NBKC Bank Mortgage Review 2024

NBKC Bank overview

NBKC Bank is an online and brick-and-mortar lender, established in 1999, that provides a variety of mortgage options, including conventional and government-insured loans, refinancing and home equity loans.

This lender is ideal for borrowers who value customer service. In addition to home loans, NBKC Bank offers traditional banking products and services as well as other types of loans. For in-person applications, NBKC Bank has four brick-and-mortar locations: Kansas City, Missouri; Liberty, Missouri; Leawood, Kansas and Overland Park, Kansas. In July 2024, the lender launched nbKC Local, which provides down payment and other assistance to low- and moderate-income first-time buyers in the Kansas City metro area. Qualifying borrowers can receive up to $2,000 in down payment support and up to $1,000 toward closing costs.

Pros and cons of NBKC Bank

How Bankrate scored NBKC Bank

Affordability: 6.6/10

NBKC Bank’s mortgage rates are comparable to Bankrate’s averages as of this review. The bank ended a marketing program with warehouse retailer Costco, so all borrowers now get the bank’s lowest fee of $250 (with the exception of VA borrowers, who still pay no fees). That helps keep closing costs down. However, NBKC doesn’t publish rates online — you have to fill out a form and provide your name and email to see that information. Because of NBKC’s lack of transparency on rates, it scored 6.6/10.

Availability: 10/10

NBKC Bank provides conventional loans, FHA and VA loans, construction loans and home equity loans. The bank has just four branch locations, but it does business nationally. On the plus side, NBKC provides many mortgage options, Because of NBKC’s broad product offering, it scored 10/10 for availability.

Borrower experience: 7.8/10

NBKC Bank has been in business for more than 20 years. It offers borrowers the option to get prequalified and preapproved for a mortgage online. To get prequalified, you’ll need to provide basic personal information like your employment history. You’ll also need to provide details about the purchase price and type of home, the loan amount and down payment. If you provide the required information, you could get prequalified the same day, and preapproved within 24 hours. You can also apply for a home loan entirely online. The limited physical footprint might be a negative for some borrowers. Given its mostly strong showing, NBKC scores 7.8/10.

Refinancing with NBKC Bank

NBKC Bank offers both rate-and-term and cash-out refinancing options. While refinancing volume has plunged in recent years, there still might be reasons to swap mortgages, such as moving from a higher-fee FHA mortgage to a lower-fee conventional loan. 

Learn more: Choose the right kind of refinance

How to apply for a mortgage with NBKC Bank

You can apply for a mortgage with NBKC Bank in person at a branch location, online or by phone at 800-375-8096. Its mortgage customer service hours are Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET. Here are some tips to prepare for the process:

1. Check your credit report. It’s important to check your credit report before your lender does, in case there are errors that could impact not only whether you get preapproved but also your ability to get the best mortgage rate. Knowing your credit score also helps you decide what type of loan to apply for. If your score is in the very low 600s, for instance, an FHA mortgage might be best for you, as its standards are more lenient than those for conventional loans.
2. Gather personal and financial documents. With any lender, you must supply documentation about your income, assets and debts. This includes pay stubs and W-2s and account and loan statements.
3. Provide details about the property. You’ll need to provide the address of the home and submit to an appraisal. (If you’re refinancing, you might or might not need an appraisal.)

• Methodology

  To determine a mortgage lender's Bankrate Score, Bankrate rates lenders on a scale of one (1) to five (5) stars — with five (5) the highest rating — based on a variety of factors relating to the lender's products and services. To assign our ratings, we assessed each mortgage lender across three core areas:

  • Affordability. Annual percentage rate (APR) - 80%; assistance for first-time homebuyers - 10%; down payment - 10%

  • Availability. Loan products - 50%; licensing - 40%; credit score - 10%

  • Borrower experience. Rate transparency - 45%; customer service - 25%; convenience - 10%; days to close - 10%; rate locks - 10%; reputation (bonus)

  Learn more about our methodology.