Safe Rate Rankings

Best VA Mortgage Lenders in Wisconsin

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 Lenders270
Total Loans65,281
Median Rate Spread0.31%
Wisconsin Market Insights
  • United Wholesale Mortgage is Safe Rate's top-ranked VA lender in Wisconsin, leading on pricing, pullthrough, VA product expertise, and local knowledge.
  • There is often a pricing vs. pullthrough tradeoff in mortgage lending. In Wisconsin, Educators Credit Union and Navy Federal Credit Union scores highest on VA pricing while Bank Five Nine and Altra Federal Credit Union leads on likelihood to close. That is why we encourage speaking with multiple lenders.
  • United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) ranks #1 in Wisconsin, 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 Wisconsin: Rocket Mortgage (#13) and University of Wisconsin Credit Union (#10).

Explore Rankings by Type

Overall Rankings

All lenders in Wisconsin

Need rankings for a different loan product?

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

RankLenderOverallPricingProductPull ThroughPlaceAvg FeesRate Spread# of LoansAction
1
UNITED WHOLESALE MORTGAGE, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale
Exceptional
Strong*
Exceptional
Exceptional
Exceptional
$1,966Fees
0.178%Above
1,883
2
Johnson Bank
BankDirect
Exceptional
Exceptional
Sound
Exceptional
Exceptional
$509Fees
0.035%Above
1,674
3
ALTRA Federal Credit Union
Credit UnionDirect
Exceptional
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
Exceptional
$530Fees
0.348%Above
558
4
GUARANTEED RATE, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$1,897Fees
0.317%Above
741
5
NAVY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
Credit UnionDirect
Strong
Exceptional
Exceptional
Sound
Strong
$570Fees
0.446%Below
313
6
Bank Five Nine
BankDirect
Strong
Sound
Strong
Exceptional
Exceptional
$1,040Fees
0.200%Above
1,027
7
EDUCATORS CREDIT UNION
Credit UnionDirect
Strong
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$35Fees
0.124%Below
890
8
FIRST COLONY MORTGAGE CORPORATION
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Strong*
Exceptional
Exceptional
Exceptional
$1,541Fees
0.334%Above
815
9
U.S. Bank National Association
BankDirect
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$486Fees
0.170%Above
1,404
10
University of Wisconsin Credit Union
Credit UnionDirect
Strong
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
$398Fees
0.153%Above
2,546
11
Prosperity Home Mortgage, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$1,965Fees
0.206%Above
709
12
Bank First, N.A.
BankDirect
Strong
Exceptional
Exceptional
Exceptional
$242Fees
0.002%Above
655
13
ROCKET MORTGAGE, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Acceptable*
Exceptional
Exceptional
Exceptional
$3,935Fees
0.431%Above
3,338
14
FAIRWAY INDEPENDENT MORTGAGE CORPORATION
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Exceptional
Exceptional
$2,416Fees
0.402%Above
2,513
15
Associated Bank, National Association
BankDirect
Strong
Exceptional
Strong
Sound
Exceptional
$534Fees
0.047%Below
2,002
16
A + MORTGAGE SERVICES, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
Exceptional
$1,425Fees
0.302%Above
480
17
CMG MORTGAGE, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Sound
Exceptional
Exceptional
Strong
$2,739Fees
0.711%Above
400
18
First Federal Bank
BankDirect
Strong
Exceptional
Exceptional
Sound
Strong
$815Fees
0.098%Above
225
19
Bell Bank
BankDirect
Strong
Sound
Exceptional
Exceptional
Exceptional
$2,730Fees
0.308%Above
767
20
JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association
BankDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Strong*
Exceptional
Sound
Exceptional
$2,004Fees
0.228%Above
903
21
FREEDOM MORTGAGE CORPORATION
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Strong*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$2,124Fees
0.398%Above
439
22
The Huntington National Bank
BankDirect
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$1,197Fees
0.373%Above
378
23
ARK-LA-TEX FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Sound*
Exceptional
Exceptional
Strong
$1,528Fees
0.369%Above
226
24
LOANDEPOT.COM, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Sound*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$3,095Fees
0.441%Above
543
25
MOVEMENT MORTGAGE, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Sound
Exceptional
Exceptional
Strong
$2,911Fees
0.391%Above
254
26
GUARANTEED RATE AFFINITY, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$2,106Fees
0.328%Above
189
27
Royal Credit Union
Credit UnionDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Strong
Exceptional
Exceptional
$498Fees
0.101%Above
1,070
28
Flagstar Bank, N.A.
BankDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Sound*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$1,633Fees
0.404%Above
383
29
PENNYMAC LOAN SERVICES, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Strong*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$1,622Fees
0.002%Above
376
30
GUILD MORTGAGE COMPANY LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$2,582Fees
0.423%Above
1,860
31
NEWREZ LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Sound*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$1,654Fees
0.294%Above
614
32
WISCONSIN MORTGAGE CORPORATION
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Strong
Sound
Strong
Exceptional
$938Fees
0.155%Above
387
33
USAA Federal Savings Bank
BankDirect
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
Sound
Strong
$1,674Fees
0.194%Below
200
34
Mortgage Research Center, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$1,360Fees
0.580%Above
1,170
35
CROSSCOUNTRY MORTGAGE, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$3,120Fees
0.566%Above
974
36
PLANET HOME LENDING, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Sound*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$2,061Fees
0.308%Above
260
37
TOWNE MORTGAGE COMPANY
Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale
Strong
Sound*
Exceptional
Exceptional
Strong
$2,677Fees
0.674%Above
132
38
The Bank of New Glarus
BankDirect
Strong
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
$567Fees
0.306%Above
319
39
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association
BankDirect
Strong
Sound
Exceptional
Sound
Strong
$1,948Fees
0.153%Above
521
40
Paramount Residential Mortgage Group, Inc.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Sound*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$1,645Fees
0.575%Above
324
41
Bank of England
BankDirect
Strong
Sound
Strong
Strong
Strong
$2,064Fees
0.468%Above
352
42
UNION HOME MORTGAGE CORP.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Acceptable*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$2,197Fees
0.634%Above
336
43
THOMPSON KANE & COMPANY, INC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Sound
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
$1,872Fees
0.347%Above
796
44
Nations Lending Corporation
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Mediocre
Exceptional
Exceptional
Exceptional
$1,930Fees
0.461%Above
626
45
CARDINAL FINANCIAL COMPANY, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Acceptable*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$4,068Fees
0.521%Above
364
46
Servion, Inc.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Sound*
Strong
Strong
Strong
$1,276Fees
0.363%Above
264
47
BAY EQUITY LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$2,881Fees
0.347%Above
176
48
MUTUAL OF OMAHA MORTGAGE, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Sound
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$2,005Fees
0.301%Above
215
49
Barrington Bank & Trust Company, National Association
BankDirect
Strong
Mediocre
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$1,733Fees
0.196%Above
1,160
50
Ixonia Bank
BankDirect
Strong
Mediocre
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$2,614Fees
0.578%Above
699

Frequently Asked Questions

How are mortgage lenders ranked in Wisconsin?+

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 Wisconsin), 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 Wisconsin?+

Based on 2024 HMDA data, 270 lenders originated a combined 65,281 loans in Wisconsin. Safe Rate's rankings evaluate all of them — not just a curated shortlist.

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

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

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 Wisconsin'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.