Safe Rate Rankings

Best Conventional 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

Flat Branch Mortgage is Safe Rate's top-ranked Conventional lender in Arkansas, leading on pricing, pullthrough, Conventional product expertise, and local knowledge.
There is often a pricing vs. pullthrough tradeoff in mortgage lending. In Arkansas, Navy Federal Credit Union and First Security Bank scores highest on Conventional pricing while Firstar Bank and Rocket Mortgage leads on likelihood to close. That is why we encourage speaking with multiple lenders.
United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) ranks #6 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 (#2) and Arvest Bank (#7).

Explore Rankings by Type

Overall Rankings

All lenders in Arkansas

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By Institution Type

Banks Credit Unions Mortgage Companies

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Rank	Lender	Overall	Pricing	Product	Pull Through	Place	Avg Fees	Rate Spread	# of Loans
1	FLAT BRANCH MORTGAGE, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Exceptional	Sound	Exceptional	Exceptional	Exceptional	$2,020Fees	0.272%Above	1,087
2	ROCKET MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Acceptable*	Exceptional	Exceptional	Exceptional	$3,673Fees	0.435%Above	2,648
3	Firstar Bank BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Exceptional	Exceptional	$1,451Fees	0.034%Above	334
4	NAVY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION Credit UnionDirect	Strong	Exceptional	Exceptional	Sound	Strong	$633Fees	0.513%Below	284
5	U.S. Bank National Association BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$1,068Fees	0.140%Above	253
6	UNITED WHOLESALE MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale	Strong	Acceptable*	Exceptional	Exceptional	Strong	$2,407Fees	0.024%Below	804
7	Arvest Bank BankDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	Exceptional	$1,711Fees	0.302%Above	2,687
8	Eagle Bank and Trust Company BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Strong	Exceptional	$2,209Fees	0.191%Above	783
9	First Security Bank BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Strong	Exceptional	$1,802Fees	0.166%Below	493
10	Bank of America, National Association BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$1,537Fees	0.044%Below	155
11	UNITED FEDERAL CREDIT UNION Credit UnionDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Strong	Strong	$1,355Fees	0.023%Above	115
12	ARKANSAS Federal Credit Union Credit UnionDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Strong	Exceptional	$2,417Fees	0.047%Below	477
13	First Horizon Bank BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$1,747Fees	0.135%Above	434
14	GERSHMAN INVESTMENT CORP. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$1,481Fees	0.008%Above	263
15	JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association BankDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Sound*	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$1,809Fees	0.147%Above	238
16	Cadence Bank BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$1,639Fees	0.346%Above	311
17	ASSOCIATED MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$1,296Fees	0.171%Above	306
18	Generations Bank BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Sound	Strong	Strong	$1,236Fees	0.062%Above	176
19	GMFS LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Sound*	Exceptional	Exceptional	Strong	$2,057Fees	0.238%Above	92
20	FAIRWAY INDEPENDENT MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$3,457Fees	0.696%Above	611
21	BANK OF LITTLE ROCK MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Strong	Exceptional	$1,030Fees	0.192%Above	340
22	NBKC BANK BankDirect	Strong	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	Strong	$667Fees	0.196%Below	91
23	SWBC MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$3,871Fees	0.260%Above	304
24	COMMUNITY MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Exceptional	Strong	$2,561Fees	0.178%Above	257
25	LOANDEPOT.COM, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Sound*	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$2,836Fees	0.413%Above	204
26	Wells Fargo Bank, National Association BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Exceptional	Sound	Strong	$2,458Fees	0.080%Above	166
27	Centennial Bank BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	$1,726Fees	0.245%Above	882
28	Regions Bank BankDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$1,831Fees	0.367%Above	529
29	GUILD MORTGAGE COMPANY LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$2,358Fees	0.423%Above	293
30	ARK-LA-TEX FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Sound*	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$3,016Fees	0.527%Above	175
31	Farmers Bank & Trust Company BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Exceptional	Strong	$880Fees	0.596%Above	122
32	The Central Trust Bank BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$1,867Fees	0.314%Above	107
33	ENCORE BANK BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	$1,069Fees	0.231%Above	408
34	DAS Acquisition Company, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$2,529Fees	0.652%Above	261
35	First Financial Bank BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Sound	Exceptional	Exceptional	$2,152Fees	0.194%Above	247
36	FIRST COMMUNITY MORTGAGE, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Acceptable*	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$2,493Fees	0.399%Above	223
37	GUARANTEED RATE, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$2,307Fees	0.368%Above	193
38	MORTGAGE INVESTORS GROUP, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$2,125Fees	0.323%Above	186
39	MY MOVE MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Strong	Strong	$2,333Fees	0.076%Above	154
40	MOVEMENT MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$3,191Fees	0.577%Above	109
41	PENNYMAC LOAN SERVICES, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Sound*	Exceptional	Sound	Strong	$2,160Fees	0.026%Below	291
42	The First National Bank of Fort Smith BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Strong	Exceptional	$1,707Fees	0.124%Above	264
43	Gateway First Bank BankDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$2,581Fees	0.211%Above	237
44	CMG MORTGAGE, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$991Fees	0.060%Above	102
45	Nations Lending Corporation Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Exceptional	Sound	$1,982Fees	0.335%Above	70
46	Priority Bank BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Sound	Strong	Exceptional	$2,112Fees	0.015%Above	260
47	CROSSCOUNTRY MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$3,247Fees	0.568%Above	181
48	PRIMELENDING, A PLAINSCAPITAL COMPANY Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$4,086Fees	0.267%Above	137
49	Flagstar Bank, N.A. BankDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Acceptable*	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$1,737Fees	0.149%Above	70
50	HIGHLANDS RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE, LTD. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	Exceptional	$3,089Fees	0.535%Above	631

❓ 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 40 Points)

Pricing

Rate and fee competitiveness (25%)

Pull Through

Reliability in closing loans (25%)

Product

Specialization in the loan type (25%)

Place

Local market expertise (25%)

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.