Safe Rate Rankings

Best FHA Mortgage Lenders in Illinois

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 Lenders360
Total Loans123,748
Median Rate Spread0.41%
Illinois Market Insights
  • Greenstate Credit Union is Safe Rate's top-ranked FHA lender in Illinois, leading on pricing, pullthrough, FHA product expertise, and local knowledge.
  • There is often a pricing vs. pullthrough tradeoff in mortgage lending. In Illinois, Greenstate Credit Union and Associated Bank National Association scores highest on FHA pricing while Flat Branch Mortgage and First State Mortgage Services leads on likelihood to close. That is why we encourage speaking with multiple lenders.
  • United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) ranks #2 in Illinois, 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 Illinois: Rocket Mortgage (#4) and Guaranteed Rate (#10).

Explore Rankings by Type

Overall Rankings

All lenders in Illinois

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RankLenderOverallPricingProductPull ThroughPlaceAvg FeesRate Spread# of LoansAction
1
GREENSTATE Credit Union
Credit UnionDirect
Exceptional
Exceptional
Exceptional
Exceptional
Exceptional
$833Fees
0.048%Above
2,002
2
UNITED WHOLESALE MORTGAGE, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale
Exceptional
Sound*
Exceptional
Exceptional
Exceptional
$1,855Fees
0.413%Above
7,352
3
The Huntington National Bank
BankDirect
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$745Credit
0.195%Above
2,085
4
ROCKET MORTGAGE, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Acceptable*
Exceptional
Exceptional
Exceptional
$3,394Fees
0.490%Above
7,176
5
LOANDEPOT.COM, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Sound*
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$2,865Fees
0.657%Above
2,802
6
Associated Bank, National Association
BankDirect
Strong
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
Strong
$533Fees
0.096%Above
484
7
FLAT BRANCH MORTGAGE, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Sound
Exceptional
Exceptional
Exceptional
$1,201Fees
0.447%Above
1,599
8
FIRST STATE MORTGAGE SERVICES, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Sound
Strong
Exceptional
Exceptional
$1,493Fees
0.362%Above
1,052
9
PENNYMAC LOAN SERVICES, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Strong*
Exceptional
Sound
Strong
$1,170Fees
0.188%Above
781
10
GUARANTEED RATE, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$2,009Fees
0.369%Above
7,686
11
TOWNE MORTGAGE COMPANY
Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale
Strong
Sound*
Exceptional
Exceptional
Exceptional
$1,510Fees
0.539%Above
977
12
FREEDOM MORTGAGE CORPORATION
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Strong*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$2,040Fees
0.663%Above
815
13
Old National Bank
BankDirect
Strong
Exceptional
Strong
Sound
Strong
$861Fees
0.034%Above
626
14
ARK-LA-TEX FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Strong*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$937Fees
0.633%Above
354
15
GMFS LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Strong*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$1,888Fees
0.500%Above
266
16
U.S. Bank National Association
BankDirect
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
Sound
Exceptional
$460Fees
0.254%Above
2,055
17
Fifth Third Bank, National Association
BankDirect
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
Sound
Exceptional
$339Credit
0.266%Above
1,233
18
Flagstar Bank, N.A.
BankDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Sound*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$2,249Fees
0.530%Above
704
19
INB, National Association
BankDirect
Strong
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
$640Fees
0.308%Above
653
20
A & N MORTGAGE SERVICES, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Sound
Strong
Exceptional
Exceptional
$1,570Fees
0.336%Above
1,149
21
Prosperity Home Mortgage, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$2,281Fees
0.479%Above
391
22
FAIRWAY INDEPENDENT MORTGAGE CORPORATION
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Exceptional
Exceptional
$2,737Fees
0.680%Above
3,156
23
GUILD MORTGAGE COMPANY LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$2,378Fees
0.587%Above
2,081
24
THE LOAN STORE, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale
Strong
Sound*
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$336Fees
0.307%Above
963
25
FCB Banks
BankDirect
Strong
Exceptional
Sound
Sound
Exceptional
$715Fees
0.092%Below
566
26
JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association
BankDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Sound*
Strong
Sound
Exceptional
$1,688Fees
0.163%Above
6,487
27
MLD MORTGAGE INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Sound
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$1,971Fees
0.443%Above
526
28
M/I FINANCIAL, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Sound
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$3,266Fees
0.139%Above
489
29
NEWREZ LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Sound*
Exceptional
Sound
Exceptional
$2,239Fees
0.629%Above
1,112
30
Carrollton Bank
BankDirect
Strong
Strong
Strong
Strong
Strong
$776Fees
0.080%Above
365
31
CROSSCOUNTRY MORTGAGE, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Mediocre
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$2,820Fees
0.594%Above
4,482
32
BAY EQUITY LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$2,346Fees
0.295%Above
896
33
PNC Bank, National Association
BankDirect
Strong
Strong
Strong
Sound
Strong
$188Credit
0.254%Above
784
34
RESICENTRAL, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale
Strong
Strong*
Strong
Sound
Strong
$298Fees
0.525%Above
476
35
AMERICAN PACIFIC MORTGAGE CORPORATION
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Mediocre
Exceptional
Exceptional
Exceptional
$3,206Fees
0.684%Above
2,009
36
UNION HOME MORTGAGE CORP.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Acceptable*
Exceptional
Exceptional
Strong
$1,835Fees
0.590%Above
980
37
DELMAR FINANCIAL COMPANY
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Sound
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
$1,519Fees
0.434%Above
597
38
Regions Bank
BankDirect
Strong
Sound
Exceptional
Sound
Strong
$1,214Fees
0.586%Above
345
39
T2 FINANCIAL LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Exceptional
Strong
$1,331Fees
0.369%Above
337
40
CMG MORTGAGE, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$1,532Fees
0.398%Above
315
41
LOWER, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Acceptable*
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$1,510Fees
0.608%Above
1,031
42
COMPASS MORTGAGE, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
$2,500Fees
0.580%Above
904
43
PRIMELENDING, A PLAINSCAPITAL COMPANY
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Exceptional
Strong
$2,004Fees
0.555%Above
477
44
MOVEMENT MORTGAGE, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$2,088Fees
0.479%Above
321
45
Barrington Bank & Trust Company, National Association
BankDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$1,856Fees
0.455%Above
2,395
46
KEY MORTGAGE SERVICES, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Sound
Strong
Sound
Exceptional
$1,739Fees
0.348%Above
1,273
47
Midland States Bank
BankDirect
Strong
Sound
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
$1,376Fees
0.696%Above
426
48
CIBM Bank
BankDirect
Strong
Sound
Strong
Strong
Strong
$1,394Fees
0.491%Above
352
49
AMERICAN PORTFOLIO MORTGAGE CORPORATION
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$2,424Fees
0.627%Above
346
50
OCMBC, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale
Strong
Acceptable*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$3,448Fees
0.988%Above
261

Frequently Asked Questions

How are mortgage lenders ranked in Illinois?+

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 Illinois), 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 Illinois?+

Based on 2024 HMDA data, 360 lenders originated a combined 123,748 loans in Illinois. Safe Rate's rankings evaluate all of them — not just a curated shortlist.

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

Rate spread measures how much above the Average Prime Offer Rate (APOR) a lender charges. The median rate spread in Illinois is 0.41%. 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 Illinois'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.