Let’s talk about the top mortgage lenders in Connecticut, based on their total loan volume.
Nearly 550 companies originated home loans in The Constitution State during 2024, with overall funding volume hitting $17.5 billion.
But one company beat out the competition, though not by a significantly wide margin. In fact, it was very tight at the top.
However, it was the nation’s top lender, United Wholesale Mortgage, which took top honors.
Read on to which other banks and mortgage lenders made the leaderboard in Connecticut last year.
Top Mortgage Lenders in Connecticut (Overall)
Ranking | Company Name | 2024 Loan Volume |
1. | UWM | $900 million |
2. | Rocket Mortgage | $839 million |
3. | U.S. Bank | $825 million |
4. | Total Mortgage | $824 million |
5. | Chase | $599 million |
6. | Bank of America | $504 million |
7. | Citizens Bank | $430 million |
8. | CrossCountry | $430 million |
9. | Liberty Bank | $394 million |
10. | First World Mtg | $354 million |
As noted, the #1 spot went to United Wholesale Mortgage, which funded $900 million in Connecticut in 2024, per HMDA data from Richey May.
That wasn’t a huge surprise, as they are also the top mortgage lender in the country overall. They’re #1 despite only working with independent mortgage brokers.
Of course, the totals were way down last year and nowhere close to the collective $58 billion funded in the state of Connecticut back in 2021.
In second was former #1 overall Rocket Mortgage, which funded $839 million, not too far off the lead.
Third went to Minneapolis, MN-based U.S. Bank, which was right behind Rocket with $825 million.
Milford, CT-based Total Mortgage Services was an even closer fourth place with $824 million funded, then it then dropped off quite a bit with NYC-based Chase funding $599 million.
Several other banks made up the top 10, including Bank of America, Citizens Bank and Liberty Bank, along with nonbanks CrossCountry Mortgage and First World Mortgage Corp.
Citizens Bank is basically a local institution as they are headquartered in nearby Providence, Rhode Island and First World Mortgage is headquartered in West Hartford, Connecticut, while Liberty Bank is in Middletown, CT.
Always nice to see some local institutions make the top 10 list, perhaps more common these days because the mortgage business is so purchase-heavy as opposed to refinance driven.
Top Mortgage Lenders in Connecticut (for Home Buyers)
Ranking | Company Name | 2024 Loan Volume |
1. | Total Mortgage | $768 million |
2. | UWM | $650 million |
3. | U.S. Bank | $591 million |
4. | Chase | $488 million |
5. | Rocket Mortgage | $423 million |
6. | CrossCountry | $392 million |
7. | Bank of America | $344 million |
8. | First World Mtg | $334 million |
9. | Fairway Independent | $318 million |
10. | Citizens Bank | $294 million |
When it came to home purchase financing, Total Mortgage took first place with $768 million funded, followed by UWM with $650 million and U.S. Bank with $591 million.
Fourth went to Chase with $488 million, while Rocket Mortgage grabbed fifth with $423 million funded.
The rest of the heavy hitters included CrossCountry, Bank of America, First World, Fairway Independent, and Citizens Bank.
Two of the companies on the list, Total Mortgage and First World Mortgage, are Connecticut-based mortgage lenders.
But several other companies listed are pretty local as well, such as Chase and Citizens Bank. This is common as home buyers tend to gravitate to local options when financing a home purchase.
Top Refinance Lenders in Connecticut (for Existing Homeowners)
Ranking | Company Name | 2024 Loan Volume |
1. | Rocket Mortgage | $395 million |
2. | UWM | $250 million |
3. | U.S. Bank | $224 million |
4. | M&T Bank | $186 million |
5. | Citizens Bank | $113 million |
6. | Bank of America | $110 million |
7. | loanDepot | $108 million |
8. | Freedom Mortgage | $96 million |
9. | Webster Bank | $91 million |
10. | Liberty Bank | $82 million |
If we exclude home purchase loans, and only include rate and term refinances (and cash out refinances), Rocket Mortgage slides into first place with $395 illion funded.
That was well ahead of the rest, with second place UWM only managing $250 million in refis in Connecticut.
Former #1 overall Rocket Mortgage always tend to lead in the refinance category, which is their specialty.
In third was U.S. Bank with a close $224 million, followed by Buffalo-based M&T Bank with $186 million and Citizens Bank with $113 million.
Others making the top-10 list included Bank of America, loanDepot, Freedom Mortgage, Stamford-based Webster Bank, and Liberty Bank.
So when it came to refis, there were two CT-based mortgage companies in the mix.
Top Rated Mortgage Lenders in Connecticut (by Customer Reviews)
Now let’s try to determine who the best Connecticut mortgage lenders are by focusing on customer reviews.
On Zillow, Total Mortgage has the most reviews (nearly 4,100 at last count) and a solid 4.91/5 rating.
But West Hartford, CT-based First World Mortgage Corp. and Avon, CT-based Norcom Mortgage have superior 4.98/5 and 4.96/5 ratings, with about 1,100 reviews each.
There’s also Newtown Savings Bank (4.97/5), Northeast Financial (4.98/5), and Luxury Mortgage (4.91/5). Each of these companies have a few hundred reviews on Zillow.
Then there are the big names, like Rocket Mortgage (4.45/5), Citizens Bank (4.95/5), Wells Fargo (4.96/5), Chase (4.95/5), and Bank of America (4.82/5).
So clearly there is no shortage of quality mortgage companies in and around Connecticut and beyond.
Put in the time to gather several quotes from local banks and credit unions, mortgage brokers, and the big household names too. Generally, the more quotes you obtain the better the savings.
(photo: Doug Kerr)
