Rockland Trust Bank: 2026 Home Equity Review

Affordability: 5 stars

Because Rockland Trust Bank offers starting APRs that are competitive against current average rates and doesn’t add closing costs to any of its equity-backed products, we gave it a perfect score of 5 out of 5 for affordability.

• APR: Rockland Trust’s rates are lower than Bankrate’s national averages, even at a discount to the prime rate in some cases. However, the best rates come with conditions, like a six-figure loan amount and a minimum draw/maintaining a minimum balance for the first month (for HELOCs). You’ll also need to set up automatic repayment from a Rockland Trust checking account to take advantage of the lowest advertised rates.
• Fees: Rockland Trust Bank advertises no upfront fees on any of its home equity products. That said, if you close your HELOC within two years of opening it, the bank will charge you a $500 early termination fee. For a $50 rate lock fee (per conversion), you can convert all or part of your HELOC balance to a fixed rate.

Availability: 3.2 stars

While Rockland Trust Bank offers a variety of equity-backed financing options, we only scored it 3.2 out of 5 because of its small footprint and lack of transparency regarding credit scores.

• Loan products: Rockland Trust offers three equity-backed products: HELOCs, a second-lien home equity loan and a first-lien home equity loan (the “Express Mortgage”).
• Footprint: Rockland Trust Bank currently extends home equity loans in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
• Credit score: Rockland Trust doesn’t disclose its credit score requirements.
• Loan minimum: All three of Rockland Trust Bank’s equity-backed products come with loan minimums of $25,000. 
• Draw requirement: To qualify for the best starting rate on a HELOC, Rockland Trust requires borrowers to immediately draw $25,000 and to maintain that balance for at least 30 days.

Borrower experience: 3.8 stars

Because Rockland Trust offers the convenience of online application and the predictability of fixed-rate loans, we scored it 3.8 out of 5 for borrower experience. It lost a point because navigating its customer service phone tree isn’t overly easy, and it has a limited geographic footprint.

• Rate transparency: Rockland Trust Bank is very transparent about its rates, even maintaining a dedicated webpage that shows starting APRs for its HELOCs, home equity loans and Express Mortgages, broken down by amount and term length.
• Convenience: Potential borrowers can apply for a loan or line of credit online or at a branch location. The online option doesn’t require you to set up login credentials, and you can also check the status of your loan/line of credit application online. 
• Customer service: The bank’s customer information center associates can be reached by live chat from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays and from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Sundays. Rockland Trust also offers phone support — though when we called, we had difficulty connecting with someone knowledgeable about the bank’s equity-backed products.
• Fixed-rate options: Not only does Rockland Trust Bank offer fixed-rate home equity loans, but it also allows HELOC borrowers to convert their outstanding balance to a fixed-rate loan for repayment.

Rockland Trust Bank consistently receives high marks for customer satisfaction. In the 2025 J.D. Power U.S. Retail Banking Satisfaction Study, it ranked second in the New England region. The bank has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, but it isn't accredited by the organization.