Third Federal Savings and Loan Mortgage Review 2024

Third Federal Savings and Loan overview

Third Federal Savings and Loan is a mid-sized bank based in Cleveland. Through Third Federal, you can obtain a fully underwritten preapproval (called “Early Approval”) good for six months, giving you more time to find a home to purchase, and a lower-cost loan that only requires $295 upfront in exchange for a higher interest rate. The bank's “Rate Relock Program,” for borrowers who have an existing adjustable-rate mortgage with the lender, also comes with a similarly lower-cost fee: $295 to $595 depending on the state you live in. Another perk: Third Federal’s Lowest Rate Guarantee promises if you find a lower purchase mortgage rate, the lender will beat it or pay you $1,000.

Pros and cons of Third Federal Savings and Loan

Our editor's take on Third Federal Savings and Loan

This old-line lender is suited for borrowers who want a longer-term preapproval, reasonable rates and multiple mortgage options. Its geographic coverage is limited, but if you’re in Third Federal’s footprint, the lender has some compelling offers.

How Bankrate scored Third Federal Savings and Loan

• Affordability: Third Federal's mortgage rates are largely below Bankrate's averages, and you can save on upfront closing costs with the bank’s low-cost options. (You’ll get a higher interest rate in this case, however.)
• Availability: The bank serves borrowers in 25 states and Washington, D.C., and doesn’t offer government loans.
• Borrower experience: Third Federal has a broad range of customer service hours and lots of online resources to help guide you through the mortgage process.

Affordability: 10/10

Third Federal Savings and Loan clearly displays mortgage rates on its website. These rates are generally competitive and updated regularly, and you can set up automatic rate alerts to get a notification when rates drop below a certain level. If you input some details about your desired loan, you can get even more information, such as the estimated payment and closing costs or how much you could save on the interest rate by paying for points.

The bank charges common closing costs that can include an origination fee, but also offers a lower-upfront cost option for virtually every type of loan that keeps these costs to just $295. These low-cost loans have a higher interest rate, however, so you’ll have a higher monthly payment and your borrowing costs could amount to much more over the life of your loan. Additionally, while there’s no fee to get a preapproval, you might be charged an application fee depending on the type of mortgage you’re seeking. Notably, the bank also offers a $750 closing cost credit to first-time homebuyers.

Availability: 7.2/10

Third Federal Savings and Loan works with borrowers in 25 states, so you’ll need to confirm whether it services yours before you apply for a mortgage with the bank. Its loan offerings include conventional loans as well as construction loans and financing for investment properties. The bank doesn’t offer government-backed mortgages.

Borrower experience: 7.8/10

Third Federal Savings and Loan has 80 years of experience lending to borrowers in Ohio and elsewhere in the U.S. The bank has an A- rating from the Better Business Bureau. Its website makes it easy to check available rates, get preapproved, apply for a loan and sign the required paperwork. Before you apply, you can use the bank’s useful calculators to determine how much home you can afford and to estimate your monthly payment. Once you get your loan online, you can use the Third Federal app to manage it; however, you can’t apply for the loan itself directly through the app.

How to apply for a mortgage with Third Federal Savings and Loan

You can apply for a mortgage with Third Federal in-person at a branch location, online or by phone at 1-800-THIRD-FED. 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.)

Refinancing with Third Federal Savings and Loan

Third Federal Savings and Loan offers both rate-and-term and cash-out refinancing options. The bank’s low-cost loans ($295 closing costs) are also available for refinances.

Special homebuying programs from Third Federal 

• Low-closing cost mortgages: Third Federal offers mortgages for purchase and refinance with low, flat-rate closing costs of only $295.
• Lowest rate guarantee: Third Federal guarantees it’ll offer the lowest rate or give you $1,000. 
• Extended rate lock: After preapproval, you can lock your rate with Third Federal for up to 240 days at no extra cost. 
• Discounts on jumbo and ARMs: If you’re getting a jumbo or an adjustable-rate mortgage, Third Federal discounts the rates.
• No mortgage insurance with 15 percent down: Typically, you have to put at least 20 percent down to avoid paying mortgage insurance, but with Third Federal, you only have to put down 15 percent.

• 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.

  How we suggest lenders to compare

  To help you make the most informed decisions, our editorial team suggests two (2) alternative mortgage lenders for each lender reviewed in our comparison table. In most cases, these alternatives 1.) share the same strength (affordability, availability or borrower experience) as the lender reviewed; and 2.) rate highly for Bankrate Score. In the event more than two lenders meet these standards, we suggest the ones with the lowest APRs.