Safe Rate Rankings

Best USDA 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

Lendlo Mortgage is Safe Rate's top-ranked USDA lender in Arkansas, leading on pricing, pullthrough, USDA product expertise, and local knowledge.
There is often a pricing vs. pullthrough tradeoff in mortgage lending. In Arkansas, Gmfs and First Security Bank scores highest on USDA pricing while Firstar Bank and Lendlo 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.

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	LENDLO MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Exceptional	Strong*	Exceptional	Exceptional	Exceptional	$3,294Fees	0.382%Above	892
2	Firstar Bank BankDirect	Exceptional	Strong	Exceptional	Exceptional	Exceptional	$1,451Fees	0.034%Above	334
3	FLAT BRANCH MORTGAGE, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Exceptional	Sound	Exceptional	Strong	Exceptional	$2,020Fees	0.272%Above	1,087
4	First Security Bank BankDirect	Exceptional	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	Exceptional	$1,802Fees	0.166%Below	493
5	GUILD MORTGAGE COMPANY LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Exceptional	Strong	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$2,358Fees	0.423%Above	293
6	UNITED WHOLESALE MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale	Strong	Strong*	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$2,407Fees	0.024%Below	804
7	Eagle Bank and Trust Company BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Exceptional	Strong	Exceptional	$2,209Fees	0.191%Above	783
8	GMFS LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Exceptional*	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$2,057Fees	0.238%Above	92
9	Simmons Bank BankDirect	Strong	Exceptional	Exceptional	Strong	Exceptional	$1,834Fees	0.393%Above	531
10	Priority Bank BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Strong	Exceptional	$2,112Fees	0.015%Above	260
11	GERSHMAN INVESTMENT CORP. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Strong	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$1,481Fees	0.008%Above	263
12	FIRST COMMUNITY MORTGAGE, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Sound*	Exceptional	Exceptional	Strong	$2,493Fees	0.399%Above	223
13	NEWREZ LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Strong*	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$1,930Fees	0.455%Above	157
14	COMMUNITY MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	Exceptional	Strong	$2,561Fees	0.178%Above	257
15	Arvest Bank BankDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	Exceptional	$1,711Fees	0.302%Above	2,687
16	MORTGAGE INVESTORS GROUP, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$2,125Fees	0.323%Above	186
17	Centennial Bank BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	Sound	Exceptional	$1,726Fees	0.245%Above	882
18	First Horizon Bank BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Strong	Strong	$1,747Fees	0.135%Above	434
19	BANK OF LITTLE ROCK MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Strong	—	Strong	Exceptional	$1,030Fees	0.192%Above	340
20	First Financial Bank BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Strong	Exceptional	$2,152Fees	0.194%Above	247
21	SWBC MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$3,871Fees	0.260%Above	304
22	Chambers Bank BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Strong	Strong	$2,294Fees	0.007%Below	196
23	KIND LENDING, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale	Strong	Sound*	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$1,139Fees	0.423%Above	66
24	FAIRWAY INDEPENDENT MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Mediocre	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$3,457Fees	0.696%Above	611
25	Gateway First Bank BankDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$2,581Fees	0.211%Above	237
26	First Community Bank BankDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	$2,907Fees	0.262%Above	684
27	HIGHLANDS RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE, LTD. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Mediocre	Exceptional	Strong	Exceptional	$3,089Fees	0.535%Above	631
28	Regions Bank BankDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Sound	Strong	$1,831Fees	0.367%Above	529
29	Bank of England BankDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Sound	Strong	$1,949Fees	0.307%Above	371
30	PRIMELENDING, A PLAINSCAPITAL COMPANY Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$4,086Fees	0.267%Above	137
31	UNITED FEDERAL CREDIT UNION Credit UnionDirect	Strong	Strong	—	Strong	Strong	$1,355Fees	0.023%Above	115
32	T2 FINANCIAL LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$2,984Fees	0.406%Above	115
33	Paramount Residential Mortgage Group, Inc. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Sound*	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$2,219Fees	0.335%Above	81
34	ENCORE BANK BankDirect	Strong	Strong	—	Sound	Exceptional	$1,069Fees	0.231%Above	408
35	DAS Acquisition Company, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Mediocre	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$2,529Fees	0.652%Above	261
36	MORTGAGE FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	Sound	Strong	$2,581Fees	0.696%Above	254
37	STOCKTON MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$2,268Fees	0.488%Above	104
38	Nations Lending Corporation Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$1,982Fees	0.335%Above	70
39	Farmers Bank & Trust Company BankDirect	Strong	Sound	—	Strong	Strong	$880Fees	0.596%Above	122
40	Sierra Pacific Mortgage Company, Inc. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Acceptable*	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$2,623Fees	0.433%Above	72
41	CORNERSTONE CAPITAL BANK, SSB BankDirect	Sound	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$4,091Fees	0.760%Above	116
42	Click n' Close, Inc. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Mediocre	Exceptional	Sound	Strong	—	—	429
43	NEW AMERICAN FUNDING, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Mediocre	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$2,987Fees	0.673%Above	333
44	MOVEMENT MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Mediocre	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$3,191Fees	0.577%Above	109
45	AMERICAN FINANCIAL RESOURCES, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale	Sound	Mediocre*	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$2,428Fees	0.681%Above	66
46	PRIMARY RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Mediocre	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$3,928Fees	1.085%Above	136
47	SENTE MORTGAGE, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Mediocre	Strong	Sound	Strong	$3,400Fees	0.560%Above	223
48	PILGRIM MORTGAGE LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Acceptable	—	Strong	Strong	$3,081Fees	0.696%Above	76
49	EVERETT FINANCIAL, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Mediocre	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$3,473Fees	1.180%Above	68
50	Luminate Home Loans, Inc. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Mediocre	Exceptional	Sound	Strong	$4,651Fees	0.854%Above	209

❓ 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.