Employee Stories
Stephanie Tan
14 years of career in Mortgage Banking
Redefining what it means to be a Mortgage Relationship Manager
Ask people about a Mortgage Relationship Manager role and they’ll often mention sales targets or a fast-paced environment. Stephanie Tan Sze Ying sees it differently. Over the past 15 years at Standard Chartered, she has built her career across Personal Loans, Mortgage Banking and a short stint in SME Lending. While she has explored different areas of the business, Mortgage Banking is where she has spent the last 14 years.
Learning from every conversation
Before joining Standard Chartered, Stephanie spent four years in credit card sales. Looking for new opportunities, she joined the Bank’s Personal Loans team before moving into Mortgage Banking. What attracted her to the role was the opportunity to learn from professionals across the property ecosystem.
“I get to explore different fields and learn from professionals like lawyers, valuers, developers and property agents.”
Just as importantly, every client brings a different story.
“The unique story behind every client is what makes this job so meaningful to me.”
A supportive team and hands-on experience – the pillars of her success
Starting in a new role came with challenges, Stephanie credits her manager’s support for helping her build confidence early in her career. Her manager spent time training her on product knowledge and closing skills, took her into the property market and discussed challenging cases with her.
“This gave me the confidence to perform well as a newcomer.”
Keeping up with the evolving industry
Throughout her career, Stephanie has supported customers at different stages of their homeownership journey, helping them navigate complex decisions with confidence. For her, the most rewarding part of the role is knowing that her guidance can make a lasting difference during one of the most significant moments in a customer’s life.
One of the biggest lessons Stephanie has learned is the importance of adapting to change.
“Constantly changing guidelines were challenging at first, but I learned to adapt and stay aligned with the Bank’s direction. That’s how I continue to grow without losing focus.”
When challenges arise, she turns to her team leader for guidance and focuses on finding solutions.
“Whenever I face challenges at work, I discuss them with my team leader to learn from my mistakes and find the best solutions. I always remind myself that every problem has a solution.”
Looking beyond the perception
For Stephanie, being a Mortgage Relationship Manager is about helping clients navigate one of the most important financial decisions of their lives. By understanding their individual circumstances and finding the right solutions, she helps turn homeownership aspirations into reality while building trusted, long-term relationships.
“Being a Mortgage Relationship Manager is more than just a job. It’s a rewarding career that allows me to grow, build expertise and make a meaningful impact on customers’ homeownership journeys.”
For anyone considering the role, her advice is to not let perceptions of pressure hold you back.
The Mortgage RM journey offers great opportunities, strong support and long-term career growth
Stephanie Tan