Safe Rate Rankings

Best Mortgage Lenders in Albany

Updated June 4, 2026

Rankings are a starting point, not a verdict. Safe Rate recommends speaking with 2-3 lenders to find the right fit for your home loan!

⚖️ The 4 PsRankings are calculated based on observed lender differences on closed loans across Pricing, Pull-through, Product, and Place.

🛡️ No Pay to PlayLenders cannot buy their way to the top. Rankings are 100% earned.

📊 HMDA 2024Built using publicly available originated loan data from the federal government.

🎯 Peer BenchmarkedPerformance is normalized and benchmarked against peer institutions.

Market

Total Lenders60

Total Loans7,504

Median Rate Spread0.30%

Albany Market Insights

Sefcu Services is Safe Rate's top-ranked lender in Albany, leading the composite scorecard across pricing, pullthrough, products, and local expertise.
Top-ranked by institution type in Albany: Bank: Trustco Bank (#3). Credit union: Sunmark Credit Union (#4). Mortgage company: Sefcu Services (#1).
There is often a pricing vs. pullthrough tradeoff in mortgage lending. In Albany, Navy Federal Credit Union and Trustco Bank scores highest on pricing while United Wholesale Mortgage and Homestead Funding leads on likelihood to close. That is why we encourage speaking with multiple lenders.
United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) ranks #8 in Albany, serving as the platform behind many independent local brokers who live and work in the community. A local broker knows the neighborhoods, the local market, and is personally invested in your outcome. Real estate agents often prefer referring local brokers for their accessibility and responsiveness, qualities that matter when a deal is moving fast. Pricing and experience can vary by broker.
Popular names in Albany: Rocket Mortgage (#14) and Sefcu Services (#1).

Explore Rankings by Type

By Loan Product

Lenders often score differently for different loan products. Get tailored rankings by selecting your product type.

FHA Loans Conventional Loans VA Loans Jumbo Loans USDA Loans

By Institution Type

Some consumers only want to work with a credit union, bank, or focused mortgage company. See our rankings here!

Banks Credit Unions Mortgage Companies

Shopping for a mortgage? Click the heart icon to save lenders to My Home and make comparison painless.

Rank	Lender	Overall	Pricing	Pull Through	Place	Avg Fees	Rate Spread	# of Loans
1	SEFCU SERVICES, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Exceptional	Strong	Exceptional	Exceptional	$1,372Fees	0.222%Below	1,853
2	HOMESTEAD FUNDING CORP. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Exceptional	Strong	Exceptional	Exceptional	$1,597Fees	0.089%Above	1,321
3	TrustCo Bank BankDirect	Strong	Exceptional	Sound	Exceptional	$1,663Fees	0.224%Below	351
4	SUNMARK CREDIT UNION Credit UnionDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Exceptional	$1,857Fees	0.040%Above	245
5	PREMIUM MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Strong	Exceptional	Strong	$926Fees	0.236%Above	218
6	SARATOGA NATIONAL BANK AND TRUST COMPANY BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Strong	$823Fees	0.107%Below	198
7	NBT Bank, National Association BankDirect	Strong	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$1,294Fees	0.209%Below	38
8	UNITED WHOLESALE MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale	Strong	Sound*	Exceptional	Strong	$3,074Fees	0.245%Above	571
9	KeyBank National Association BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Strong	$1,340Fees	0.003%Above	183
10	NAVY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION Credit UnionDirect	Strong	Exceptional	Sound	Sound	$712Fees	0.520%Below	66
11	Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Strong	$1,209Fees	0.231%Above	124
12	Bank of America, National Association BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Sound	$2,445Fees	0.052%Above	61
13	Chemung Canal Trust Company BankDirect	Strong	Exceptional	Sound	Strong	$875Fees	0.087%Above	44
14	ROCKET MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Acceptable*	Exceptional	Strong	$4,334Fees	0.641%Above	511
15	Catskill Hudson Bank BankDirect	Strong	Exceptional	Sound	Strong	$485Fees	0.361%Below	33
16	RELIANCE FIRST CAPITAL, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	—	Exceptional	Sound	—	—	31
17	Berkshire Bank BankDirect	Strong	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$1,426Fees	0.228%Below	22
18	FIRST NEW YORK Credit UnionDirect	Strong	Exceptional	Acceptable	Strong	$569Fees	0.420%Below	75
19	U.S. Bank National Association BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Sound	$484Fees	0.028%Below	26
20	Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Company BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Sound	$1,133Fees	0.037%Above	30
21	Citizens Bank, National Association BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Sound	$1,762Fees	0.085%Above	68
22	Community Bank, National Association BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Strong	$521Fees	0.672%Above	76
23	1ST PRIORITY MORTGAGE, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Sound	$1,939Fees	0.252%Above	40
24	MOVEMENT MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	$2,230Fees	0.408%Above	111
25	JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association BankDirect & Wholesale	Sound	Sound*	Strong	Sound	$1,798Fees	0.368%Above	66
26	PENNYMAC LOAN SERVICES, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Sound	Sound*	Strong	Sound	$1,133Fees	0.306%Above	47
27	LOANDEPOT.COM, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Sound	Sound*	Strong	Sound	$2,615Fees	0.592%Above	39
28	Evolve Bank & Trust BankDirect	Sound	Sound	Strong	Sound	$1,964Fees	0.007%Above	38
29	Wells Fargo Bank, National Association BankDirect	Sound	Strong	Sound	Sound	$1,986Fees	0.343%Above	35
30	FAIRWAY INDEPENDENT MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	$3,973Fees	0.429%Above	119
31	FREEDOM MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Sound	Sound*	Strong	Sound	$2,114Fees	1.301%Above	31
32	PLAZA HOME MORTGAGE, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale	Sound	Acceptable*	Strong	Strong	$3,081Fees	0.429%Above	83
33	GUARANTEED RATE, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Sound	Strong	Sound	$2,673Fees	0.428%Above	61
34	EMM LOANS LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Sound	Acceptable*	Strong	Sound	$3,796Fees	0.677%Above	42
35	Mortgage Research Center, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Acceptable	Strong	Sound	—	—	63
36	TD Bank, National Association BankDirect	Sound	Sound	Sound	Sound	$1,122Fees	0.263%Above	41
37	NEWREZ LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Sound	Acceptable*	Sound	Strong	$2,421Fees	0.445%Above	110
38	HUNT MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Acceptable	Strong	Sound	$3,767Fees	0.099%Above	26
39	NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Acceptable	Strong	Sound	$2,344Fees	0.518%Above	38
40	CROSSCOUNTRY MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Acceptable	Strong	Sound	$2,373Fees	0.438%Above	36
41	USAA Federal Savings Bank BankDirect	Sound	Sound	Sound	Sound	$1,908Fees	0.002%Below	21
42	US MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Mediocre	Sound	Strong	$3,314Fees	0.760%Above	66
43	CARRINGTON MORTGAGE SERVICES, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Acceptable	Acceptable	Sound	Sound	$4,410Fees	0.610%Above	21

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How are mortgage lenders ranked in Albany?+

Safe Rate ranks lenders using the 4 Ps framework, derived entirely from HMDA (Home Mortgage Disclosure Act) data: Pricing (how competitively a lender prices loans vs. the market benchmark), Pullthrough (how effectively a lender closes applications), Place (the lender's depth of expertise in Albany), and Product (performance on specific loan types). Each lender receives a composite Safe Rate Score from 0–100. No lender pays to appear in the rankings.

What is the Safe Rate Score?+

The Safe Rate Score is a 0–100 composite index measuring a lender's performance across Pricing, Pullthrough, Place, and Product. Scores of 80 or above earn Champion status; scores of 60–79 earn Superstar status. All scores are calculated from verified HMDA data — no lender can pay to improve their position.

How many mortgage lenders are active in Albany?+

Based on 2024 HMDA data, 60 lenders originated a combined 7,504 loans in Albany. Safe Rate's rankings evaluate all of them — not just a curated shortlist.

What does the rate spread tell me about a lender in Albany?+

Rate spread measures how much above the Average Prime Offer Rate (APOR) a lender charges. The median rate spread in Albany is 0.30%. Lenders in Safe Rate's top rankings consistently price below this median, meaning borrowers typically pay less interest over the life of their loan.

What is HMDA data and why does Safe Rate use it?+

HMDA (Home Mortgage Disclosure Act) is a federal law requiring every mortgage lender to disclose every loan application annually — including rates, amounts, approvals, and denials. Safe Rate uses HMDA because it is government-verified, covers all lenders equally, and cannot be gamed. It is the most objective foundation available for lender rankings.

Does Safe Rate accept payment from lenders to appear in rankings?+

No. Safe Rate rankings are strictly data-driven. No lender can pay to appear in or improve their position in Safe Rate's rankings. The only factor that determines a lender's rank is their verified HMDA performance data.

What is the difference between a bank, credit union, and independent mortgage company?+

Banks and credit unions offer mortgages alongside checking, savings, and other products. Independent Mortgage Companies (IMCs) focus exclusively on originating loans and often offer more product variety and speed. In Albany's rankings, all three institution types are evaluated on the same HMDA performance metrics.

How We Rank Lenders

Our rankings use a weighted average of scores across equally-weighted categories to evaluate lenders on a linear, raw performance scale.

Our Point System (Max 30 Points)

Pricing

Rate and fee competitiveness (33%)

Pull Through

Reliability in closing loans (33%)

Place

Local market expertise (33%)

Data Integrity & Updates

Data is updated quarterly based on the latest HMDA filings and proprietary SafeRate analysis. All metrics are calculated using standardized methodologies to ensure fair comparison across lenders.

⚖️ Licensing & Disclosures

Lender rankings and market statistics are created by Dylan Hall, licensed mortgage loan officer (NMLS #1658740). Safe Rate is a mortgage technology platform; mortgage lending services are provided by PartnerOwn LLC dba Safe Rate Mortgage, a licensed mortgage broker and lender (NMLS #1590949). Safe Rate Mortgage is a lending partner of some of the lenders ranked on this page, and Safe Rate Inc. has software or service customers on this list; however, all rankings are calculated using objective, public Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) datasets, completely independent of any corporate partnerships, client relationships, or compensation.