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When you decide it’s time to refinance your mortgage, either with a better rate, lower payment or a change in terms — or to get some cash — it’s natural to think, “I’ll just go to my current mortgage lender.”
And that’s fine, as long as you take these 5 steps to make sure you get the best refi deal.
How to find the best refinance mortgage lender
1. Get your credit score for free
2. Shop around for the best refi
3. Negotiate for the lowest lender fees
4. Know the difference between your payment rate and APR
5. Consider how well lenders match your situation
Best refinance lenders for the online mortgage experience
These lenders offer easy-to-use web portals and online support for borrowers who want to apply for, track and close a refinance online.
- The biggest online mortgage lender in the U.S.
- Fully automated process that imports employment and income data, credit scores, property info and more
- Gives a loan decision in minutes
- Rocket Mortgage review
- Offers refinance mortgages with no origination fees or broker commissions
- Minimum 620 credit score qualification
- Automated suggestion engine will determine if there are things you can do to lower your rate
- Lenda review
Best refinance lenders for customer service
If quality customer service is a top priority, look into one of these lenders.
- Flexible options for borrowers with low down payments and nontraditional credit histories
- Offers assistance at every point during the mortgage process
- Provides customer service in its physical locations, online and via chat or phone
- SunTrust Mortgage review
- Has hundreds of positive reviews on sites such as the Better Business Bureau, Yelp and LendingTree
- Boasts a more than a 95% customer satisfaction rate
- Provides a completely digital mortgage platform for both refinance and purchase customers
- Guaranteed Rate review
Best credit union refinance lenders
If a big bank or online lender just isn’t for you, consider joining and refinancing through a credit union.
- A national lender with nine branch locations in four states
- Get a no-hassle mortgage comparison by filling out an online form. A loan officer will respond within two days.
- Considers alternative credit data when underwriting
- Connexus Credit Union review
- A smaller lender that offers more personalized service
- One of the leading digital-first credit unions in the country
- A portfolio lender with flexibility in its lending criteria
- Alliant review
Best mortgage refinance lenders: summary
- Rocket Mortgage: Best for online experience
- Lenda: Best for online experience:
- SunTrust Mortgage: Best for customer service
- Guaranteed Rate: Best for customer service
- Connexus Credit Union: Best for credit union lenders
- Alliant Credit Union: Best for credit union lenders
More from NerdWallet
- How much house can you afford?
- Compare current mortgage rates
- Calculate your refinance savings
NerdWallet’s selection of mortgage lenders for inclusion here was made based on our evaluation of the products and services that lenders offer to consumers who are actively shopping for the best mortgage. The six key areas we evaluated include the loan types and loan products offered, online capabilities, online mortgage rate information, customer service and the number of complaints filed with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau as a percentage of loans issued. We also awarded lenders up to one bonus star for a unique program or borrower focus that set them apart from other lenders. To ensure consistency, our ratings are reviewed by multiple people on the NerdWallet Mortgages team.