Looking for HELOC help

[Pete Woelfel]

Hi BP friends - wondering if someone could point me in the right direction here.  I have quite a bit of equity in my home and would like to establish a home equity line of credit to use on some home repairs that are needed and potentially have it available to help with investments if an opportunity arises where it would make sense. 
I recently refinanced my primary residence with Bell Bank. They have a mortgage office in Tosa but not a retail branch. Because they don't have a bank presence here, they do not offer a HELOC option.

My understanding in general is that financial institutions will only offer home equity products if they hold the mortgage on the property.  Is this line of thinking correct?  Is anyone aware of a lender that will provide a home equity line of credit if they don't hold the mortgage or do I need to refi again with a bank that would offer a Heloc type product in the Milwaukee area?

Thanks in advance!

[Matthew Ringer]

Short answer is HELOC does not need to be with same lender as mortgage. Shop around