Safe Rate Rankings

Best VA Mortgage Lenders in Minnesota

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 Lenders236
Total Loans63,948
Median Rate Spread0.25%
Minnesota Market Insights
  • United Wholesale Mortgage is Safe Rate's top-ranked VA lender in Minnesota, leading on pricing, pullthrough, VA product expertise, and local knowledge.
  • There is often a pricing vs. pullthrough tradeoff in mortgage lending. In Minnesota, Old National Bank and Navy Federal Credit Union scores highest on VA pricing while United Wholesale Mortgage and Gate City Bank leads on likelihood to close. That is why we encourage speaking with multiple lenders.
  • United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) ranks #1 in Minnesota, 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 Minnesota: Rocket Mortgage (#11) and Bell Bank (#3).

Explore Rankings by Type

Overall Rankings

All lenders in Minnesota

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
UNITED WHOLESALE MORTGAGE, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale
Exceptional
Strong*
Exceptional
Exceptional
Exceptional
$3,056Fees
0.293%Above
4,740
2
GUARANTEED RATE, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$3,257Fees
0.224%Above
977
3
Bell Bank
BankDirect
Strong
Sound
Exceptional
Exceptional
Exceptional
$2,925Fees
0.253%Above
4,389
4
Prosperity Home Mortgage, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$2,669Fees
0.249%Above
1,495
5
Gate City Bank
BankDirect
Strong
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
Strong
$2,700Fees
0.206%Below
321
6
NAVY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
Credit UnionDirect
Strong
Exceptional
Exceptional
Sound
Strong
$712Fees
0.499%Below
213
7
U.S. Bank National Association
BankDirect
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$873Fees
0.173%Above
1,505
8
Old National Bank
BankDirect
Strong
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
Strong
$977Fees
0.128%Below
331
9
GUARANTEED RATE AFFINITY, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$2,937Fees
0.358%Above
718
10
CMG MORTGAGE, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Sound
Exceptional
Exceptional
Strong
$3,320Fees
0.283%Above
458
11
ROCKET MORTGAGE, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Acceptable*
Exceptional
Exceptional
Exceptional
$3,910Fees
0.325%Above
3,524
12
FAIRWAY INDEPENDENT MORTGAGE CORPORATION
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Exceptional
Exceptional
$3,456Fees
0.465%Above
2,146
13
First Federal Bank
BankDirect
Strong
Exceptional
Exceptional
Sound
Strong
$2,160Fees
0.269%Below
152
14
LOANDEPOT.COM, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Sound*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$2,963Fees
0.265%Above
948
15
PENNYMAC LOAN SERVICES, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Strong*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$2,482Fees
0.106%Above
936
16
M/I FINANCIAL, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Sound
Exceptional
Exceptional
Strong
$5,775Fees
0.222%Below
586
17
MOVEMENT MORTGAGE, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Sound
Exceptional
Exceptional
Strong
$2,714Fees
0.448%Above
507
18
FREEDOM MORTGAGE CORPORATION
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Strong*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$2,696Fees
0.391%Above
433
19
PRIMELENDING, A PLAINSCAPITAL COMPANY
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Sound
Exceptional
Exceptional
Strong
$3,266Fees
0.337%Above
335
20
MEGASTAR FINANCIAL CORP.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
Strong
$6,798Credit
0.338%Above
189
21
ARK-LA-TEX FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Sound*
Exceptional
Exceptional
Strong
$2,571Fees
0.291%Above
153
22
CROSSCOUNTRY MORTGAGE, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$3,865Fees
0.409%Above
2,661
23
Royal Credit Union
Credit UnionDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Strong
Exceptional
Exceptional
$3,081Fees
0.268%Above
1,205
24
Tradition Mortgage, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Sound
Strong
Exceptional
Exceptional
$2,101Fees
0.205%Above
925
25
Flagstar Bank, N.A.
BankDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Sound*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$2,385Fees
0.259%Above
578
26
JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association
BankDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Strong*
Exceptional
Sound
Strong
$2,267Fees
0.142%Above
396
27
IOWA BANKERS MORTGAGE CORPORATION
Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale
Strong
Exceptional*
Strong
Strong
Strong
$2,324Fees
0.030%Above
159
28
Alerus Financial, National Association
BankDirect
Strong
Sound
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
$1,608Fees
0.259%Above
958
29
NEWREZ LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Sound*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$2,483Fees
0.329%Above
605
30
GRANITE BANK
BankDirect
Strong
Sound
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
$3,195Fees
0.318%Above
495
31
USAA Federal Savings Bank
BankDirect
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
Sound
Strong
$2,016Fees
0.109%Below
194
32
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association
BankDirect
Strong
Sound
Exceptional
Sound
Exceptional
$2,002Fees
0.060%Above
1,187
33
Mortgage Research Center, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$1,117Fees
0.385%Above
760
34
Merchants Bank, National Association
BankDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Strong*
Strong
Exceptional
$2,010Fees
0.053%Below
538
35
BAY EQUITY LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$3,359Fees
0.312%Above
460
36
Plains Commerce Bank
BankWholesale
Strong
Sound*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$2,432Fees
0.366%Above
424
37
AMERICAN NEIGHBORHOOD MORTGAGE ACCEPTANCE COMPANY LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Exceptional
Strong
$4,183Fees
0.529%Above
399
38
TRUSTONE FINANCIAL CREDIT UNION
Credit UnionDirect
Strong
Strong
Sound
Sound
Exceptional
$1,571Fees
0.014%Below
1,006
39
PLAZA HOME MORTGAGE, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale
Strong
Sound*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$2,423Fees
0.155%Above
595
40
Cambria Financial Group, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Strong
Exceptional
Exceptional
$2,676Fees
0.279%Above
360
41
Summit Mortgage Corporation
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Sound
Strong
Sound
Exceptional
$3,170Fees
0.354%Above
639
42
Servion, Inc.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Sound*
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
$2,269Fees
0.253%Above
512
43
GUILD MORTGAGE COMPANY LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$2,959Fees
0.416%Above
467
44
North Shore Bank of Commerce
BankDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Strong
Exceptional
Exceptional
$3,437Fees
0.191%Above
477
45
CARDINAL FINANCIAL COMPANY, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Acceptable*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$4,660Fees
0.566%Above
347
46
UNION HOME MORTGAGE CORP.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Acceptable*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$3,351Fees
0.461%Above
305
47
MUTUAL OF OMAHA MORTGAGE, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Sound
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$1,735Fees
0.092%Above
204
48
Paramount Residential Mortgage Group, Inc.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Sound*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$4,935Fees
0.619%Above
150
49
NEW AMERICAN FUNDING, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Mediocre
Exceptional
Sound
Exceptional
$3,706Fees
0.511%Above
1,611
50
EVERETT FINANCIAL, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Mediocre
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$4,091Fees
0.719%Above
822

Frequently Asked Questions

How are mortgage lenders ranked in Minnesota?+

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 Minnesota), 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 Minnesota?+

Based on 2024 HMDA data, 236 lenders originated a combined 63,948 loans in Minnesota. Safe Rate's rankings evaluate all of them — not just a curated shortlist.

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

Rate spread measures how much above the Average Prime Offer Rate (APOR) a lender charges. The median rate spread in Minnesota is 0.25%. 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 Minnesota'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.