Safe Rate Rankings

Best Conventional Mortgage Lenders in San Francisco

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 Lenders85

Total Loans8,087

Median Rate Spread0.08%

San Francisco Market Insights

Us Bank National Association is Safe Rate's top-ranked Conventional lender in San Francisco, leading on pricing, pullthrough, Conventional product expertise, and local knowledge.
There is often a pricing vs. pullthrough tradeoff in mortgage lending. In San Francisco, Morgan Stanley Private Bank National Association and Googain scores highest on Conventional 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 San Francisco, 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 San Francisco: Rocket Mortgage (#7) and Wells Fargo Bank National Association (#6).

Explore Rankings by Type

Overall Rankings

All lenders in San Francisco

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By Institution Type

Banks Credit Unions Mortgage Companies

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Rank	Lender	Overall	Pricing	Product	Pull Through	Place	Avg Fees	Rate Spread	# of Loans
1	U.S. Bank National Association BankDirect	Exceptional	Strong	Exceptional	Strong	Exceptional	$1,388Credit	0.247%Below	497
2	Bank of America, National Association BankDirect	Exceptional	Strong	Exceptional	Strong	Exceptional	$747Credit	0.327%Below	515
3	UNITED WHOLESALE MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale	Strong	Acceptable*	Exceptional	Exceptional	Exceptional	$1,785Fees	0.078%Above	614
4	Citibank, National Association BankDirect	Strong	Exceptional	Exceptional	Sound	Exceptional	$2,285Credit	0.306%Below	383
5	JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association BankDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Sound*	Exceptional	Strong	Exceptional	$1,864Fees	0.015%Below	545
6	Wells Fargo Bank, National Association BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Exceptional	Sound	Exceptional	$133Credit	0.279%Below	750
7	ROCKET MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Acceptable*	Exceptional	Exceptional	Exceptional	$2,408Fees	0.101%Above	646
8	PNC Bank, National Association BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Exceptional	Strong	Exceptional	$647Credit	0.015%Above	209
9	Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association BankDirect	Strong	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	Strong	$345Fees	0.544%Below	152
10	GOOGAIN, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Exceptional	Strong	Exceptional	Strong	$447Credit	0.093%Below	62
11	HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	$1,231Credit	0.196%Below	283
12	General Mortgage Capital Corporation Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Strong	Exceptional	$889Fees	0.073%Above	146
13	GUARANTEED RATE, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	Exceptional	$1,463Fees	0.025%Above	222
14	STAR ONE Credit Union Credit UnionDirect	Strong	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	Strong	$61Fees	0.559%Below	44
15	NAVY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION Credit UnionDirect	Strong	Exceptional	Exceptional	Sound	Sound	$135Fees	0.728%Below	18
16	BMO Bank National Association BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	$931Credit	0.100%Below	281
17	First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Sound	Strong	$51Fees	0.240%Below	146
18	PROVIDENT FUNDING ASSOCIATES, L.P. Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale	Strong	Exceptional*	Exceptional	Sound	Sound	$986Credit	0.231%Below	29
19	LOANDEPOT.COM, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Sound*	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$1,682Fees	0.085%Above	68
20	Ameris Bank BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$1,143Fees	0.105%Below	63
21	REDWOOD Credit UnionDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Strong	Exceptional	$802Fees	0.354%Above	186
22	CROSSCOUNTRY MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$2,678Fees	0.268%Above	143
23	Charles Schwab Bank, SSB BankWholesale	Strong	Sound*	Strong	Strong	Strong	$605Fees	0.305%Below	109
24	THE LOAN STORE, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale	Strong	Acceptable*	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$971Fees	0.174%Above	79
25	NMSI, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale	Strong	Acceptable*	Strong	Exceptional	Strong	$3,475Fees	0.011%Above	45
26	NBKC BANK BankDirect	Strong	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	Sound	$148Fees	0.193%Below	20
27	Citizens Bank, National Association BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Exceptional	Sound	Sound	$695Credit	0.512%Below	18
28	AMWEST FUNDING CORP. Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale	Strong	—	Strong	Sound	Strong	—	—	107
29	AMERIHOME MORTGAGE COMPANY, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Sound*	Strong	Strong	Strong	$515Fees	0.079%Above	77
30	Flagstar Bank, N.A. BankDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Acceptable*	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$2,264Fees	0.156%Above	45
31	Provident Credit Union Credit UnionDirect	Strong	Exceptional	Sound	Sound	Strong	$731Fees	0.814%Below	38
32	Barrington Bank & Trust Company, National Association BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$1,998Fees	0.096%Above	35
33	San Mateo Credit Union Credit UnionDirect	Strong	Exceptional	Acceptable	Sound	Strong	$85Credit	0.555%Below	42
34	CMG MORTGAGE, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$2,738Fees	0.130%Above	25
35	PENNYMAC LOAN SERVICES, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Sound*	Exceptional	Sound	Strong	$1,399Fees	0.150%Above	53
36	SAN FRANCISCO FEDERAL CREDIT UNION Credit UnionDirect	Strong	Exceptional	Acceptable	Sound	Strong	$1,456Fees	0.701%Below	45
37	BAY EQUITY LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$1,692Fees	0.144%Above	25
38	GUILD MORTGAGE COMPANY LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$5,269Fees	0.472%Above	25
39	NEW AMERICAN FUNDING, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Sound	Strong	$2,315Fees	0.391%Above	77
40	AMERICAN PACIFIC MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Mediocre	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$2,578Fees	0.381%Above	70
41	STANFORD Federal Credit Union Credit UnionDirect	Strong	Strong	Sound	Sound	Strong	$551Fees	0.354%Below	67
42	PRIMELENDING, A PLAINSCAPITAL COMPANY Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$3,329Fees	0.178%Above	22
43	THE GOLDEN 1 Credit UnionDirect	Sound	Sound	Strong	Sound	Strong	$1,488Credit	0.156%Below	47
44	NexBank BankWholesale	Sound	Sound*	Strong	Strong	Sound	$67Fees	0.143%Above	19
45	GUARANTEED RATE AFFINITY, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Acceptable	Exceptional	Sound	Strong	$1,308Fees	0.250%Above	76
46	Patelco Credit Union Credit UnionDirect	Sound	Strong	Sound	Sound	Strong	$857Fees	0.346%Below	36
47	MASON MCDUFFIE MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Acceptable	Strong	Strong	Sound	$2,414Fees	0.233%Above	34
48	NEWREZ LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Sound	Acceptable*	Exceptional	Sound	Sound	$1,177Fees	0.421%Above	25
49	KIND LENDING, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale	Sound	Acceptable*	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$2,076Fees	0.532%Above	21
50	NATIONAL COOPERATIVE BANK, N.A. BankDirect	Sound	Sound	Sound	Sound	Strong	$1,467Fees	0.042%Below	65

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How are mortgage lenders ranked in San Francisco?+

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 San Francisco), 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 San Francisco?+

Based on 2024 HMDA data, 85 lenders originated a combined 8,087 loans in San Francisco. Safe Rate's rankings evaluate all of them — not just a curated shortlist.

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

Rate spread measures how much above the Average Prime Offer Rate (APOR) a lender charges. The median rate spread in San Francisco is 0.08%. 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 San Francisco'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)

Pricing

Rate and fee competitiveness (25%)

Pull Through

Reliability in closing loans (25%)

Product

Specialization in the loan type (25%)

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.