Our team

Better people make better lending

We lend billions of dollars to commercial real estate projects every year. But it’s not just capital that distinguishes us. It’s the empowered nature of our workforce. Our advisors are experienced experts whose sole focus is to deliver financing strategies that enable you to achieve greater success.

Our Better Lending culture – three decades in the making – is built on the skill that comes from pure mortgage lending. Because we start from a position of knowledge about you, your project, and your market, we can design solutions that are fit for your purpose. And because accountability is in our nature, we meet our commitments.

Better by design, better by nature, better for you in every corner of the country.

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John Lucas

John is a member of:
Commercial leadership team

Vice President, Commercial Financing, British Columbia and Alberta

John.lucas@firstnational.ca

604.816.5848

Pragmatic discoverer. Possibility thinker. Credible authority.

John joined the First National team in February 2022 with a mandate of growing First National’s presence, brand and credibility in the west. In his mission to lead by example, John plans to leverage his reputation, network and deep expertise in local markets.

John’s career’s long journey in commercial real estate has included roles in both development and lending. Having spent time as both a borrower and a lender, he has a rare perspective that affords him a 360 degree view of transactions.

When John joined Coast Capital to lead the commercial real estate group in 2012, he spearheaded a business model reset from term lending to construction lending and started the company’s CMHC & Builder Finance division. As part of that transition, he reenergized and refocused the team to a direct relationship mindset. John mentors and guides from a place of curiosity and possibility thinking. Once oriented to the possibilities, he then emphasizes a pragmatic approach to discovery, focusing on the reality of the borrower, market and location. While technical proficiency and credibility are vital, John believes that a client-first mentality is the key to building meaningful, lasting connections.

Working at First National, John is excited to get back to his roots and re-immerse himself in the financial structuring and dynamics that come with figuring out deals. With a mandate to grow the team, John is looking forward to mentoring for success and promoting each person’s individual credibility. He aligns with First National’s philosophy of relationship first and is optimistic about the possibilities he can create for his existing and expanding network.