Safe Rate Rankings

Best Conventional Mortgage Lenders in Duluth

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 Lenders49

Total Loans2,667

Median Rate Spread0.39%

Duluth Market Insights

Us Bank National Association is Safe Rate's top-ranked Conventional lender in Duluth, leading on pricing, pullthrough, Conventional product expertise, and local knowledge.
There is often a pricing vs. pullthrough tradeoff in mortgage lending. In Duluth, Us Bank National Association and Royal Credit Union scores highest on Conventional pricing while Rocket Mortgage and United Wholesale Mortgage leads on likelihood to close. That is why we encourage speaking with multiple lenders.
United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) ranks #3 in Duluth, 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 Duluth: Rocket Mortgage (#2) and North Shore Bank of Commerce (#4).

Explore Rankings by Type

Overall Rankings

All lenders in Duluth

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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	U.S. Bank National Association BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$1,143Fees	0.215%Above	113
2	ROCKET MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Acceptable*	Exceptional	Exceptional	Strong	$3,780Fees	0.495%Above	199
3	UNITED WHOLESALE MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale	Strong	Acceptable*	Exceptional	Exceptional	Strong	$2,818Fees	0.413%Above	83
4	North Shore Bank of Commerce BankDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Strong	Exceptional	Exceptional	$3,459Fees	0.182%Above	443
5	Bell Bank BankDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$1,961Fees	0.367%Above	137
6	Royal Credit Union Credit UnionDirect	Strong	Strong	Exceptional	Exceptional	Sound	$793Fees	0.054%Below	13
7	The Huntington National Bank BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$1,481Fees	0.340%Above	15
8	FAIRWAY INDEPENDENT MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$3,005Fees	0.715%Above	138
9	Servion, Inc. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Sound*	Strong	Strong	Strong	$2,257Fees	0.487%Above	98
10	Wells Fargo Bank, National Association BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Exceptional	Sound	Strong	$2,152Fees	0.452%Above	50
11	Frandsen Bank & Trust BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Strong	Strong	$2,508Fees	0.149%Above	115
12	REGENT FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Strong	Strong	Strong	$3,056Fees	0.395%Above	101
13	LOANDEPOT.COM, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Sound*	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$3,000Fees	0.308%Above	18
14	CROSSCOUNTRY MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$3,336Fees	0.531%Above	47
15	GUILD MORTGAGE COMPANY LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$3,329Fees	0.263%Above	24
16	Nations Lending Corporation Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Exceptional	Sound	$3,987Fees	0.479%Above	13
17	National Bank of Commerce BankDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Sound	Strong	Exceptional	$2,558Fees	0.195%Above	99
18	GUARANTEED RATE, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$3,092Fees	0.186%Above	15
19	Summit Mortgage Corporation Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Strong	Strong	Strong	$2,347Fees	0.329%Above	88
20	NEW AMERICAN FUNDING, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Sound	Strong	$2,529Fees	0.674%Above	67
21	AMERICAN PACIFIC MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Mediocre	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$4,109Fees	0.883%Above	45
22	NEWREZ LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Acceptable*	Exceptional	Sound	Sound	$2,195Fees	0.450%Above	41
23	TRUSTONE FINANCIAL CREDIT UNION Credit UnionDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Sound	Sound	$2,543Fees	0.136%Above	11
24	PENNYMAC LOAN SERVICES, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Sound	Sound*	Exceptional	Sound	Sound	$2,239Fees	0.155%Above	21
25	Prosperity Home Mortgage, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$2,440Fees	0.523%Above	18
26	UNION HOME MORTGAGE CORP. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Sound	Acceptable*	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$3,035Fees	0.302%Above	18
27	BAY EQUITY LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Sound	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$3,769Fees	0.289%Above	11
28	EVERETT FINANCIAL, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Mediocre	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$4,304Fees	0.714%Above	57
29	Tradition Mortgage, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Sound	Strong	Strong	Sound	$1,855Fees	0.248%Above	10
30	GRANITE BANK BankDirect	Sound	Acceptable	Strong	Strong	Sound	$1,966Fees	0.289%Above	17
31	CARDINAL FINANCIAL COMPANY, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Sound	Acceptable*	Exceptional	Strong	Acceptable	$4,232Fees	0.682%Above	10
32	Park State Bank BankDirect & Wholesale	Sound	Sound*	Sound	Sound	Strong	$2,278Fees	0.017%Above	63
33	GUARANTEED RATE AFFINITY, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Acceptable	Exceptional	Sound	Sound	$2,784Fees	0.385%Above	33
34	MEMBERS COOPERATIVE Credit UnionDirect	Sound	Acceptable	Sound	Strong	Strong	$2,450Fees	0.254%Above	83
35	Superior Choice Credit Union Credit UnionDirect	Sound	Sound	Sound	Sound	Strong	$2,264Fees	0.086%Below	66
36	AFFINITY PLUS Credit UnionDirect	Sound	Sound	Strong	Sound	Sound	$2,130Fees	0.022%Below	33
37	ALAMEDA MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Mediocre	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$4,626Fees	0.565%Above	11
38	NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	Acceptable	$3,009Fees	0.816%Above	10
39	Luminate Home Loans, Inc. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Mediocre	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$4,260Fees	0.673%Above	14
40	Synergy One Lending, Inc. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Acceptable	Strong	Strong	Acceptable	$3,068Fees	0.506%Above	10
41	USAA Federal Savings Bank BankDirect	Sound	Sound	Strong	Acceptable	Sound	$2,005Fees	0.045%Below	14
42	ROYAL UNITED MORTGAGE LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Mediocre	Strong	Strong	Acceptable	$3,210Fees	1.192%Above	10
43	COMPEER FINANCIAL, FLCA Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Mediocre	Strong	Sound	Sound	$2,227Fees	0.900%Above	27
44	North Shore Federal Credit Union Credit UnionDirect	Sound	Sound	Acceptable	Sound	Sound	$982Fees	0.273%Above	20
45	NORTHWOODS Credit UnionDirect	Sound	—	Acceptable	Acceptable	Strong	$1,963Fees	0.385%Above	24
46	CENTRICITY Credit Union Credit UnionDirect	Acceptable	—	Acceptable	Acceptable	Sound	$1,297Fees	0.844%Above	15

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How are mortgage lenders ranked in Duluth, MN?+

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 Duluth, MN), 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 Duluth, MN?+

Based on 2024 HMDA data, 49 lenders originated a combined 2,667 loans in Duluth, MN. Safe Rate's rankings evaluate all of them — not just a curated shortlist.

What does the rate spread tell me about a lender in Duluth, MN?+

Rate spread measures how much above the Average Prime Offer Rate (APOR) a lender charges. The median rate spread in Duluth, MN is 0.39%. 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 Duluth, MN'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.