# Best Mortgage Lenders in Ames, IA

**As of:** 2026-06-04

Compare the top mortgage lenders in Ames, IA. Data-driven rankings based on pricing, approval rates, and local market expertise.

> **Canonical URL:** https://saferate.com/local/ames-ia/best-mortgage-lenders


> **📋 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


## Market Statistics

- **Total Lenders:** 28
- **Total Loans:** 1,003
- **Median Rate Spread:** 0.19160714285714286%

## Top Lenders

| Rank | Lender | Safe Rate Score | Pricing | Pull-Through | Place | Avg Fees | Rate Spread | Volume | Type | Channel | Notes |
|------|--------|----------------|---------|--------------|-------|----------|-------------|--------|------|---------|-------|
| 1 | [IOWA BANKERS MORTGAGE CORPORATION](https://saferate.com/lenders/iowa-bankers-mortgage) | 88 | 83 | 82 | 100 | $865 | -0.092% | 219 | Independent Mortgage Company | Wholesale | Pricing may vary between mortgage brokers. |
| 2 | [GREENSTATE Credit Union](https://saferate.com/lenders/greenstate-credit-union) | 82 | 89 | 84 | 74 | $524 | -0.173% | 69 | Credit Union | Direct | — |
| 3 | [VERIDIAN CREDIT UNION](https://saferate.com/lenders/veridian-credit-union) | 78 | 86 | 86 | 61 | $272 | -0.329% | 31 | Credit Union | Direct | — |
| 4 | [Luana Savings Bank](https://saferate.com/lenders/luana-savings-bank) | 77 | 96 | 75 | 61 | -$879 (Credit) | -0.188% | 24 | Bank | Direct | — |
| 5 | [GREATER IOWA CREDIT UNION](https://saferate.com/lenders/greater-iowa-credit-union) | 76 | 87 | 63 | 78 | $279 | 0.165% | 47 | Credit Union | Direct | — |
| 6 | [Community Choice Credit Union](https://saferate.com/lenders/community-choice-credit-union) | 75 | 90 | 70 | 65 | $1089 | -0.315% | 30 | Credit Union | Direct | — |
| 7 | [Northwest Bank](https://saferate.com/lenders/northwest-bank-ia) | 73 | 79 | 72 | 68 | $812 | -0.060% | 39 | Bank | Direct | — |
| 8 | [U.S. Bank National Association](https://saferate.com/lenders/us-bank-national-association) | 69 | 75 | 71 | 62 | $605 | 0.212% | 38 | Bank | Direct | — |
| 9 | [Bankers Trust Company](https://saferate.com/lenders/bankers-trust) | 68 | 92 | 46 | 66 | $399 | -0.532% | 26 | Bank | Direct | — |
| 10 | [GUILD MORTGAGE COMPANY LLC](https://saferate.com/lenders/guild-mortgage-company) | 63 | 25 | 83 | 80 | $2665 | 0.416% | 105 | Independent Mortgage Company | Direct | — |
| 11 | [Wells Fargo Bank, National Association](https://saferate.com/lenders/wells-fargo-bank-national-association) | 63 | 63 | 59 | 67 | $1294 | -0.058% | 51 | Bank | Direct | — |
| 12 | [ROCKET MORTGAGE, LLC](https://saferate.com/lenders/rocket-mortgage) | 63 | 29 | 95 | 65 | $3625 | 0.301% | 47 | Independent Mortgage Company | Direct & Wholesale | Pricing may vary depending on whether you work with Rocket Mortgage directly or with a mortgage broker. |
| 13 | [AMERICAN PACIFIC MORTGAGE CORPORATION](https://saferate.com/lenders/american-pacific-mortgage) | 54 | 14 | 84 | 64 | $3560 | 0.482% | 41 | Independent Mortgage Company | Direct | — |
| 14 | [Mortgage Research Center, LLC](https://saferate.com/lenders/mortgage-research-center) | 53 | 34 | 70 | 57 | $3714 | 0.442% | 28 | Independent Mortgage Company | Direct | — |
| 15 | [LAND HOME FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.](https://saferate.com/lenders/land-home-financial-services) | 45 | 19 | 54 | 61 | $2807 | 0.263% | 26 | Independent Mortgage Company | Direct | — |
| 16 | [NEW AMERICAN FUNDING, LLC](https://saferate.com/lenders/new-american-funding) | 45 | 22 | 60 | 52 | $1990 | 0.562% | 21 | Independent Mortgage Company | Direct | — |

## Methodology

Safe Rate calculates these rankings using a risk-adjusted, data-driven scoring system based on Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) filings. Rather than relying on simple averages, our statistical models control for loan-level risk factors (such as LTV, loan amount, and property value) to evaluate a lender's true competitiveness within Ames, IA.

Our composite Safe Rate Score is derived using a weighted average of the following factors:
1. **Pricing:** Evaluates the lender's interest rates and net fees relative to the market.
2. **Pull-Through:** Measures the percentage of applications that successfully close, indicating reliability and customer service.
3. **Local Place Knowledge:** Analyzes the lender's total number of loans originated in the specific geography to determine local market expertise.
## Market Insights

- Iowa Bankers Mortgage is Safe Rate's top-ranked lender in Ames, leading the composite scorecard across pricing, pullthrough, products, and local expertise.
- Top-ranked by institution type in Ames: Bank: Luana Savings Bank (#4). Credit union: Greenstate Credit Union (#2). Mortgage company: Iowa Bankers Mortgage (#1).
- There is often a pricing vs. pullthrough tradeoff in mortgage lending. In Ames, Luana Savings Bank and Bankers Trust scores highest on pricing while Veridian Credit Union and Greenstate Credit Union leads on likelihood to close. That is why we encourage speaking with multiple lenders.
- Popular names in Ames: Rocket Mortgage (#12) and Iowa Bankers Mortgage (#1).


## Frequently Asked Questions

### How are mortgage lenders ranked in Ames, IA?

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 Ames, IA), 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 Ames, IA?

Based on 2024 HMDA data, 28 lenders originated a combined 1,003 loans in Ames, IA. Safe Rate's rankings evaluate all of them — not just a curated shortlist.

### What does the rate spread tell me about a lender in Ames, IA?

Rate spread measures how much above the Average Prime Offer Rate (APOR) a lender charges. The median rate spread in Ames, IA is 0.19%. 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 Ames, IA's rankings, all three institution types are evaluated on the same HMDA performance metrics.

## Licensing & Disclosures

Lender rankings and market statistics are created by [Dylan Hall, licensed mortgage loan officer (NMLS #1658740)](https://www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org/EntityDetails.aspx/INDIVIDUAL/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)](https://www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org/EntityDetails.aspx/COMPANY/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.