Safe Rate Rankings

Best Mortgage Lenders in Nebraska

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 Lenders119

Total Loans20,913

Median Rate Spread0.25%

Nebraska Market Insights

West Gate Bank is Safe Rate's top-ranked lender in Nebraska, leading the composite scorecard across pricing, pullthrough, products, and local expertise.
Top-ranked by institution type in Nebraska: Bank: West Gate Bank (#1). Credit union: Veridian Credit Union (#4). Mortgage company: Iowa Bankers Mortgage (#15).
There is often a pricing vs. pullthrough tradeoff in mortgage lending. In Nebraska, Union Bank and Trust and Exchange Bank scores highest on pricing while Veridian Credit Union and Exchange Bank leads on likelihood to close. That is why we encourage speaking with multiple lenders.
United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) ranks #21 in Nebraska, 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 Nebraska: Rocket Mortgage (#20) and West Gate Bank (#1).

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	WEST GATE BANK BankDirect & Wholesale	Exceptional	Exceptional*	Exceptional	Exceptional	$1,057Fees	0.034%Below	1,396
2	Lincoln FSB of Nebraska BankDirect	Exceptional	Exceptional	Exceptional	Exceptional	$1,199Fees	0.021%Below	655
3	Union Bank and Trust Company BankDirect	Exceptional	Exceptional	Strong	Exceptional	$1,063Fees	0.071%Below	584
4	VERIDIAN CREDIT UNION Credit UnionDirect	Exceptional	Exceptional	Exceptional	Exceptional	$123Fees	0.248%Below	485
5	Pinnacle Bank BankDirect	Exceptional	Exceptional	Strong	Exceptional	$1,193Fees	0.005%Below	1,087
6	CORNHUSKER BANK BankDirect	Strong	Exceptional	Strong	Exceptional	$547Fees	0.086%Above	186
7	Exchange Bank BankDirect	Strong	Exceptional	Exceptional	Strong	$822Fees	0.025%Above	73
8	Arbor Bank BankDirect	Strong	Exceptional	Strong	Exceptional	$874Fees	0.099%Above	195
9	First National Bank of Omaha BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Exceptional	$1,248Fees	0.162%Above	1,207
10	Core Bank BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Exceptional	$1,074Fees	0.125%Above	261
11	CHARTER WEST BANK BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Exceptional	$1,437Fees	0.313%Above	1,346
12	Access Bank BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Exceptional	$1,457Fees	0.124%Above	321
13	U.S. Bank National Association BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Strong	$916Fees	0.184%Above	493
14	NAVY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION Credit UnionDirect	Strong	Exceptional	Sound	Strong	$558Fees	0.520%Below	186
15	IOWA BANKERS MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale	Strong	Exceptional*	Exceptional	Sound	$1,123Fees	0.080%Below	48
16	CENTRIS Credit UnionDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Exceptional	$1,085Fees	0.146%Above	208
17	Northwest Bank BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Strong	$586Fees	0.085%Below	91
18	GERSHMAN INVESTMENT CORP. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Exceptional	$1,340Fees	0.277%Above	427
19	Dayspring Bank BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Strong	$1,378Fees	0.096%Above	125
20	ROCKET MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Acceptable*	Exceptional	Exceptional	$3,654Fees	0.497%Above	1,456
21	UNITED WHOLESALE MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale	Strong	Sound*	Exceptional	Exceptional	$1,768Fees	0.218%Above	661
22	Security First Bank BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Strong	$861Fees	0.165%Above	141
23	First Bank BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Strong	$1,517Fees	0.129%Above	228
24	NBKC BANK BankDirect	Strong	Exceptional	Sound	Sound	$590Fees	0.247%Below	59
25	Frontier Bank BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Strong	$801Fees	0.319%Above	167
26	Central Bank BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Exceptional	Sound	$3,299Fees	0.017%Above	43
27	ARK-LA-TEX FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Sound*	Exceptional	Strong	$2,776Fees	0.259%Above	263
28	LIBERTY FIRST CREDIT UNION Credit UnionDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Exceptional	$1,770Fees	0.016%Below	222
29	FLAT BRANCH MORTGAGE, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	Strong	$1,090Fees	0.078%Above	80
30	Central National Bank BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Sound	Strong	$565Fees	0.263%Above	44
31	Wells Fargo Bank, National Association BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Sound	Strong	$2,048Fees	0.018%Above	238
32	CMG MORTGAGE, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	$1,813Fees	0.385%Above	411
33	Prosperity Home Mortgage, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Strong	Strong	$1,006Fees	0.215%Above	297
34	REGENT FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Strong	Exceptional	$2,221Fees	0.282%Above	260
35	PENNYMAC LOAN SERVICES, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Sound*	Strong	Strong	$1,680Fees	0.034%Above	203
36	FREEDOM MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Sound*	Strong	Strong	$2,173Fees	0.634%Above	182
37	American National Bank BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Strong	$1,552Fees	0.270%Above	155
38	Citizens Bank, National Association BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Sound	$1,321Fees	0.133%Above	59
39	Mortgage Research Center, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Strong	Exceptional	$330Fees	0.389%Above	718
40	FAIRWAY INDEPENDENT MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	$2,154Fees	0.392%Above	412
41	GUARANTEED RATE, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Strong	$2,323Fees	0.390%Above	358
42	DUNDEE BANK BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Strong	$2,758Fees	0.206%Above	126
43	LOANDEPOT.COM, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Sound*	Strong	Strong	$3,272Fees	0.444%Above	109
44	Home Federal Savings and Loan Association of Grand Island BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Sound	Strong	$1,023Fees	0.252%Above	102
45	GUILD MORTGAGE COMPANY LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	$3,064Fees	0.242%Above	322
46	MUTUAL OF OMAHA MORTGAGE, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Sound	Sound	Strong	$1,296Fees	0.115%Above	170
47	DELMAR FINANCIAL COMPANY Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Strong	$1,735Fees	0.373%Above	102
48	JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association BankDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Sound*	Strong	Strong	$1,950Fees	0.257%Above	98
49	Cobalt Credit Union Credit UnionDirect	Strong	Exceptional	Acceptable	Strong	$638Fees	0.069%Above	90
50	Plains Commerce Bank BankWholesale	Sound	Acceptable*	Strong	Strong	$1,695Fees	0.471%Above	269

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How are mortgage lenders ranked in Nebraska?+

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 Nebraska), 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 Nebraska?+

Based on 2024 HMDA data, 119 lenders originated a combined 20,913 loans in Nebraska. Safe Rate's rankings evaluate all of them — not just a curated shortlist.

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

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