Paula
Lazar

Chief Credit Officer

Paula is Chief Credit Officer at Graintree, where she oversees firmwide credit strategy, credit approval standards, and credit execution across the platform. She brings more than 40 years of experience in the mortgage industry, with a career focused in private banking, large residential lending, and leading high-performing teams of residential loan approvers.

Most recently, Paula served at Flagstar Private Bank, which she joined in 2023. Prior to Flagstar, she spent 30 years at First Republic Bank and 9 years at The Boston Company. Throughout her career, she has worked across the Boston, New York, Palm Beach, and San Francisco markets, developing a strong ability to assess new markets and understand local real estate dynamics.

Paula has extensive experience evaluating complex transactions and client relationships, working closely with top producers, private banking clients, appraisers, regulators, and investors. Her credit background includes residential lending, partner lending, multifamily, and construction lending.

Paula holds a Bachelor of Arts from Smith College.