Tigard-based Pacific Rim Mortgage specializes in meeting needs of those in underserved communities

Beginning as a teller, then later, writing mortgages for people with both good and bad credit, Victoria Bigham has almost 15 years of experience working to earn her customers trust.

Now she does it as part of her own business.

I never imagined this to be the next part of my journey, she said, but it's the best decision I ever made.

Bigham started Pacific Rim Mortgage in Tigard last year with a vision - to specialize in meeting the mortgage needs of people in underserved communities.

The communities can be ethnic, geographic, or rooted in a common interest or activity. Whatever the focus, Pacific Rim inserts itself into the group, not just as a business but as a member.

It's a marketing strategy dreamt up by Bigham's longtime friend, Richard Horswell, who serves as Pacific Rim's vice president.

We approach things differently, Horswell said. We don't rely on direct mail or TV and radio advertising. We build relationships with communities. We...