Safe Rate Rankings

Best Mortgage Lenders in Charleston

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 Lenders155

Total Loans14,511

Median Rate Spread0.21%

Charleston Market Insights

Velocio Mortgage is Safe Rate's top-ranked lender in Charleston, leading the composite scorecard across pricing, pullthrough, products, and local expertise.
Top-ranked by institution type in Charleston: Bank: Bank of America National Association (#6). Credit union: Navy Federal Credit Union (#3). Mortgage company: Velocio Mortgage (#1).
There is often a pricing vs. pullthrough tradeoff in mortgage lending. In Charleston, Velocio Mortgage and Morgan Stanley Private Bank National Association scores highest on pricing while Rocket Mortgage and Nation One Mortgage leads on likelihood to close. That is why we encourage speaking with multiple lenders.
United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) ranks #4 in Charleston, 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 Charleston: Rocket Mortgage (#8) and Carolina One Mortgage (#21).

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

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	VELOCIO MORTGAGE L.L.C. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Exceptional	Exceptional	Exceptional	Exceptional	$907Fees	0.883%Below	323
2	NATION ONE MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Exceptional	Strong	Exceptional	Exceptional	—	—	181
3	NAVY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION Credit UnionDirect	Strong	Exceptional	Sound	Exceptional	$1,242Fees	0.490%Below	262
4	UNITED WHOLESALE MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale	Strong	Sound*	Exceptional	Exceptional	$2,918Fees	0.021%Below	784
5	JET HOMELOANS, LP Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Strong	$2,943Fees	0.031%Below	143
6	Bank of America, National Association BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Strong	$1,071Fees	0.211%Below	135
7	Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association BankDirect	Strong	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$175Fees	0.547%Below	57
8	ROCKET MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Acceptable*	Exceptional	Exceptional	$4,507Fees	0.187%Above	830
9	Ameris Bank BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	Exceptional	$3,242Fees	0.110%Above	462
10	NBKC BANK BankDirect	Strong	Exceptional	Sound	Strong	$182Fees	0.249%Below	72
11	VANDERBILT MORTGAGE AND FINANCE, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	Exceptional	$4,870Fees	0.177%Above	189
12	Fifth Third Bank, National Association BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Exceptional	$111Credit	0.042%Below	249
13	First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Exceptional	$1,296Fees	0.002%Above	249
14	SouthState Bank, National Association BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Exceptional	$1,815Fees	0.107%Above	241
15	First National Bank of Pennsylvania BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Strong	$1,147Fees	0.043%Below	154
16	Truist Bank BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Strong	$625Fees	0.019%Below	100
17	First Heritage Mortgage, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	Strong	$1,679Fees	0.091%Above	85
18	First Reliance Bank BankDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Strong*	Strong	Strong	$1,218Fees	0.119%Above	83
19	ServisFirst Bank BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	Strong	$1,686Fees	0.097%Above	66
20	MOVEMENT MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Exceptional	$2,577Fees	0.289%Above	429
21	CAROLINA ONE MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Strong	Exceptional	$3,087Fees	0.217%Above	408
22	CMG MORTGAGE, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Exceptional	$2,413Fees	0.314%Above	383
23	FREEDOM MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Sound*	Strong	Strong	$2,034Fees	0.073%Below	206
24	Atlantic Coast Mortgage, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Exceptional	$4,132Fees	0.331%Above	173
25	U.S. Bank National Association BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Sound	$838Credit	0.131%Below	40
26	LOANDEPOT.COM, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Sound*	Strong	Strong	$3,527Fees	0.228%Above	164
27	ARK-LA-TEX FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Sound*	Exceptional	Strong	$1,867Fees	0.216%Above	99
28	Pinnacle Bank BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Strong	$1,885Fees	0.149%Above	69
29	SOUTH CAROLINA FEDERAL CREDIT UNION Credit UnionDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Strong	Exceptional	$3,660Fees	0.039%Above	249
30	JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association BankDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Sound*	Strong	Strong	$1,901Fees	0.090%Above	190
31	Renasant Bank BankDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Acceptable*	Exceptional	Strong	$2,523Fees	0.263%Above	143
32	Wells Fargo Bank, National Association BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Sound	Strong	$1,622Fees	0.034%Below	127
33	PROVIDENT FUNDING ASSOCIATES, L.P. Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale	Strong	Exceptional*	Sound	Sound	$1,406Fees	0.076%Below	31
34	ATLANTIC BAY MORTGAGE GROUP, L.L.C. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	$3,578Fees	0.144%Above	99
35	PENNYMAC LOAN SERVICES, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Sound*	Strong	Strong	$1,583Fees	0.066%Below	99
36	RESOURCE FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Strong	$3,150Fees	0.244%Above	55
37	Mortgage Research Center, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Strong	Strong	$2,648Fees	0.284%Above	226
38	DIRECT MORTGAGE LOANS, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Mediocre	Exceptional	Exceptional	$4,794Fees	0.332%Above	212
39	FAIRWAY INDEPENDENT MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	$3,781Fees	0.287%Above	171
40	GUILD MORTGAGE COMPANY LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	$3,601Fees	0.323%Above	171
41	GUARANTEED RATE, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Strong	$2,889Fees	0.146%Above	137
42	REV FEDERAL CREDIT UNION Credit UnionDirect	Strong	Sound	Sound	Strong	$3,805Fees	0.121%Below	88
43	Prosperity Home Mortgage, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Strong	Strong	$2,322Fees	0.161%Above	74
44	Alcova Mortgage LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Sound	$1,318Fees	0.085%Above	39
45	CROSSCOUNTRY MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Acceptable	Strong	Exceptional	$3,585Fees	0.427%Above	282
46	LOWER, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Sound	Acceptable*	Strong	Strong	$3,150Fees	0.314%Above	176
47	FIRST HOME MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Mediocre	Exceptional	Strong	$3,102Fees	0.587%Above	100
48	PRIMELENDING, A PLAINSCAPITAL COMPANY Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	$3,365Fees	0.228%Above	97
49	Flagstar Bank, N.A. BankDirect & Wholesale	Sound	Acceptable*	Strong	Strong	$2,272Fees	0.252%Above	60
50	Southern First Bank BankDirect	Sound	Sound	Sound	Strong	$2,143Fees	0.177%Above	46

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How are mortgage lenders ranked in Charleston?+

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 Charleston), 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 Charleston?+

Based on 2024 HMDA data, 155 lenders originated a combined 14,511 loans in Charleston. Safe Rate's rankings evaluate all of them — not just a curated shortlist.

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

Rate spread measures how much above the Average Prime Offer Rate (APOR) a lender charges. The median rate spread in Charleston is 0.21%. 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 Charleston'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.