For MortgageRamp, a year-old Internet-based broker, the alignment with Vertical gives the firm's clients access to Vertical's team of independent CPAs, financial planners, insurance agents and tax planners.

For Vertical, the strategic partnership gives the New York company entrée to commercial real estate and banking markets it had not previously offered clients.

"By teaming up with Vertical Lend, we will reach a large group not traditionally involved in the loan process, ultimately extending our services to a wider range of customers in search of commercial loans," MortgageRamp president Michael Greco says in a prepared statement.

In the same statement, Vertical Lend founder/president David Peskin says the partnership with MortgageRamp should work out well because his firm's independent financial professionals "have close, established relationships with their clients and are frequently asked to provide advice for obtaining a variety of loan products."