Safe Rate Rankings

Best FHA Mortgage Lenders in Fargo

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 Lenders40

Total Loans2,699

Median Rate Spread0.06%

Fargo Market Insights

Gate City Bank is Safe Rate's top-ranked FHA lender in Fargo, leading on pricing, pullthrough, FHA product expertise, and local knowledge.
There is often a pricing vs. pullthrough tradeoff in mortgage lending. In Fargo, First Community Credit Union Nd and Valley Mortgage scores highest on FHA pricing while Valley Mortgage and Gate City Bank leads on likelihood to close. That is why we encourage speaking with multiple lenders.
United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) ranks #5 in Fargo, 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 Fargo: Rocket Mortgage (#6) and Gate City Bank (#1).

Explore Rankings by Type

Overall Rankings

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By Institution Type

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Rank	Lender	Overall	Pricing	Product	Pull Through	Place	Avg Fees	Rate Spread	# of Loans
1	Gate City Bank BankDirect	Exceptional	Exceptional	Strong	Exceptional	Exceptional	$2,883Fees	0.221%Below	387
2	VALLEY MORTGAGE, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Exceptional	Exceptional	Strong	Exceptional	Exceptional	$1,808Fees	0.277%Below	211
3	First International Bank & Trust BankDirect	Exceptional	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	Exceptional	$2,161Fees	0.000%Above	176
4	TOWN AND COUNTRY Credit Union Credit UnionDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Exceptional	Exceptional	$2,858Fees	0.027%Below	191
5	UNITED WHOLESALE MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale	Strong	Sound*	Exceptional	Exceptional	Exceptional	$3,210Fees	0.239%Above	184
6	ROCKET MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Acceptable*	Exceptional	Exceptional	Strong	$3,327Fees	0.351%Above	114
7	Bell Bank BankDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	Exceptional	$2,382Fees	0.051%Above	295
8	FIRST COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION Credit UnionDirect	Strong	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	$2,676Fees	0.327%Below	101
9	FIRST COLONY MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Sound*	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$3,697Fees	0.186%Above	42
10	LOANDEPOT.COM, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Sound*	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$3,265Fees	0.358%Above	27
11	FAIRWAY INDEPENDENT MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Exceptional	Strong	$3,196Fees	0.056%Below	109
12	CAPITAL Credit UnionDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Exceptional	Strong	$3,945Fees	0.255%Below	53
13	FREEDOM MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Strong*	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$3,999Fees	0.266%Above	19
14	Cambria Financial Group, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Strong	Strong	$3,714Fees	0.311%Above	75
15	Western State Bank BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Sound	Sound	Strong	$1,532Fees	0.218%Below	54
16	Nations Lending Corporation Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Exceptional	Strong	$1,278Fees	0.200%Below	45
17	Flagstar Bank, N.A. BankDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Sound*	Exceptional	Strong	Acceptable	$3,100Fees	0.045%Above	10
18	BAY EQUITY LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$3,795Fees	0.117%Above	43
19	First Western Bank & Trust BankDirect	Strong	Exceptional	Sound	Sound	Sound	$2,485Fees	0.081%Below	26
20	GUARANTEED RATE, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$3,613Fees	0.438%Above	23
21	Plains Commerce Bank BankWholesale	Strong	Sound*	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$3,730Fees	0.528%Above	15
22	PRIMARY RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Mediocre	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$3,346Fees	0.375%Above	94
23	Bremer Bank, National Association BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Strong	Strong	$2,711Fees	0.049%Below	69
24	MUTUAL OF OMAHA MORTGAGE, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Acceptable	Exceptional	Sound	Acceptable	$2,675Credit	0.849%Below	10

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How are mortgage lenders ranked in Fargo, ND?+

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 Fargo, ND), 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 Fargo, ND?+

Based on 2024 HMDA data, 40 lenders originated a combined 2,699 loans in Fargo, ND. Safe Rate's rankings evaluate all of them — not just a curated shortlist.

What does the rate spread tell me about a lender in Fargo, ND?+

Rate spread measures how much above the Average Prime Offer Rate (APOR) a lender charges. The median rate spread in Fargo, ND is 0.06%. 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 Fargo, ND'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.