Rankings
Best VA Mortgage Lenders in Chicago
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!
Chicago Market Insights
- Greenstate Credit Union is Safe Rate's top-ranked VA lender in Chicago, leading on the 5 P's: pricing, pullthrough, VA product expertise, local knowledge, and promptness.
- There is often a pricing vs. pullthrough tradeoff in mortgage lending. In Chicago, Greenstate Credit Union and Proper Rate scores highest on VA pricing while Towne Mortgage Mi and Greenstate Credit Union leads on likelihood to close. That is why we encourage speaking with multiple lenders.
- United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) ranks #4 in Chicago, 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 Chicago: Rocket Mortgage (#36) and Guaranteed Rate (#2).
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Overall Rankings
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Dylan Hall
Safe Rate Mortgage · NMLS #1658740
Dylan is a verified Safe Rate partner and licensed broker who actively works with United Wholesale Mortgage.
Also approved with: PennyMac Loan Services (#28)
Dylan Hall
Safe Rate Mortgage · NMLS #1658740
Dylan is a verified Safe Rate partner and licensed broker who actively works with PennyMac Loan Services.
Also approved with: United Wholesale Mortgage (#4)
| Rank | Lender | Safe Rate Score | Loan Economics | Action | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | Pricing | Product | Pull Through | Place | Promptness | Avg Fees | Rate Spread | # of Loans | |||
1 | Credit UnionDirectResponds to quote requests promptly | Exceptional | Exceptional | Exceptional | Exceptional | Exceptional | Exceptional* | $894Fees | 0.049%Above | 826 | |
2 | Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect | Strong | Strong | Exceptional | Strong | Exceptional | Sound* | $2,024Fees | 0.354%Above | 5,815 | |
3 | BankDirect & Wholesale | Strong | Strong* | Exceptional | Sound | Exceptional | Sound* | $1,681Fees | 0.147%Above | 5,072 | |
4 | Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale | Strong | Strong* | Exceptional | Exceptional | Exceptional | Acceptable* | $1,875Fees | 0.444%Above | 5,055 | |
Verified Broker PartnerSponsored Dylan HallSafe Rate Mortgage · NMLS #1658740 Dylan is a verified Safe Rate partner and licensed broker who actively works with United Wholesale Mortgage. Also approved with: PennyMac Loan Services (#28) | |||||||||||
5 | Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale | Strong | Sound* | Exceptional | Strong | Exceptional | Sound* | $2,845Fees | 0.666%Above | 2,013 | |
6 | Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect | Strong | Exceptional | Strong | Strong | Exceptional | Sound* | $1,665Fees | 0.261%Above | 1,200 | |
7 | Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect | Strong | Strong | Exceptional | Strong | Strong | Sound* | $2,082Fees | 0.494%Above | 632 | |
8 | Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect | Strong | Acceptable | Exceptional | Exceptional | Exceptional | Sound* | $2,744Fees | 0.649%Above | 2,058 | |
9 | Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale | Strong | Sound* | Exceptional | Exceptional | Exceptional | Sound* | $1,472Fees | 0.561%Above | 734 | |
10 | Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect | Strong | Strong | Exceptional | Strong | Strong | Sound* | $2,442Fees | 0.486%Above | 298 | |
11 | Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect | Strong | Strong | Strong | Strong | Strong | Sound* | $2,488Fees | 0.373%Above | 213 | |
12 | Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect | Strong | Acceptable | Exceptional | Strong | Exceptional | Sound* | $2,831Fees | 0.552%Above | 3,117 | |
13 | Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale | Strong | Strong* | Exceptional | Strong | Strong | Sound* | $2,052Fees | 0.567%Above | 421 | |
14 | Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale | Strong | Sound* | Exceptional | Exceptional | Strong | Sound* | $832Fees | 0.682%Above | 185 | |
15 | Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect | Strong | Sound | Exceptional | Exceptional | Strong | Sound* | $1,617Fees | 0.414%Above | 178 | |
16 | BankDirect & Wholesale | Strong | Sound* | Exceptional | Strong | Strong | Sound* | $2,367Fees | 0.559%Above | 460 | |
17 | Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect | Strong | Sound | Exceptional | Exceptional | Strong | Sound* | $3,230Fees | 0.106%Above | 283 | |
18 | Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect | Strong | Sound | Exceptional | Exceptional | Strong | Sound* | $2,237Fees | 0.442%Above | 225 | |
19 | Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect | Strong | Sound | Exceptional | Exceptional | Strong | Sound* | $2,876Fees | 0.696%Above | 166 | |
20 | BankDirectDoesn't respond | Strong | Exceptional | Exceptional | Strong | Strong | Mediocre* | $686Fees | 0.045%Below | 147 | |
21 | Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale | Strong | Sound* | Exceptional | Strong | Strong | Sound* | $2,305Fees | 0.625%Above | 659 | |
22 | Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect | Strong | Acceptable | Exceptional | Strong | Exceptional | Sound* | $2,272Fees | 0.312%Above | 744 | |
23 | Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect | Strong | Sound | Strong | Strong | Exceptional | Sound* | $1,736Fees | 0.344%Above | 967 | |
24 | Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale | Strong | Acceptable* | Exceptional | Strong | Exceptional | Sound* | $1,839Fees | 0.570%Above | 819 | |
25 | Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect | Strong | Acceptable | Exceptional | Strong | Strong | Sound* | $2,394Fees | 0.604%Above | 814 | |
26 | Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect | Strong | Acceptable | Exceptional | Strong | Strong | Sound* | $2,478Fees | 0.582%Above | 637 | |
27 | Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect | Strong | Sound | Exceptional | Strong | Strong | Sound* | $1,694Fees | 0.399%Above | 501 | |
28 | Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & WholesaleDoesn't respond | Strong | Strong* | Exceptional | Strong | Strong | Acceptable* | $918Fees | 0.297%Above | 493 | |
Verified Broker PartnerSponsored Dylan HallSafe Rate Mortgage · NMLS #1658740 Dylan is a verified Safe Rate partner and licensed broker who actively works with PennyMac Loan Services. Also approved with: United Wholesale Mortgage (#4) | |||||||||||
29 | Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect | Strong | Mediocre | Exceptional | Strong | Exceptional | Sound* | $3,172Fees | 0.689%Above | 1,346 | |
30 | Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect | Strong | Sound | Sound | Strong | Exceptional | Sound* | $1,607Fees | 0.337%Above | 1,027 | |
31 | BankDirect | Strong | Sound | Exceptional | Sound | Strong | Sound* | $1,683Fees | 0.061%Below | 469 | |
32 | Credit UnionDirectDoesn't respond | Strong | Exceptional | Exceptional | Sound | Strong | Mediocre* | $533Fees | 0.502%Below | 312 | |
33 | BankDirectDoesn't respond | Strong | Strong | Exceptional | Strong | Exceptional | Mediocre* | $876Credit | 0.180%Above | 1,680 | |
34 | Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale | Strong | Sound* | Exceptional | Strong | Strong | Sound* | $1,315Fees | 0.500%Above | 263 | |
35 | BankDirect | Strong | Mediocre | Exceptional | Strong | Exceptional | Sound* | $1,916Fees | 0.445%Above | 1,731 | |
36 | Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & WholesaleDoesn't respond | Strong | Acceptable* | Exceptional | Exceptional | Exceptional | Mediocre* | $3,536Fees | 0.424%Above | 3,770 | |
37 | BankDirectDoesn't respond | Strong | Strong | Exceptional | Strong | Exceptional | Mediocre* | $173Fees | 0.152%Above | 1,013 | |
38 | Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale | Strong | Acceptable* | Exceptional | Strong | Strong | Sound* | $1,479Fees | 0.565%Above | 675 | |
39 | Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect | Strong | Acceptable | Exceptional | Strong | Strong | Sound* | $3,615Fees | 0.489%Above | 361 | |
40 | Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect | Strong | Acceptable | Strong | Strong | Strong | Sound* | $2,496Fees | 0.649%Above | 264 | |
41 | Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale | Strong | Acceptable* | Strong | Strong | Strong | Sound* | $1,880Fees | 0.415%Above | 222 | |
42 | BankDirect | Strong | Sound | Sound | Strong | Strong | Sound* | $1,325Fees | 0.441%Above | 215 | |
43 | Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect | Sound | Mediocre | Exceptional | Sound | Strong | Sound* | $1,800Fees | 0.558%Above | 698 | |
44 | BankDirect | Sound | Mediocre | Exceptional | Strong | Strong | Sound* | $3,413Fees | 0.815%Above | 333 | |
45 | Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect | Sound | Mediocre | Exceptional | Exceptional | Strong | Sound* | $2,557Fees | 0.504%Above | 159 | |
46 | Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesaleDoesn't respond | Sound | Sound* | Exceptional | Strong | Strong | Mediocre* | $377Fees | 0.318%Above | 717 | |
47 | Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect | Sound | Mediocre | Strong | Strong | Exceptional | Sound* | $2,732Fees | 0.579%Above | 537 | |
48 | Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect | Sound | Mediocre | Exceptional | Strong | Strong | Sound* | $2,265Fees | 0.650%Above | 303 | |
49 | BankDirect | Sound | Mediocre | Exceptional | Sound | Exceptional | Sound* | $3,016Fees | 0.786%Above | 728 | |
50 | Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect | Sound | Acceptable | — | Strong | Exceptional | Sound* | $1,965Fees | 0.395%Above | 389 | |
Frequently Asked Questions
How are mortgage lenders ranked in Chicago?+−
Safe Rate ranks lenders using the 5 Ps framework. Four are derived 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 Chicago), and Product (performance on specific loan types). The fifth, Promptness, is behavioral: it credits lenders who answer real shopper quote requests quickly. Lenders with no measured requests yet are counted at an estimated 50. Each lender receives a composite Safe Rate Score from 0 to 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 the 5 P's: Pricing, Pullthrough, Place, Product, and Promptness. Scores of 80 or above earn Champion status; scores of 60–79 earn Superstar status. Four of the P's are calculated from verified HMDA data and Promptness from real shopper quote requests — no lender can pay to improve their position.
How many mortgage lenders are active in Chicago?+−
Based on 2024 HMDA data, 254 lenders originated a combined 69,290 loans in Chicago. Safe Rate's rankings evaluate all of them — not just a curated shortlist.
What does the rate spread tell me about a lender in Chicago?+−
Rate spread measures how much above the Average Prime Offer Rate (APOR) a lender charges. The median rate spread in Chicago is 0.45%. 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 Chicago's rankings, all three institution types are evaluated on the same HMDA performance metrics.
How We Rank Lenders
Our rankings use an equal-weight average of scores across the 5 Ps: Pricing, Product, Pull-Through, Place, and Promptness. Promptness measures how quickly a lender answers real shopper quote requests; a lender with none measured yet is counted at an estimate.
Our Point System (Max 50 Points)
Data Integrity & Updates
Data is updated quarterly based on the latest HMDA filings and proprietary Safe Rate 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.