Best VA loan lenders in 2025

Comparing lenders, you might not expect many differences with loans guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). However, the exact terms of your particular VA loan and your borrowing experience can vary greatly depending on the lender you choose. Bankrate has evaluated dozens of financial institutions, both bank and non-bank, offering VA loans. Here is our guide to the best VA mortgage lenders in 2025.

Best VA loan lenders

Veterans United Home Loans

Rating: 4.9 stars out of 5

4.9

Learn more in our Bankrate review

• Lender details

  • Nationwide availability: All U.S. states
  • Loan products: Conventional, jumbo, FHA, VA, USDA
  • Credit requirements: 620 for conventional loans and VA loans
  • Down payment requirements: 3% for conventional loans; 3.5% for FHA loans; none for VA loans or USDA loans

• Pros and cons

  

  Pros

  • Specializes in VA loans
  • 24/7 customer service over the phone
  • Lower rates than the national average

  

  Cons

  • No HELOCs or home equity loans
  • Limited number of branches

• Why we chose Veterans United Home Loans

  Veterans United Home Loans scores well for affordability, availability and borrower experience, and was named the best lender for VA loans in the 2025 Bankate Awards. The lender was also the largest VA loan provider in 2024 and routinely gets high marks for customer service.

Pennymac

Rating: 4.2 stars out of 5

4.2

Learn more in our Bankrate review

• Lender details

  • Nationwide availability: All U.S. states
  • Loan products: Conventional, jumbo, FHA, VA, USDA, refinancing
  • Credit requirements: 620 for conventional loans and VA loans; 580 for FHA loans; 620 for VA loans
  • Down payment requirements: 3% for conventional loans; 3.5% for FHA loans; none for VA loans or USDA loans

• Pros and cons

  

  Pros

  • Large lender with national presence
  • $1,000 off closing costs if preapproved (not applicable to jumbo loans or refinancing) and a rate reduction of 1 percent for 12 months
  • Receive $2,000 if you refinance your Pennymac loan within 3 years
  • Receive up to $9,000 if you use a partnered agent

  

  Cons

  • No branch locations
  • Below-average customer service ranking

• Why we chose Pennymac

  Pennymac scores well for availability and borrower experience and works with borrowers on a range of mortgage needs, including VA loans. (In fact, like the other entries on this list, it’s one of the largest VA lenders in the country by volume.) In addition, the lender offers some savings opportunities for eligible borrowers.

Rocket Mortgage

Rating: 3.8 stars out of 5

3.8

Learn more in our Bankrate review

• Lender details

  • Nationwide availability: All U.S. states
  • Loan products: Conventional, jumbo, FHA, VA, refinancing
  • Credit requirements: 620 for conventional loans; 680 for jumbo loans; 580 for FHA loans and VA loans
  • Down payment requirements: 3% for conventional loans; 10-15% for jumbo loans; 3.5% for FHA loans; none for VA loans

• Pros and cons

  

  Pros

  • Scores above average for customer service
  • Contact options include chat and screen-sharing
  • Up to $10,000 rebate for buying and selling through affiliate Rocket Homes

  

  Cons

  • Rates often higher than average
  • No branch locations
  • No USDA loans

• Why we chose Rocket Mortgage

  Rocket Mortgage scores well for availability and borrower experience. A pioneer in online lending, it has grown to become the biggest mortgage lender — and one of the largest VA lenders – in the U.S.

Who are the largest VA mortgage lenders in the U.S.?

For comparison to our best VA lenders list, here are the 10 largest VA mortgage lenders based on loans originated in fiscal year 2024, as reported by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs:

1. Veterans United Home Loans
2. United Wholesale Mortgage
3. Rocket Mortgage
4. Freedom Mortgage
5. Navy Federal Credit Union
6. DHI Mortgage
7. Village Capital & Investments
8. Pennymac
9. loanDepot
10. CrossCountry Mortgage

How to find the best VA mortgage lender for you

• Make sure you’re eligible. You’ll need to obtain a certificate of eligibility (COE) and meet other requirements.
• Determine what type of VA loan you need. Some lenders provide the full range of VA loans, from home purchase to construction to renovation, while others limit their VA options.
• Apply and compare offers. Apply for preapproval with at least three VA lenders to compare their rates and fees. Check out current VA loan purchase rates and VA refinance rates.
• Read reviews and compare lenders. Check out lender reviews on Bankrate and read testimonials from past customers.

FAQs about VA loans

• Is a VA loan better than a conventional loan?

  There might be advantages to a VA loan over a conventional loan, even if you qualify for both:
  
  

  1. 1. In most cases, you are not required to make any sort of down payment with a VA loan.
     2. You won’t have to pay for mortgage insurance. With a conventional loan, you’ll have to pay this monthly surcharge if you put less than 20 percent down.
     3. VA loans can be easier to refinance if you want to tap your home’s equity down the line.
     4. There are generally no size limits on VA loans.

  Together, these perks can fast-track your dreams of purchasing a home and save you thousands over the life of your loan. However, if you can afford a 20 percent down payment, it could be more sensible to get a conventional loan instead of the VA version. You won’t incur mortgage insurance, and you’ll avoid the VA funding fee.

  Learn more: VA loans vs. conventional loans: What’s the difference?

• What are the benefits of a VA loan?

  VA loans have a few major benefits:

  1. 1. • There’s no minimum down payment.
        • If you have full entitlement, there’s no VA loan limit.
        • You won’t have to pay mortgage insurance (but you will have to pay the VA funding fee).

  Learn more: VA loan pros and cons

• What are alternatives to VA loans?

  Besides VA loans, veterans and active service members might also be interested in a conventional loan or an FHA loan. Both conventional and FHA loans might be quicker to close than VA loans and can have less paperwork, though they require a down payment and sometimes come with slightly higher rates.

• Methodology

  To determine the best VA mortgage lenders, Bankrate periodically evaluates more than 75 lenders for factors relating to affordability, availability and borrower experience, assigning each a Bankrate Score out of five stars. The best VA mortgage lenders generally have a Bankrate Score of 3.8 stars or higher. Learn more about our methodology.