FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TowneBank Mortgage Partners with GoVA
Foundation to Support Homeownership for
Military Families in VA and NC

CARY, NC (May 19 2026) — GoVA Foundation announces a strategic partnership with TowneBank Mortgage, a division of TowneBank, to provide free digital financial education resources focused on homeownership preparation for low- and moderate-income (LMI) military families through GoVA’s innovative platform, The Edge.

Through a CRA grant from TowneBank Mortgage, the program will serve 150 qualified military households across TowneBank’s Virginia and North Carolina assessment areas, including the Virginia Beach-Norfolk MSA (Hampton Roads), Raleigh-Cary MSA, and Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia MSA. This initiative specifically supports military families working toward affordable homeownership goals by providing comprehensive financial education on credit management, debt reduction, down payment savings strategies, and mortgage qualification preparation.

Jim Miller, President and CEO of TowneBank Mortgage, said: “Our mission is to enrich lives by serving others. While 83% of military families prioritize homeownership, few are using their VA benefits today (6%)—highlighting a gap. By staying connected to our communities and partnering with GoVA, we’re helping close it with tools that support financial readiness and long-term stability.”

“As an Air Force veteran who served in special operations for over two decades, I’ve personally witnessed the unique financial challenges that military families face,” stated George Earhart, Executive Director of GoVA Foundation. “This partnership with TowneBank Mortgage represents an innovative approach to helping military families achieve homeownership readiness. We’re grateful for TowneBank Mortgage’s commitment to supporting those who serve our country and look forward to the measurable impact this collaboration will create in their communities.”

Early Results Show Strong Engagement

Since program launch in March 2026, initial cohort participants have demonstrated strong engagement:

• 100% platform activation rate among enrolled members
• 60% of participants verified as residents of low-to-moderate income communities

The partnership reflects both organizations’ commitment to supporting military communities and expanding access to homeownership education. TowneBank Mortgage will receive impact reports including LMI verification, geographic distribution, and educational milestone achievements as part of the grant agreement, while sponsored military members gain unlimited access to The Edge’s financial education tools for a full year.

Comprehensive Homeownership Education Pathway

The Edge platform provides military families with a complete educational pathway to homeownership readiness, including:

• Credit management and improvement strategies
• Debt reduction and budgeting tools
• Down payment savings planning
• Mortgage qualification preparation
• Foreclosure prevention and financial resilience training

All educational content is delivered through The Edge’s personalized learning approach, which adapts to each member’s financial goals, learning style, and individual circumstances.

About GoVA Foundation

GoVA Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering military families through innovative financial education and resources. Through its digital education platform, The Edge, GoVA provides comprehensive financial literacy tools, interactive courses, and personalized resources tailored to the needs of service members, veterans, and their spouses. The platform features a mobile-optimized design to ensure accessibility for military families regardless of location. GoVA Foundation has served over 9,000 military families across all 50 states and maintains partnerships with forward-thinking financial institutions.

About TowneBank Mortgage

Headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, TowneBank Mortgage is a premier mortgage lender and a division of TowneBank. The company is licensed to lend in 18 states across the U.S., offering a comprehensive suite of loan programs—including conventional, FHA, VA, and USDA solutions—designed to meet the diverse needs of homebuyers. Dedicated to a consultative, relationship-based approach, TowneBank Mortgage combines the scale of a national lender with the personal attention and local decision-making of a hometown bank. For more information, visit TowneBankMortgage.com.

Contact:

Lizann Lightfoot, VP of Marketing, GoVA Foundation
Lizann.Lightfoot@govafoundation.org