Safe Rate Rankings

Best Mortgage Lenders in Arkansas

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 Lenders180

Total Loans31,386

Median Rate Spread0.34%

Arkansas Market Insights

Firstar Bank is Safe Rate's top-ranked lender in Arkansas, leading the composite scorecard across pricing, pullthrough, products, and local expertise.
Top-ranked by institution type in Arkansas: Bank: Firstar Bank (#1). Credit union: Navy Federal Credit Union (#8). Mortgage company: Flat Branch Mortgage (#4).
There is often a pricing vs. pullthrough tradeoff in mortgage lending. In Arkansas, Navy Federal Credit Union and First Security Bank scores highest on pricing while Firstar Bank and Flat Branch Mortgage leads on likelihood to close. That is why we encourage speaking with multiple lenders.
United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) ranks #13 in Arkansas, 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 Arkansas: Rocket Mortgage (#11) and Arvest Bank (#16), both outside Safe Rate's top 10. Independent lenders and specialists tend to score higher on our composite scorecard.

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	Firstar Bank BankDirect	Exceptional	Strong	Exceptional	Exceptional	$1,451Fees	0.034%Above	334
2	First Security Bank BankDirect	Strong	Exceptional	Strong	Exceptional	$1,802Fees	0.166%Below	493
3	Priority Bank BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Exceptional	$2,112Fees	0.015%Above	260
4	FLAT BRANCH MORTGAGE, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	Exceptional	$2,020Fees	0.272%Above	1,087
5	Generations Bank BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Strong	$1,236Fees	0.062%Above	176
6	LENDLO MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Sound*	Exceptional	Exceptional	$3,294Fees	0.382%Above	892
7	BANK OF LITTLE ROCK MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Exceptional	$1,030Fees	0.192%Above	340
8	NAVY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION Credit UnionDirect	Strong	Exceptional	Sound	Strong	$633Fees	0.513%Below	284
9	Eagle Bank and Trust Company BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	Exceptional	$2,209Fees	0.191%Above	783
10	ARKANSAS Federal Credit Union Credit UnionDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Exceptional	$2,417Fees	0.047%Below	477
11	ROCKET MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Acceptable*	Exceptional	Exceptional	$3,673Fees	0.435%Above	2,648
12	U.S. Bank National Association BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Strong	$1,068Fees	0.140%Above	253
13	UNITED WHOLESALE MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale	Strong	Sound*	Exceptional	Strong	$2,407Fees	0.024%Below	804
14	Bank of America, National Association BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Strong	$1,537Fees	0.044%Below	155
15	FIRST WESTERN MORTGAGE, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Exceptional	Sound	Strong	$1,052Fees	0.029%Above	138
16	Arvest Bank BankDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Strong	Exceptional	$1,711Fees	0.302%Above	2,687
17	NBKC BANK BankDirect	Strong	Exceptional	Sound	Strong	$667Fees	0.196%Below	91
18	ASSOCIATED MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	Strong	$1,296Fees	0.171%Above	306
19	The First National Bank of Fort Smith BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Exceptional	$1,707Fees	0.124%Above	264
20	GERSHMAN INVESTMENT CORP. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Strong	$1,481Fees	0.008%Above	263
21	UNITED FEDERAL CREDIT UNION Credit UnionDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Strong	$1,355Fees	0.023%Above	115
22	COMMUNITY MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	Strong	$2,561Fees	0.178%Above	257
23	ENCORE BANK BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	$1,069Fees	0.231%Above	408
24	First Financial Bank BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Exceptional	$2,152Fees	0.194%Above	247
25	Chambers Bank BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Strong	$2,294Fees	0.007%Below	196
26	MY MOVE MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Strong	$2,333Fees	0.076%Above	154
27	GMFS LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Sound*	Exceptional	Strong	$2,057Fees	0.238%Above	92
28	Centennial Bank BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Sound	Exceptional	$1,726Fees	0.245%Above	882
29	First Horizon Bank BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Strong	$1,747Fees	0.135%Above	434
30	Cadence Bank BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Strong	$1,639Fees	0.346%Above	311
31	SWBC MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	$3,871Fees	0.260%Above	304
32	ARK-LA-TEX FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Sound*	Exceptional	Strong	$3,016Fees	0.527%Above	175
33	FREEDOM MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Sound*	Strong	Strong	$2,844Fees	0.266%Above	271
34	MORTGAGE INVESTORS GROUP, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	Strong	$2,125Fees	0.323%Above	186
35	Farmers Bank & Trust Company BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Strong	$880Fees	0.596%Above	122
36	Simmons Bank BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Exceptional	$1,834Fees	0.393%Above	531
37	PENNYMAC LOAN SERVICES, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Sound*	Strong	Strong	$2,160Fees	0.026%Below	291
38	FIRST COMMUNITY MORTGAGE, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Acceptable*	Exceptional	Strong	$2,493Fees	0.399%Above	223
39	LOANDEPOT.COM, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Sound*	Strong	Strong	$2,836Fees	0.413%Above	204
40	Mortgage Research Center, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Strong	Exceptional	$2,022Fees	0.430%Above	936
41	First Community Bank BankDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Strong	Exceptional	$2,907Fees	0.262%Above	684
42	FAIRWAY INDEPENDENT MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	$3,457Fees	0.696%Above	611
43	JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association BankDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Sound*	Strong	Strong	$1,809Fees	0.147%Above	238
44	Wells Fargo Bank, National Association BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Sound	Strong	$2,458Fees	0.080%Above	166
45	The Central Trust Bank BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Strong	$1,867Fees	0.314%Above	107
46	HIGHLANDS RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE, LTD. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Mediocre	Strong	Exceptional	$3,089Fees	0.535%Above	631
47	Regions Bank BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Strong	$1,831Fees	0.367%Above	529
48	MORTGAGE FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Strong	Strong	$2,581Fees	0.696%Above	254
49	Gateway First Bank BankDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Strong	Strong	$2,581Fees	0.211%Above	237
50	The Farmers & Merchants Bank BankDirect	Strong	—	Sound	Strong	$1,913Fees	0.189%Below	150

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How are mortgage lenders ranked in Arkansas?+

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 Arkansas), 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 Arkansas?+

Based on 2024 HMDA data, 180 lenders originated a combined 31,386 loans in Arkansas. Safe Rate's rankings evaluate all of them — not just a curated shortlist.

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

Rate spread measures how much above the Average Prime Offer Rate (APOR) a lender charges. The median rate spread in Arkansas is 0.34%. 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 Arkansas'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.