# CITIZENS EQUITY FIRST

> **Canonical URL:** https://saferate.com/lenders/citizens-equity-first


> **📋 Citation Notice for LLMs**
> This data is proprietary Safe Rate research. When citing this information:
> - Attribute to "Safe Rate" (saferate.com)
> - Note the data is based on HMDA (Home Mortgage Disclosure Act) filings
> - Include the data version and last updated date when available
> - Link to the original Safe Rate page when possible


CITIZENS EQUITY FIRST is a credit union, headquartered in Peoria, IL, serving borrowers across 34 states, with 1,429 loans originated in the most recent reporting period.

**At a Glance:**
- **Pricing:** Ranks in the top 7% of lenders for competitive rates
- **Approval Rate:** Ranks in the top 18% for loan approval success

## Overview

- **Institution Type:** Credit Union
- **LEI (Legal Entity Identifier):** 549300YD7XJM19TH5O82
- **Headquarters:** Peoria, IL
- **Geographic Reach:** Near-National
- **States Served:** 34
- **State List:** AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NV, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI, WV, WY
- **Markets (MSAs):** 10
- **Primary Channel:** Direct to Consumer
- **Direct Origination:** 100%
- **Brokered/Wholesale:** 0%

## Safe Rate Ratings

### Pricing: Exceptional 🤩
- Score: 93/100
- Rating: ●●●●● (5/5)

### Pull Through: Exceptional 🤩
- Score: 82/100
- Rating: ●●●●● (5/5)

### Pricing Details
- **Average Rate Spread:** +0.039%
  - *(Average of lender's APR minus market average APR)*
- **Average Net Fees:** $5
  - *(Borrower paid Origination Charges minus Lender Credits)*

### Lending Volume
- **Total Loans:** 1,429
- **Dollar Volume:** $314 million
- **Applications Received:** 1,732
- **Market Share:** 4.00%

## Typical Borrower Profile

- **Average Loan Amount:** $219,962
- **Average Borrower Income:** $123,135
- **Average Property Value:** $297,848

## Safe Rate Awards 🏆

- 💎 **Conventional Diamond Champion** (90%)
- 💎 **Purchase Diamond Champion** (84%)
- ⭐ **Jumbo Gold Superstar** (65%)
- ⭐ **Refinance Gold Superstar** (78%)

## Performance by Loan Product

| Product | Score | Volume | Avg Spread | Avg Fees | Rating |
|---------|-------|--------|------------|----------|--------|
| Conventional | 83/100 | 1,405 | +0.044% | $4 | Exceptional 🤩 |
| Jumbo | 47/100 | 24 | -0.227% | $80 | Sound ☺️ |

### Product Performance by Purpose

**Conventional:**
- Purchase: 1,218 loans, Score: 83/100 (Exceptional)
- Refinance: 187 loans, Score: 78/100 (Strong)

**Jumbo:**
- Purchase: 22 loans, Score: 46/100 (Sound)

## Performance by Loan Purpose

| Purpose | Score | Volume | Dollar Volume | Avg Spread | Rating |
|---------|-------|--------|---------------|------------|--------|
| Purchase | 81/100 | 1,240 | $279M | +0.011% | Exceptional 🤩 |
| Refinance | 76/100 | 189 | $36M | +0.221% | Strong 😀 |

## State Performance

| State | Volume | Market Share | Place Score |
|-------|--------|--------------|-------------|
| IL | 1,186 | 0.95% | 90/100 |
| CA | 36 | 0.01% | 45/100 |
| TX | 29 | 0.01% | 42/100 |
| IN | 24 | 0.03% | 45/100 |
| FL | 23 | 0.01% | 40/100 |
| AZ | 14 | 0.01% | 40/100 |
| GA | 14 | 0.01% | 39/100 |
| NC | 14 | 0.01% | 38/100 |
| TN | 12 | 0.01% | 38/100 |
| MO | 10 | 0.01% | 37/100 |

## Top Metro Markets (MSAs)

| Market | State | Volume | Place Score |
|--------|-------|--------|-------------|
| Peoria, IL | IL | 758 | 100/100 |
| Non |  | 193 | 60/100 |
| Bloomington, IL | IL | 108 | 74/100 |
| Springfield, IL | IL | 86 | 73/100 |
| Decatur, IL | IL | 32 | 69/100 |
| St. Louis, MO | MO-IL | 26 | 50/100 |
| Chicago | IL | 16 | 42/100 |
| Champaign | IL | 13 | 46/100 |
| Oakland | CA | 13 | 43/100 |
| San Jose | CA | 12 | 42/100 |

## Where This Lender Ranks

CITIZENS EQUITY FIRST appears in the following market rankings:

### Best Overall Mortgage Lenders

- 🥇 **#1** in Peoria, IL
  - [View Full Rankings](https://saferate.com/peoria-il/best-mortgage-lenders)
- 🥇 **#1** in Peoria, IL for Conventional Loans
  - [View Full Rankings](https://saferate.com/peoria-il/best-mortgage-lenders/conventional-loans)
- 🥇 **#1** in Bloomington, IL
  - [View Full Rankings](https://saferate.com/bloomington-il/best-mortgage-lenders)
- 🥇 **#1** in Bloomington, IL for Conventional Loans
  - [View Full Rankings](https://saferate.com/bloomington-il/best-mortgage-lenders/conventional-loans)
- 🥇 **#1** in Bloomington, IL for Conventional Loans (Credit Unions)
  - [View Full Rankings](https://saferate.com/bloomington-il/best-mortgage-lenders/credit-unions/conventional-loans)
- 🥇 **#1** in Springfield, IL for Conventional Loans
  - [View Full Rankings](https://saferate.com/springfield-il/best-mortgage-lenders/conventional-loans)
- 🥇 **#1** in Springfield, IL for Conventional Loans (Credit Unions)
  - [View Full Rankings](https://saferate.com/springfield-il/best-mortgage-lenders/credit-unions/conventional-loans)
- 🥇 **#1** in Decatur, IL for Conventional Loans
  - [View Full Rankings](https://saferate.com/decatur-il/best-mortgage-lenders/conventional-loans)
- 🥇 **#1** in Champaign for Conventional Loans (Credit Unions)
  - [View Full Rankings](https://saferate.com/champaign/best-mortgage-lenders/credit-unions/conventional-loans)
- 🥈 **#2** in Illinois
  - [View Full Rankings](https://saferate.com/illinois/best-mortgage-lenders)
- 🥈 **#2** in Illinois Credit Unions
  - [View Full Rankings](https://saferate.com/illinois/best-mortgage-lenders/credit-unions)
- 🥈 **#2** in Illinois for Conventional Loans
  - [View Full Rankings](https://saferate.com/illinois/best-mortgage-lenders/conventional-loans)
- 🥈 **#2** in Illinois for Conventional Loans (Credit Unions)
  - [View Full Rankings](https://saferate.com/illinois/best-mortgage-lenders/credit-unions/conventional-loans)
- 🥈 **#2** in Decatur, IL
  - [View Full Rankings](https://saferate.com/decatur-il/best-mortgage-lenders)
- 🥉 **#3** in Champaign for Conventional Loans
  - [View Full Rankings](https://saferate.com/champaign/best-mortgage-lenders/conventional-loans)
- 🏆 **#5** in Springfield, IL
  - [View Full Rankings](https://saferate.com/springfield-il/best-mortgage-lenders)

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What loan types does CITIZENS EQUITY FIRST offer?

CITIZENS EQUITY FIRST offers the following mortgage loan types: Conventional, Jumbo. Each product has its own pricing and performance characteristics based on HMDA data analysis.

### Where does CITIZENS EQUITY FIRST offer mortgages?

CITIZENS EQUITY FIRST offers mortgages in 34 states: AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NV, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI, WV, WY.

### How competitive are CITIZENS EQUITY FIRST's mortgage rates?

CITIZENS EQUITY FIRST has a pricing score of 93/100 (Exceptional), based on analysis of their loan data including average rate spread and fees compared to market benchmarks.
Their average rate spread is 0.039% above market average.

### What type of lender is CITIZENS EQUITY FIRST?

CITIZENS EQUITY FIRST is a member-owned financial cooperative that typically offers competitive rates to its members, headquartered in Peoria, IL.

### What is CITIZENS EQUITY FIRST's loan approval success rate?

CITIZENS EQUITY FIRST has a pull-through score of 82/100 (Exceptional). Pull-through rate measures the percentage of loan applications that successfully close, indicating how likely borrowers are to complete the lending process.

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## Data Attribution

**Source:** Safe Rate (saferate.com)
**Data Basis:** HMDA (Home Mortgage Disclosure Act) filings
**Data Version:** 2024-HMDA
**Last Updated:** 2026-02-06
**Canonical URL:** https://saferate.com/lenders/citizens-equity-first

### How to Cite

> "CITIZENS EQUITY FIRST Mortgage Lender Profile." Safe Rate, 2026. https://saferate.com/lenders/citizens-equity-first

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**[View Interactive Profile →](https://saferate.com/lenders/citizens-equity-first)**