Safe Rate Rankings

Best USDA Mortgage Lenders in Louisiana

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 Lenders190
Total Loans34,130
Median Rate Spread0.40%
Louisiana Market Insights
  • Gmfs is Safe Rate's top-ranked USDA lender in Louisiana, leading on pricing, pullthrough, USDA product expertise, and local knowledge.
  • There is often a pricing vs. pullthrough tradeoff in mortgage lending. In Louisiana, Dsld Mortgage and Red River Bank scores highest on USDA pricing while First Community Mortgage and Guild Mortgage Company leads on likelihood to close. That is why we encourage speaking with multiple lenders.
  • United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) ranks #3 in Louisiana, 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.

Explore Rankings by Type

Overall Rankings

All lenders in Louisiana

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RankLenderOverallPricingProductPull ThroughPlaceAvg FeesRate Spread# of LoansAction
1
GMFS LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Exceptional
Exceptional*
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$1,759Fees
0.282%Above
3,086
2
DSLD MORTGAGE, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Exceptional
Exceptional
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$100Fees
0.234%Below
1,884
3
UNITED WHOLESALE MORTGAGE, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale
Exceptional
Strong*
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$2,776Fees
0.322%Above
2,971
4
Red River Bank
BankDirect
Exceptional
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
$1,037Fees
0.088%Below
583
5
GUILD MORTGAGE COMPANY LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$2,839Fees
0.606%Above
302
6
HANCOCK WHITNEY BANK
BankDirect
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$1,895Fees
0.132%Above
799
7
NEWREZ LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Strong*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$1,784Fees
0.442%Above
561
8
FIRST COMMUNITY MORTGAGE, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Sound*
Exceptional
Exceptional
Strong
$1,700Fees
0.487%Above
321
9
Eagle Bank and Trust Company
BankDirect
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$1,873Fees
0.435%Above
278
10
ARK-LA-TEX FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Strong*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$1,407Fees
0.374%Above
234
11
Gulf Coast Bank and Trust Company
BankDirect
Strong
Sound
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
$1,938Fees
0.303%Above
779
12
Origin Bank
BankDirect
Strong
Strong
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
$1,166Fees
0.217%Above
387
13
FIDELITY BANK
BankDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$3,098Fees
0.399%Above
1,167
14
PLANET HOME LENDING, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Sound*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$2,111Fees
0.521%Above
279
15
Equity Prime Mortgage LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$2,395Fees
0.818%Above
377
16
TOWNE MORTGAGE COMPANY
Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale
Strong
Sound*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$2,496Fees
0.454%Above
172
17
RESIDENTIAL ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION
Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale
Strong
Acceptable*
Exceptional
Exceptional
Strong
$5,639Fees
0.223%Above
141
18
Assurance Financial Group, L.L.C.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$2,593Fees
0.510%Above
950
19
First Horizon Bank
BankDirect
Strong
Sound
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
$1,906Fees
0.143%Above
622
20
CMG MORTGAGE, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Sound
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$3,041Fees
0.625%Above
136
21
LOWER, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Acceptable*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$2,698Fees
0.570%Above
365
22
LOANSTEADY LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Strong
Exceptional
Strong
$2,999Fees
0.403%Above
144
23
STANDARD MORTGAGE CORPORATION
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Strong
Sound
Exceptional
$1,752Fees
0.007%Above
361
24
Flagstar Bank, N.A.
BankDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Sound*
Exceptional
Sound
Strong
$2,275Fees
0.451%Above
263
25
MOVEMENT MORTGAGE, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Mediocre
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$2,451Fees
0.415%Above
986
26
FAIRWAY INDEPENDENT MORTGAGE CORPORATION
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Mediocre
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$2,873Fees
0.683%Above
275
27
T2 FINANCIAL LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$3,551Fees
0.449%Above
127
28
Paramount Residential Mortgage Group, Inc.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Sound*
Exceptional
Strong
Sound
$2,701Fees
0.467%Above
81
29
AMERICAN FINANCIAL NETWORK, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Sound*
Exceptional
Strong
Sound
$2,257Fees
0.755%Above
86
30
GENEVA FINANCIAL, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Exceptional
Sound
$3,207Fees
0.760%Above
73
31
CROSSCOUNTRY MORTGAGE, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Mediocre
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$3,301Fees
0.586%Above
499
32
UNION HOME MORTGAGE CORP.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Mediocre*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$2,143Fees
0.265%Above
266
33
Mortgage Research Center, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Sound
Strong
$1,413Fees
0.489%Above
787
34
CARDINAL FINANCIAL COMPANY, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Acceptable*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$2,566Fees
0.405%Above
155
35
MORTGAGE FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Sound
Exceptional
Sound
Strong
$1,520Fees
0.340%Above
88
36
AMERICAN FINANCIAL RESOURCES, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale
Sound
Mediocre*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$2,709Fees
0.873%Above
131
37
Sabine State Bank and Trust Company
BankDirect
Sound
Acceptable
Strong
Strong
Strong
$2,324Fees
0.573%Above
72
38
NEW AMERICAN FUNDING, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Sound
Mediocre
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$2,572Fees
0.602%Above
226
39
Click n' Close, Inc.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Sound
Mediocre
Exceptional
Sound
Strong
$6,153Fees
1.841%Above
235
40
PRIMARY RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Sound
Mediocre
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$3,150Fees
0.712%Above
166
41
SOUTHWEST FUNDING, LP
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Sound
Mediocre
Strong
Sound
Strong
$4,047Fees
0.987%Above
156
42
THE MORTGAGE FIRM, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Sound
Acceptable
Sound
Sound
Strong
$2,427Fees
0.567%Above
165

Frequently Asked Questions

How are mortgage lenders ranked in Louisiana?+

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 Louisiana), 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 Louisiana?+

Based on 2024 HMDA data, 190 lenders originated a combined 34,130 loans in Louisiana. Safe Rate's rankings evaluate all of them — not just a curated shortlist.

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

Rate spread measures how much above the Average Prime Offer Rate (APOR) a lender charges. The median rate spread in Louisiana is 0.40%. 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 Louisiana'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.