Safe Rate Rankings

Best USDA Mortgage Lenders in Pennsylvania

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 Lenders395
Total Loans119,897
Median Rate Spread0.33%
Pennsylvania Market Insights
  • Guild Mortgage Company is Safe Rate's top-ranked USDA lender in Pennsylvania, leading on pricing, pullthrough, USDA product expertise, and local knowledge.
  • There is often a pricing vs. pullthrough tradeoff in mortgage lending. In Pennsylvania, Guild Mortgage Company and Ark La Tex Financial Services scores highest on USDA pricing while First Community Mortgage and Meridian Bank leads on likelihood to close. That is why we encourage speaking with multiple lenders.
  • United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) ranks #2 in Pennsylvania, 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

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RankLenderOverallPricingProductPull ThroughPlaceAvg FeesRate Spread# of LoansAction
1
GUILD MORTGAGE COMPANY LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$3,188Fees
0.323%Above
2,234
2
UNITED WHOLESALE MORTGAGE, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale
Exceptional
Strong*
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$2,418Fees
0.260%Above
5,972
3
NEWREZ LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Strong*
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$2,715Fees
0.433%Above
1,391
4
FIRST COMMUNITY MORTGAGE, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Sound*
Exceptional
Exceptional
Strong
$1,858Fees
0.419%Above
449
5
CMG MORTGAGE, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Sound
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$3,120Fees
0.375%Above
2,047
6
ARK-LA-TEX FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Strong*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$2,457Fees
0.438%Above
342
7
EQUITY RESOURCES, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Sound
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$2,234Fees
0.299%Above
616
8
Mortgage America, Inc.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Sound
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
$2,261Fees
0.212%Above
1,597
9
First Commonwealth Bank
BankDirect
Strong
Strong
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
$957Fees
0.331%Above
789
10
MERIDIAN BANK
BankDirect
Strong
Sound
Strong
Exceptional
Exceptional
$2,346Fees
0.100%Above
545
11
KIND LENDING, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale
Strong
Sound*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$1,915Fees
0.496%Above
505
12
SOMERSET TRUST COMPANY
BankDirect
Strong
Strong
Strong
Sound
Strong
$600Fees
0.057%Below
280
13
Union Savings Bank
BankDirect
Strong
Sound
Strong
Strong
Strong
$1,151Fees
0.095%Above
387
14
ALLIED MORTGAGE GROUP, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Sound
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
$2,711Fees
0.402%Above
624
15
First Columbia Bank & Trust Co.
BankDirect
Strong
Strong
Strong
Sound
Strong
$778Fees
0.247%Below
309
16
RELIANCE FIRST CAPITAL, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
277
17
Equity Prime Mortgage LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$2,705Fees
0.715%Above
353
18
CROSSCOUNTRY MORTGAGE, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Mediocre
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$3,755Fees
0.454%Above
6,270
19
PLAZA HOME MORTGAGE, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale
Strong
Sound*
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$2,347Fees
0.344%Above
829
20
Flagstar Bank, N.A.
BankDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Sound*
Exceptional
Sound
Strong
$2,514Fees
0.430%Above
756
21
EMM LOANS LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Sound*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$3,044Fees
0.401%Above
514
22
First National Bank of Pennsylvania
BankDirect
Strong
Sound
Strong
Sound
Exceptional
$991Fees
0.211%Above
1,782
23
FAIRWAY INDEPENDENT MORTGAGE CORPORATION
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Mediocre
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$2,894Fees
0.399%Above
1,113
24
MOVEMENT MORTGAGE, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Mediocre
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$2,827Fees
0.358%Above
3,389
25
UNION HOME MORTGAGE CORP.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Mediocre*
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$2,744Fees
0.491%Above
1,372
26
PRIMELENDING, A PLAINSCAPITAL COMPANY
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$2,555Fees
0.242%Above
555
27
Jersey Shore State Bank
BankDirect
Strong
Mediocre
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$2,162Fees
0.617%Above
383
28
Northwest Bank
BankDirect
Strong
Strong
Sound
Strong
Strong
$1,037Fees
0.314%Above
358
29
SWBC MORTGAGE CORPORATION
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$2,840Fees
0.294%Above
301
30
STOCKTON MORTGAGE CORPORATION
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$2,860Fees
0.309%Above
324
31
HOWARD HANNA FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Strong
Sound
Exceptional
$2,390Fees
0.252%Above
1,179
32
WEST PENN FINANCIAL SERVICE CENTER, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Sound
Strong
Exceptional
$1,944Fees
0.273%Above
610
33
RADIUS FINANCIAL GROUP INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Strong
Strong
Strong
$3,753Fees
0.591%Above
327
34
TIDEWATER MORTGAGE SERVICES, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Strong
Strong
Strong
$2,135Fees
0.447%Above
288
35
Ixonia Bank
BankDirect
Strong
Mediocre
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$3,200Fees
0.575%Above
988
36
CARDINAL FINANCIAL COMPANY, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Acceptable*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$3,005Fees
0.453%Above
316
37
NEW AMERICAN FUNDING, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Mediocre
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$3,032Fees
0.514%Above
1,464
38
Fulton Bank, National Association
BankDirect
Strong
Sound
Strong
Exceptional
$2,041Fees
0.309%Above
1,232

Frequently Asked Questions

How are mortgage lenders ranked in Pennsylvania?+

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 Pennsylvania), 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 Pennsylvania?+

Based on 2024 HMDA data, 395 lenders originated a combined 119,897 loans in Pennsylvania. Safe Rate's rankings evaluate all of them — not just a curated shortlist.

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

Rate spread measures how much above the Average Prime Offer Rate (APOR) a lender charges. The median rate spread in Pennsylvania is 0.33%. 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 Pennsylvania'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.