Safe Rate Rankings
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!
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| Rank | Lender | Overall | Pricing | Product | Pull Through | Place | Avg Fees | Rate Spread | # of Loans | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | UNITED WHOLESALE MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale | Exceptional | Strong* | Exceptional | Exceptional | Exceptional | $3,239Fees | 0.043%Above | 5,664 | |
2 | VANDERBILT MORTGAGE AND FINANCE, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect | Exceptional | Strong | Exceptional | Exceptional | Strong | $2,838Fees | 0.092%Above | 579 | |
3 | MORTGAGE INVESTORS GROUP, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect | Exceptional | Strong | Exceptional | Exceptional | Exceptional | $2,627Fees | 0.221%Above | 3,320 | |
4 | GUARANTEED RATE, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect | Exceptional | Strong | Exceptional | Strong | Exceptional | $2,893Fees | 0.189%Above | 1,333 | |
5 | NAVY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION Credit UnionDirect | Exceptional | Exceptional | Exceptional | Sound | Strong | $868Fees | 0.543%Below | 845 | |
6 | CMG MORTGAGE, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect | Exceptional | Sound | Exceptional | Exceptional | Exceptional | $3,492Fees | 0.344%Above | 3,095 | |
7 | FirstBank BankDirect | Exceptional | Strong | Strong | Exceptional | Exceptional | $2,165Fees | 0.231%Above | 1,926 | |
8 | First Horizon Bank BankDirect | Strong | Exceptional | Strong | Strong | Exceptional | $1,604Fees | 0.088%Above | 891 | |
9 | MOVEMENT MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect | Strong | Sound | Exceptional | Exceptional | Exceptional | $2,986Fees | 0.291%Above | 2,263 | |
10 | Old National Bank BankDirect | Strong | Exceptional | Strong | Strong | Strong | $1,189Fees | 0.075%Above | 466 | |
11 | ROCKET MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale | Strong | Acceptable* | Exceptional | Exceptional | Exceptional | $4,302Fees | 0.298%Above | 7,212 | |
12 | ARK-LA-TEX FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale | Strong | Sound* | Exceptional | Exceptional | Strong | $2,259Fees | 0.321%Above | 559 | |
13 | Patriot Bank BankDirect | Strong | Strong | Strong | Strong | Exceptional | $1,307Fees | 0.022%Below | 400 | |
14 | Ameris Bank BankDirect | Strong | Strong | Exceptional | Exceptional | Strong | $2,263Fees | 0.270%Above | 391 | |
15 | FIRST COMMUNITY MORTGAGE, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale | Strong | Acceptable* | Exceptional | Exceptional | Exceptional | $3,431Fees | 0.321%Above | 2,186 | |
16 | FREEDOM MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale | Strong | Strong* | Exceptional | Strong | Strong | $3,314Fees | 0.322%Above | 945 | |
17 | Renasant Bank BankDirect & Wholesale | Strong | Sound* | Exceptional | Exceptional | Strong | $2,823Fees | 0.185%Above | 516 | |
18 | LOANDEPOT.COM, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale | Strong | Sound* | Exceptional | Strong | Exceptional | $2,697Fees | 0.045%Above | 1,377 | |
19 | Pinnacle Bank BankDirect | Strong | Strong | Strong | Strong | Exceptional | $2,351Fees | 0.075%Above | 1,277 | |
20 | PENNYMAC LOAN SERVICES, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale | Strong | Strong* | Exceptional | Strong | Exceptional | $2,631Fees | 0.067%Below | 1,245 | |
21 | U.S. Bank National Association BankDirect | Strong | Strong | Exceptional | Strong | Strong | $1,405Fees | 0.145%Above | 803 | |
22 | SWBC MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect | Strong | Sound | Exceptional | Exceptional | Exceptional | $2,203Fees | 0.237%Above | 646 | |
23 | INSPIRE HOME LOANS INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect | Strong | Strong | Exceptional | Strong | Strong | $3,981Fees | 0.414%Above | 226 | |
24 | INTERLINC MORTGAGE SERVICES, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect | Strong | Exceptional | Strong | Strong | Strong | $2,842Fees | 0.275%Above | 197 | |
25 | FIRST COLONY MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale | Strong | Strong* | Exceptional | Exceptional | Strong | $2,864Fees | 0.278%Above | 195 | |
26 | FAIRWAY INDEPENDENT MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect | Strong | Acceptable | Exceptional | Exceptional | Exceptional | $3,843Fees | 0.393%Above | 1,245 | |
27 | JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association BankDirect & Wholesale | Strong | Strong* | Exceptional | Sound | Strong | $1,968Fees | 0.042%Above | 970 | |
28 | AMERICAN FINANCIAL NETWORK, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale | Strong | Strong* | Exceptional | Strong | Strong | $2,097Fees | 0.583%Above | 330 | |
29 | RELIANCE FIRST CAPITAL, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect | Strong | — | Strong | Exceptional | Strong | — | — | 292 | |
30 | Legacy Home Loans, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect | Strong | Sound | Strong | Strong | Exceptional | $1,996Fees | 0.144%Above | 1,242 | |
31 | United Community Bank BankDirect | Strong | Strong | Strong | Strong | Strong | $2,082Fees | 0.398%Above | 264 | |
32 | Fifth Third Bank, National Association BankDirect | Strong | Exceptional | Strong | Strong | Strong | $955Fees | 0.103%Above | 256 | |
33 | Mortgage Research Center, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect | Strong | Acceptable | Exceptional | Strong | Exceptional | $1,961Fees | 0.546%Above | 2,392 | |
34 | Truist Bank BankDirect | Strong | Strong | Strong | Sound | Strong | $1,080Fees | 0.138%Above | 510 | |
35 | USAA Federal Savings Bank BankDirect | Strong | Strong | Exceptional | Sound | Strong | $1,928Fees | 0.171%Below | 381 | |
36 | PRIMELENDING, A PLAINSCAPITAL COMPANY Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect | Strong | Sound | Exceptional | Exceptional | Strong | $3,879Fees | 0.329%Above | 195 | |
37 | COMMUNITY MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect | Strong | Acceptable | Strong | Exceptional | Exceptional | $2,874Fees | 0.231%Above | 891 | |
38 | Leaders Credit Union Credit UnionDirect | Strong | Sound | Strong | Strong | Exceptional | $1,074Fees | 0.308%Above | 727 | |
39 | Flagstar Bank, N.A. BankDirect & Wholesale | Strong | Sound* | Exceptional | Strong | Strong | $2,566Fees | 0.301%Above | 349 | |
40 | Legends Bank BankDirect | Strong | Sound | Strong | Strong | Exceptional | $2,687Fees | 0.107%Above | 342 | |
41 | Regions Bank BankDirect | Strong | Sound | Strong | Sound | Exceptional | $1,655Fees | 0.392%Above | 1,429 | |
42 | CROSSCOUNTRY MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect | Strong | Acceptable | Exceptional | Strong | Exceptional | $4,468Fees | 0.584%Above | 1,205 | |
43 | NEWREZ LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale | Strong | Sound* | Exceptional | Strong | Strong | $2,587Fees | 0.304%Above | 624 | |
44 | The First National Bank of Middle Tennessee BankDirect | Strong | Strong | Strong | Strong | Exceptional | $2,553Fees | 0.193%Above | 371 | |
45 | THE LOAN STORE, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale | Strong | Sound* | Exceptional | Strong | Strong | $2,358Fees | 0.279%Above | 261 | |
46 | UNION HOME MORTGAGE CORP. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale | Strong | Acceptable* | Exceptional | Strong | Strong | $3,707Fees | 0.384%Above | 855 | |
47 | Cadence Bank BankDirect | Strong | Sound | Strong | Strong | Exceptional | $2,254Fees | 0.049%Above | 681 | |
48 | Primis Mortgage Company Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect | Strong | Sound | Strong | Strong | Exceptional | $3,470Fees | 0.345%Above | 649 | |
49 | Citizens Bank, National Association BankDirect | Strong | Strong | Strong | Sound | Strong | $143Fees | 0.108%Above | 209 | |
50 | Wells Fargo Bank, National Association BankDirect | Strong | Sound | Exceptional | Sound | Strong | $2,279Fees | 0.081%Above | 449 |
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 Tennessee), 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.
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.
Based on 2024 HMDA data, 361 lenders originated a combined 89,791 loans in Tennessee. Safe Rate's rankings evaluate all of them — not just a curated shortlist.
Rate spread measures how much above the Average Prime Offer Rate (APOR) a lender charges. The median rate spread in Tennessee is 0.31%. Lenders in Safe Rate's top rankings consistently price below this median, meaning borrowers typically pay less interest over the life of their loan.
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.
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.
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 Tennessee's rankings, all three institution types are evaluated on the same HMDA performance metrics.
Our rankings use a weighted average of scores across equally-weighted categories to evaluate lenders on a linear, raw performance scale.
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.