This Commerce team member helps make homeownership available for more people.
Leticia Matthys has spent more than a decade helping people in Kansas City navigate one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives: buying a home. As a bilingual community mortgage specialist at Commerce Bank, she works to make sure that Spanish-speaking customers have the same access to guidance and support as anyone else walking through the door.
“Seeing clients close on their home is incredibly fulfilling," Matthys says. “It means a lot to me when I can assist Spanish-speaking clients who might otherwise not get the assistance they need.”
Matthys joined Commerce Bank in 2011 as a branch manager before transitioning into mortgage, where she spent about 10 years as a community home loan originator. Her current role as a bilingual community mortgage specialist grew naturally from that experience. As a trusted community resource and her passion for outreach made her the right person to help lead these efforts.
Building trust one client at a time.
For many Commerce customers, Leticia’s bilingual ability can make a world of difference. “Spanish is actually my first language, and it has really helped me connect with a wider range of clients,” she says. “It allows me to communicate clearly and ensure people fully understand important information, especially since buying a home is such a significant investment. I've also found that it builds trust quickly, particularly when clients feel more comfortable speaking in their native language.”
Porsha Rideaux, a Commerce community home loan manager who has worked alongside Leticia for about 15 years, has seen that impact firsthand.
“Leticia was our first Spanish-speaking mortgage banker,” Rideaux says. “She’d help translate for clients and work them through the whole process. That’s an enormous value that not everyone can provide.”
Leticia’s roots in both languages run deep. As the oldest child of parents who immigrated from Mexico, she began translating for them when she was just 10 years old.
“My parents are my inspiration,” she says. “They made the courageous decision to leave Mexico in pursuit of the American dream. Through hard work, perseverance and determination, they learned English and eventually became U.S. citizens. Their journey shaped my sense of responsibility, resilience and appreciation for opportunity.”
A program built to open doors.
One of the programs Matthys is most passionate about is Neighborhood Connection®, which launched in 2020. The program strengthens Commerce’s commitment to affordable and sustainable homeownership by offering significant benefits for buyers purchasing a home in a low-to-moderate income census tract. Eligible buyers with a credit score as low as 580 can receive a $5,000 grant to use toward a down payment or closing costs, qualify with little to no money down, and avoid monthly private mortgage insurance. A companion loan called the Budget Booster can help buyers pay down debt or cover small home improvements, with limits that have recently increased to as much as $15,000 depending on credit score.
First-time buyers aren’t the only ones who can take advantage. Any buyer purchasing a primary residence in a qualifying area may be eligible.
“A lot of clients are new to homebuying, and we help guide them through it,” Matthys says. “It takes patience, but it’s very rewarding.”
A presence the community counts on.
Beyond her day-to-day work with clients, Matthys is active in the broader Kansas City community. She volunteers with Build WyCo, a community development organization in Kansas City, Kansas, where she serves on the homeownership committee and leads financial literacy workshops. She also works with CHES, Inc., an organization that offers credit counseling and down payment assistance for homebuyers.
Rideaux said that community presence matters in ways that are hard to overstate. “When you go into the community, people want to see someone they feel like they can relate to,” she says. “Her longevity matters, too. People in the community know she’s not going anywhere. That familiar face is really valuable.”
Rideaux also describes Matthys’ attention to detail and willingness to show up for anyone who needs help as qualities that set her apart — for clients as well as her colleagues.
“She is such a team player,” Rideaux says. “She helped me so much when I first started working in mortgages, and I honestly don’t think I could have been the best I could be without her.”
For Matthys, everything comes back to the same thing that drew her to this work in the first place.
“Working at a bank allows me to help people reach major life goals, whether that’s buying a home, starting a business, building savings or improving their financial stability,” she says. “It’s rewarding to be part of those life-changing moments.”
