnership with Gideon Rescue — a non-profit disaster response organization that deploys trained volunteers into communities after natural disasters. Christopher remains an active partner and supporter.
Visit Gideon Rescue → gideonrescue.orgCategory 5 landfall near Panama City, FL. Christopher and three others deployed within days — navigating FEMA checkpoints, military escorts, and restricted airspace to assist affected families.
Inspired by the mission and what it revealed about service and community need — Valor Mortgage, LLC was established in Springfield, TN with that same ethos at its core.
A continuing partnership supporting disaster response volunteer training and deployment. Community service is not a campaign — it is a practice.
Active participation in Robertson County business networks and local events — including multi-year Main Street Awards recognition driven entirely by neighbor nominations.
Non-Profit Partners
Supporting the Robertson County Community
Christopher believes that a mortgage business rooted in a community should give back to it. These are the local organizations Valor Mortgage actively supports.
The RCSA supports youth and community athletics across Robertson County — providing opportunities for kids to participate in organized sports regardless of financial barriers. A cornerstone organization in Christopher's community commitment.
rcsatn.org →Open Door provides free, compassionate support to women and families facing unexpected pregnancies — offering counseling, resources, and community connections in Robertson County and beyond. Essential work for families in transition.
opendoorprc.org →Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) trains and supports volunteers to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children in Robertson County's court system.
casaofrobco.com →A beloved Springfield non-profit offering arts and humanities education to over 14,000 children and adults each year — from visual arts and music to culinary classes and community festivals. No one is turned away for inability to pay.
willowoakarts.org →Habitat for Humanity works to eliminate poverty housing by building and renovating homes in partnership with families in need — providing safe, affordable homeownership opportunities across Robertson County and beyond.
habitatforhumanity.org →Chamber Memberships
Active in the Regional Business Community
Christopher is an active member of chambers of commerce across Middle Tennessee — staying connected to the business communities he serves across Robertson, Sumner, and Cheatham counties.
The primary business advocacy organization for Robertson County, connecting local business owners through networking, education, and community leadership initiatives.
robertsonchamber.org →Serving the fast-growing White House community straddling Robertson and Sumner counties — stimulating a robust local economy through business connections and community investment.
whitehousechamber.org →Promoting economic prosperity across Cheatham County through networking, education, and business development — connecting members with the resources needed to thrive in Middle Tennessee.
cheathamchamber.org →Professional Standing
Licensed Mortgage Officer Credentials & Memberships
Professional credentials in mortgage lending are not optional — they are federally required, publicly verifiable, and renewed continuously.
Christopher has held an active Tennessee mortgage originator license since 2015 — more than a decade of continuous licensure under state and federal oversight. Valor Mortgage, LLC is powered by Encore Lending Group, LLC (NMLS #1249911), which provides compliance infrastructure, lender access, and regulatory oversight.
Verify Christopher — NMLS #1210804 → Verify Encore Lending Group — NMLS #1249911 →AIME is the national professional association for independent mortgage brokers — signaling a commitment to the wholesale, borrower-first model over single-bank product pushing.
Learn About AIME →All loan programs comply with the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and Fair Housing Act. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age (provided the applicant can contract), familial status, disability, receipt of income from public assistance, or the good-faith exercise of any right under the Consumer Credit Protection Act.
Consumer mortgage activities are subject to oversight by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Borrowers may submit concerns directly through the CFPB at any time.
CFPB Consumer Complaint Portal →Christopher has been a licensed mortgage originator in Tennessee since 2015, and founded Valor Mortgage in Springfield, TN in 2019 — bringing over a decade of experience to every borrower he serves.
Christopher is an active member of the Kiwanis Club of Springfield, TN — a civic organization dedicated to serving the children and youth of Robertson County through community programs, annual giving drives, and local outreach.
Springfield Kiwanis — Robertson County Chamber →The same commitment I carry into disaster relief work — showing up, doing the hard thing, staying until it's done — is the same commitment I bring to every borrower's loan.
Christopher Armantrout · Founder, Valor Mortgage, LLC · NMLS #1210804
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Valor Mortgage a lender or a broker?
Valor Mortgage is an independent mortgage broker in Springfield, Tennessee. Instead of offering one bank's loans, Christopher Armantrout compares programs from multiple wholesale lenders for each borrower. Valor Mortgage, LLC is powered by Encore Lending Group, LLC (NMLS #1249911).
How long has Christopher Armantrout been a licensed loan officer?
Christopher has held an active Tennessee mortgage loan originator license since 2015 and founded Valor Mortgage in Springfield in February 2019. His license is NMLS #1210804.
How can I verify Christopher Armantrout's license?
Search NMLS #1210804 on NMLS Consumer Access (nmlsconsumeraccess.org), the federal public registry for mortgage professionals. Encore Lending Group's license, NMLS #1249911, can be checked there as well.
What awards and recognition has Valor Mortgage received?
Recognition includes Expertise.com Top Mortgage Refinance in Clarksville (2026), Robertson County Main Street Awards finalist in the Mortgage Company category (2025 and 2026), Best Bank/Mortgage Company finalist in Robertson County (2019), and three United Wholesale Mortgage recognitions from 2022: Top 1% Certified Partner, Top 1% in Tennessee, and Top 20 Purchase Loan Officer in Tennessee. Valor also holds an A+ BBB rating and a 5.0 Google rating across 100+ reviews.
Which community organizations does Valor Mortgage support?
Valor Mortgage supports the Robertson County Sports Alliance, Open Door Pregnancy Center, CASA of Robertson County, Willow Oak Center for Arts & Learning, Habitat for Humanity, and Gideon Rescue. Christopher is also a member of the Kiwanis Club of Springfield and the Robertson County, White House Area, and Cheatham County chambers of commerce.
Where did the name Valor Mortgage come from?
The name comes from a 2018 disaster-relief mission to Panama City, Florida, after Hurricane Michael. Christopher and three others flew in to help affected families. The mission led to an ongoing partnership with Gideon Rescue and shaped the service-first approach Valor Mortgage was founded on in 2019.
Ready to work with someone who shows up?
Awards matter. But what matters more is whether your loan officer answers when you call, explains what you're signing, and gets your deal to closing. Let's talk.