To find the best VA loan lenders of 2025, Business Insider reviewed dozens of mortgage lenders and looked for the ones that are best equipped to help military service members and veterans get one of these mortgages.
The best lenders for credit scores.
Here are the best VA mortgage lenders of 2025 as chosen by Business Insider editors.
The Best VA Mortgage Lenders
- Veterans United Home Loans: Best overall
- Carrington Mortgage Services: Best for poor credit
- Navy Federal Credit Union Mortgage: Best for no down payment
- Chase VA Mortgage: Best big bank VA lender
- Pentagon Federal Credit Union Mortgage: Best for streamline refinance
Today's Rates
Best Overall
620
Conforming, jumbo, FHA, USDA, VA, refinance
- Largest VA lender in the U.S.
- Ranks high in customer satisfaction
- Free credit counseling
- No home equity loan, HELOC, reverse mortgage, or construction loan
- Can't see customized interest rates online
Veterans United is currently the largest lender of VA loans, and it earned "best overall" in our guide to the best VA mortgage lenders. It's a good option for several types of mortgages — though VA loans are its strongest products.
Veterans United- Offers mortgages in all 50 US states and Washington, DC
- Branches in 17 US states
- Refinancing options for VA, conforming, and jumbo mortgages
- Minimum credit score listed is for VA mortgages, which usually do not require a down payment
Largest VA lender in the U.S.
Veterans United is the largest VA loan lender in the country, generating more than $19 billion in loan volume in 2024, according to the J.D. Power's 2024 Mortgage Origination Satisfaction Study, though it didn't meet the criteria to rank. But if it had, it would have earned the top spot.
What to look out for: It's difficult to find information for non-VA loans on its website, which can make it hard to compare your options.
Best VA Lender for Poor Credit
- Only requires a 500 credit score for a VA mortgage
- Accepts alternative forms of credit, such as proof you pay bills on time
- Doesn't offer mortgages in Massachusetts or North Dakota
- You can't see customized mortgage rates on the website
- Offers mortgages in all US states except Massachusetts and North Dakota
- Accepts alternative forms of credit, such as proof that you pay bills on time, if you have a low/no credit score
- You do not need a down payment for a VA mortgage
Get a VA loan with a 500 credit score
Carrington Mortgage Services is a smart choice for VA loan borrowers with rocky credit histories, since Carrington accepts borrowers with scores as low as 500.
What to look out for: Carrington doesn't lend in Massachusetts or North Dakota. It also doesn't show its rates online.
Carrington has a the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ordered Carrington to pay $5.25 million in fines for supposedly violating borrowers' CARES Act rights. The CFPB claims that the lender misled borrowers seeking CARES Act forbearance and denied them key protections provided by the pandemic-era law.
Best VA Lender for No Down Payment
Undisclosed
Conforming, VA, jumbo, Military Choice, Homebuyers Choice, home equity loan, HELOC
- No-down-payment mortgages available
- Apply with non-traditional credit data if you don't have a credit score
- Low average fees
- No FHA or USDA mortgages
- You must be eligible to join Navy Federal Credit Union to get a mortgage
- No personalized mortgage rates available online
- Doesn't disclose minimum credit score required
Navy Federal Credit Union is one of our best VA mortgage lenders. It's a good option for people affiliated with the military overall, especially if you're looking to avoid making a down payment. But it lacks transparency around its credit score requirements.
Navy Federal Credit Union- You may be eligible for a mortgage if you are an active military member, veteran, family member of someone affiliated with the military, Department of Defense civilian, or housemate of an existing Navy Federal member
Zero down loan options, even if you've used up your VA entitlement
Navy Federal Credit Union is a great lender for borrowers who aren't eligible for a VA loan or those who have used up their VA entitlement thanks to its Military Choice and Homebuyers Choice loans, which both allow 0% down payments. Its VA loan options are also strong.
What to look out for: You can only become a member of Navy Federal Credit Union if you or your family is affiliated with the military, you are a Department of Defense civilian personnel or contractor, or you live with a Navy Federal member.
Navy Federal doesn't disclose its minimum credit score requirements, but a company representative said it works with members to "find the right mortgage for their needs and explore ways to improve their eligibility."
Best Big Bank VA Lender
620
- Get $2,000 for closing costs with the Chase VA Purchase Closing Cost Benefit
- Ranked No. 2 in customer satisfaction according to J.D. Power's 2022 study
- Chase Homebuyer Grant offers up to $5,000 in assistance
- Doesn't display sample VA rates online
- Offers home loans in all 50 US states and Washington, DC
- Branches in 32 US states
Get a $2,000 closing cost credit
Chase ranks high in customer satisfaction and offers homebuyer assistance that can help VA borrowers save money. Borrowers can get $2,000 for closing costs with the Chase VA Purchase Closing Cost Benefit.
Chase's grant comes with up to $5,000 in assistance
VA loan borrowers may also be eligible for the Chase Homebuyer Grant, which offers up to $5,000 in assistance for borrowers in certain areas.
What to look out for: Chase has a great rate customization tool, but VA loan rates aren't included in it.
Best VA Lender for Streamline Refinance
650
3%
Conforming, jumbo, FHA, VA, HELOC
- Average fees are relatively low
- No-closing-cost streamline refinance
- Offers fully underwritten preapproval
- Offers a 60-day rate lock
- No USDA, new construction, or reverse home loans
- Requires 620 credit score to get an FHA loan
- Need to be a member to get a home loan
- Offers mortgages in all 50 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, and Okinawa
- To become a member, open a PenFed savings account with a $5 minimum deposit
- Minimum credit score and down payment listed are for conforming mortgages. VA borrowers can have scores of 620
No closing costs on VA streamline refinances
Pentagon Federal Credit Union is an affordable VA loan lender. It covers your closing costs when you get a streamline refinance, also called an IRRRL, including the VA funding fee.
What to look out for: You'll need to become a PenFed member to qualify for a mortgage.
Find a Mortgage
What Makes VA Loans Unique
VA loans are an extremely affordable mortgage option for those who are eligible. Their main benefit is that they allow no down payment, which removes a major barrier for homebuyers, but they come with other affordable features as well.
Government-Backed
VA loans are originated by private lenders and backed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. This means that if a borrower defaults on a VA loan, the federal government compensates the lender. This enables lenders to work with borrowers who might otherwise be deemed too risky to get a mortgage (such as those with no down payment).
Zero Down Payment
Most mortgages require borrowers to put some of their own money toward the transaction. But VA loans allow 0% mortgage broker doesn't work for a lender; instead, they have access to loan options from many different lenders, helping you compare multiple offers at once to get the best deal.
Once you've found a few different lenders that suit your needs, get preapproved with at least two or three of them so you can compare rates and fees.
Why You Should Trust Us: Experts' Advice on Choosing the Best VA Mortgage Lender
We consulted mortgage and financial experts to inform these picks and provide their insights about mortgage lenders.
- Anthony Park, author of See our full methodology for reviewing mortgage lenders »
FAQs
Who is the No. 1 VA lender in the country?
Veterans United is the top VA lender in the country in terms of total loan volume and number of loans originated, according to the VA. United Wholesale Mortgage is the second largest VA lender, and Rocket Mortgage is the third largest.
Who is the best VA home loan lender?
Business Insider chose Veterans United as its "best overall" VA loan lender. Veterans United is the largest VA lender in the country, and it ranks very high in customer satisfaction.
How do I find VA-approved lenders?
To find a lender that offers VA loans, you can search online or check a lender's website to find out if it offers them. VA loans are very popular, and many lenders offer them.
Can I use my VA loan benefit more than once?
Yes, you can use your VA loan benefit as many times as you want, though if you don't sell your current home and pay off the existing VA loan, you may have reduced entitlement, which can limit how much you'll be able to borrow with no down payment.
Who are the best VA loan lenders for bad credit?
We think Carrington Mortgage Services is one of the best VA loan lenders for borrowers with bad credit. Carrington accepts credit scores down to 500 on its VA loans.
