Safe Rate Rankings

Best VA Mortgage Lenders in Cincinnati

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.
Total Lenders178
Total Loans29,097
Median Rate Spread0.37%
Cincinnati Market Insights
  • Union Savings Bank Oh is Safe Rate's top-ranked VA lender in Cincinnati, leading on pricing, pullthrough, VA product expertise, and local knowledge.
  • There is often a pricing vs. pullthrough tradeoff in mortgage lending. In Cincinnati, Navy Federal Credit Union and Union Savings Bank Oh scores highest on VA pricing while United Wholesale Mortgage and Rocket Mortgage leads on likelihood to close. That is why we encourage speaking with multiple lenders.
  • United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) ranks #2 in Cincinnati, 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 Cincinnati: Rocket Mortgage (#8) and Union Savings Bank Oh (#1).

Explore Rankings by Type

Need rankings for a different loan product?

Shopping for a mortgage? Click the heart icon to save lenders to My Home and make comparison painless.

RankLenderOverallPricingProductPull ThroughPlaceAvg FeesRate Spread# of LoansAction
1
Union Savings Bank
BankDirect
Exceptional
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
Exceptional
$1,029Fees
0.164%Above
1,185
2
UNITED WHOLESALE MORTGAGE, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale
Exceptional
Strong*
Exceptional
Exceptional
Exceptional
$2,474Fees
0.297%Above
2,016
3
GUARANTEED RATE, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$2,390Fees
0.237%Above
858
4
VICTORY MORTGAGE, L.L.C.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
$708Fees
0.053%Below
973
5
The Huntington National Bank
BankDirect
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$245Credit
0.321%Above
1,145
6
Fifth Third Bank, National Association
BankDirect
Strong
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
$297Fees
0.257%Above
808
7
NAVY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
Credit UnionDirect
Strong
Exceptional
Exceptional
Sound
Strong
$642Fees
0.524%Below
148
8
ROCKET MORTGAGE, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Acceptable*
Exceptional
Exceptional
Exceptional
$3,810Fees
0.380%Above
1,980
9
U.S. Bank National Association
BankDirect
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$1,107Fees
0.239%Above
604
10
LCNB National Bank
BankDirect
Strong
Exceptional
Sound
Strong
Exceptional
$791Fees
0.084%Above
556
11
GUARANTEED RATE AFFINITY, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$2,531Fees
0.457%Above
396
12
Prosperity Home Mortgage, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$2,552Fees
0.375%Above
232
13
FIRST COMMUNITY MORTGAGE, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Acceptable*
Exceptional
Exceptional
Exceptional
$3,118Fees
0.477%Above
687
14
FAIRWAY INDEPENDENT MORTGAGE CORPORATION
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Exceptional
Exceptional
$3,231Fees
0.618%Above
488
15
JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association
BankDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Strong*
Exceptional
Sound
Exceptional
$1,625Fees
0.169%Above
448
16
FREEDOM MORTGAGE CORPORATION
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Strong*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$2,764Fees
0.518%Above
264
17
PRIMELENDING, A PLAINSCAPITAL COMPANY
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Sound
Exceptional
Exceptional
Strong
$2,917Fees
0.481%Above
221
18
M/I FINANCIAL, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Sound
Exceptional
Exceptional
Strong
$3,823Fees
0.063%Below
225
19
CROSSCOUNTRY MORTGAGE, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$3,830Fees
0.661%Above
882
20
Guardian Savings Bank
BankDirect
Strong
Sound
Sound
Strong
Exceptional
$1,159Fees
0.160%Above
765
21
LOANDEPOT.COM, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Sound*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$3,185Fees
0.404%Above
202
22
CMG MORTGAGE, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Sound
Exceptional
Exceptional
Sound
$1,108Fees
0.432%Above
62
23
UNION HOME MORTGAGE CORP.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Acceptable*
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$2,543Fees
0.601%Above
625
24
AMERICAN NEIGHBORHOOD MORTGAGE ACCEPTANCE COMPANY LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Exceptional
Exceptional
$3,169Fees
0.650%Above
368
25
NEWREZ LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Sound*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$2,025Fees
0.392%Above
343
26
PENNYMAC LOAN SERVICES, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Strong*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$1,354Fees
0.084%Above
155
27
RUOFF MORTGAGE COMPANY, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$1,642Fees
0.357%Above
373
28
USAA Federal Savings Bank
BankDirect
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
Sound
Strong
$1,495Fees
0.143%Below
92
29
FIRST EQUITY MORTGAGE INCORPORATED
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Strong
Strong
Sound
Exceptional
$859Fees
0.281%Above
429
30
Mortgage Research Center, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$1,369Fees
0.529%Above
360
31
DAS Acquisition Company, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$4,016Fees
0.652%Above
326
32
Paramount Residential Mortgage Group, Inc.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Sound*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$4,484Fees
0.688%Above
241
33
Plains Commerce Bank
BankWholesale
Strong
Sound*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$1,987Fees
0.523%Above
172
34
RiverHills Bank
BankDirect
Strong
Strong
Sound
Strong
Exceptional
$1,400Fees
0.270%Above
248
35
NATIONS RELIABLE LENDING, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
$3,112Fees
0.517%Above
287
36
STOCKTON MORTGAGE CORPORATION
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$2,865Fees
0.419%Above
616
37
SIBCY CLINE MORTGAGE SERVICES, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Strong
Sound
Sound
Exceptional
$1,521Fees
0.207%Above
161
38
AMERICAN PACIFIC MORTGAGE CORPORATION
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Mediocre
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$3,413Fees
0.795%Above
315
39
RMC HOME MORTGAGE, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Sound
Strong
Strong
Strong
$3,062Fees
0.563%Above
67
40
LOWER, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Acceptable*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$2,303Fees
0.529%Above
270
41
MUTUAL OF OMAHA MORTGAGE, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Sound
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$2,184Fees
0.211%Above
76
42
NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$3,319Fees
0.307%Above
197
43
3RD STREET FINANCIAL CORP.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Strong
Sound
Sound
Strong
$935Fees
0.332%Above
114
44
Synergy One Lending, Inc.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Strong
Strong
Strong
$2,952Fees
0.534%Above
97
45
GoodLeap, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Sound
Strong
Sound
Strong
$3,083Fees
0.032%Above
67
46
BAYSHORE MORTGAGE FUNDING, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Sound
Mediocre
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
$2,959Fees
0.599%Above
279
47
RAPID MORTGAGE COMPANY
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Sound
Mediocre
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
$4,025Fees
0.587%Above
233
48
NEW AMERICAN FUNDING, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Sound
Mediocre
Exceptional
Sound
Strong
$3,179Fees
0.779%Above
159
49
CARRINGTON MORTGAGE SERVICES, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Sound
Acceptable
Exceptional
Sound
Strong
$4,121Fees
0.755%Above
115
50
SUCCESS MORTGAGE PARTNERS, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Sound
Mediocre
Strong
Strong
Strong
$4,519Fees
0.555%Above
117

Frequently Asked Questions

How are mortgage lenders ranked in Cincinnati, OH?+

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 Cincinnati, OH), 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 Cincinnati, OH?+

Based on 2024 HMDA data, 178 lenders originated a combined 29,097 loans in Cincinnati, OH. Safe Rate's rankings evaluate all of them — not just a curated shortlist.

What does the rate spread tell me about a lender in Cincinnati, OH?+

Rate spread measures how much above the Average Prime Offer Rate (APOR) a lender charges. The median rate spread in Cincinnati, OH is 0.37%. 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 Cincinnati, OH'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)

10
Pricing
Rate and fee competitiveness (25%)
10
Pull Through
Reliability in closing loans (25%)
10
Product
Specialization in the loan type (25%)
10
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.