Safe Rate Rankings

Best Mortgage Lenders in Nashville

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 Lenders230

Total Loans31,402

Median Rate Spread0.26%

Nashville Market Insights

Old National Bank is Safe Rate's top-ranked lender in Nashville, leading the composite scorecard across pricing, pullthrough, products, and local expertise.
Top-ranked by institution type in Nashville: Bank: Old National Bank (#1). Credit union: Ascend Federal Credit Union (#4). Mortgage company: Legacy Home Loans (#2).
There is often a pricing vs. pullthrough tradeoff in mortgage lending. In Nashville, Morgan Stanley Private Bank National Association and Navy Federal Credit Union scores highest on 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 Nashville, 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 Nashville: Rocket Mortgage (#10) and Legacy Home Loans (#2).

Explore Rankings by Type

By Loan Product

Lenders often score differently for different loan products. Get tailored rankings by selecting your product type.

FHA Loans Conventional Loans VA Loans Jumbo Loans USDA Loans

By Institution Type

Some consumers only want to work with a credit union, bank, or focused mortgage company. See our rankings here!

Banks Credit Unions Mortgage Companies

Shopping for a mortgage? Click the heart icon to save lenders to My Home and make comparison painless.

Rank	Lender	Overall	Pricing	Pull Through	Place	Avg Fees	Rate Spread	# of Loans
1	Old National Bank BankDirect	Strong	Exceptional	Strong	Exceptional	$1,130Fees	0.034%Above	345
2	Legacy Home Loans, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Exceptional	$1,868Fees	0.146%Above	1,104
3	UNITED WHOLESALE MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale	Strong	Sound*	Exceptional	Exceptional	$3,363Fees	0.024%Above	2,369
4	ASCEND FEDERAL CREDIT UNION Credit UnionDirect	Strong	Exceptional	Sound	Exceptional	$597Fees	0.737%Below	239
5	FirstBank BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	Exceptional	$2,182Fees	0.139%Above	932
6	U.S. Bank National Association BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Strong	$1,400Fees	0.105%Above	424
7	Pinnacle Bank BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Exceptional	$2,470Fees	0.050%Above	648
8	NAVY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION Credit UnionDirect	Strong	Exceptional	Sound	Strong	$642Fees	0.592%Below	187
9	Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association BankDirect	Strong	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$430Fees	0.434%Below	79
10	ROCKET MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Acceptable*	Exceptional	Exceptional	$4,690Fees	0.199%Above	2,107
11	Bank of America, National Association BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Strong	$1,460Fees	0.176%Below	212
12	VANDERBILT MORTGAGE AND FINANCE, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	Exceptional	$2,837Fees	0.111%Above	474
13	Liberty Credit UnionDirect	Strong	Strong	Exceptional	Strong	$1,776Fees	0.466%Above	185
14	The Farmers Bank BankDirect	Strong	Exceptional	Sound	Strong	$1,214Fees	0.085%Below	113
15	JET HOMELOANS, LP Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Strong	$2,874Fees	0.265%Above	99
16	CMG MORTGAGE, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Exceptional	$3,874Fees	0.329%Above	1,585
17	LOANDEPOT.COM, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Sound*	Strong	Exceptional	$2,284Fees	0.187%Below	755
18	Heritage Mortgage, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Strong	$3,299Fees	0.257%Above	116
19	RELIANCE FIRST CAPITAL, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	—	Exceptional	Strong	—	—	84
20	NBKC BANK BankDirect	Strong	Exceptional	Sound	Sound	$701Fees	0.272%Below	68
21	FIRST COMMUNITY MORTGAGE, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Acceptable*	Exceptional	Exceptional	$3,895Fees	0.426%Above	683
22	Truist Bank BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Strong	$746Fees	0.022%Above	154
23	SWBC MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Exceptional	$2,106Fees	0.230%Above	518
24	ServisFirst Bank BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	Strong	$2,171Fees	0.129%Above	91
25	MOVEMENT MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Exceptional	$3,154Fees	0.202%Above	690
26	Ameris Bank BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	Strong	$2,209Fees	0.254%Above	320
27	MORTGAGE INVESTORS GROUP, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	Strong	$2,726Fees	0.119%Above	270
28	JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association BankDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Sound*	Strong	Strong	$1,811Fees	0.017%Above	482
29	PENNYMAC LOAN SERVICES, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Sound*	Strong	Strong	$2,483Fees	0.014%Below	414
30	First Horizon Bank BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Exceptional	$2,095Fees	0.015%Above	346
31	Citizens Bank, National Association BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Strong	$903Credit	0.038%Above	123
32	FREEDOM MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Sound*	Strong	Strong	$2,998Fees	0.261%Above	242
33	The First National Bank of Middle Tennessee BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Exceptional	$2,482Fees	0.195%Above	192
34	Legends Bank BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Strong	$2,576Fees	0.266%Above	97
35	INSPIRE HOME LOANS INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Strong	$3,981Fees	0.414%Above	226
36	Cadence Bank BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Strong	$2,618Fees	0.049%Below	175
37	Fifth Third Bank, National Association BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Strong	$692Fees	0.027%Above	168
38	GUARANTEED RATE, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Strong	$2,699Fees	0.144%Above	427
39	INTERLINC MORTGAGE SERVICES, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Strong	Strong	$2,895Fees	0.208%Above	175
40	Wells Fargo Bank, National Association BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Sound	Strong	$1,917Fees	0.078%Below	168
41	Renasant Bank BankDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Acceptable*	Exceptional	Strong	$3,336Fees	0.081%Above	139
42	FAIRWAY INDEPENDENT MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	$4,347Fees	0.379%Above	423
43	Regions Bank BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Exceptional	$1,522Fees	0.233%Above	392
44	FIRST EQUITY MORTGAGE INCORPORATED Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Strong	Sound	Strong	$1,003Fees	0.370%Below	132
45	FIRST COLONY MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Sound*	Exceptional	Strong	$2,472Fees	0.334%Above	79
46	Primis Mortgage Company Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Strong	Exceptional	$3,478Fees	0.289%Above	405
47	Mortgage Research Center, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Strong	Strong	$3,135Fees	0.425%Above	347
48	MUTUAL OF OMAHA MORTGAGE, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Sound	Sound	Strong	$2,039Fees	0.285%Above	135
49	THE LOAN STORE, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale	Strong	Acceptable*	Strong	Strong	$2,197Fees	0.287%Above	103
50	CROSSCOUNTRY MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Acceptable	Strong	Exceptional	$4,657Fees	0.557%Above	583

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How are mortgage lenders ranked in Nashville?+

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 Nashville), 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 Nashville?+

Based on 2024 HMDA data, 230 lenders originated a combined 31,402 loans in Nashville. Safe Rate's rankings evaluate all of them — not just a curated shortlist.

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

Rate spread measures how much above the Average Prime Offer Rate (APOR) a lender charges. The median rate spread in Nashville is 0.26%. 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 Nashville'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 30 Points)

Pricing

Rate and fee competitiveness (33%)

Pull Through

Reliability in closing loans (33%)

Place

Local market expertise (33%)

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.