Best refinance mortgage lenders in 2026

If you want to refinance your mortgage, it may be tempting to simply go with your current lender. But even if you’ve had a good experience with them, it’s worth shopping around and comparing offers to make sure their rate is still competitive. Bankrate’s Hidden Homeownership Tax research shows that homeowners who don’t compare offers tend to overpay by an average of $2,462 per year when refinancing.

You shouldn’t have to choose between low costs and a good customer experience when it’s time to refinance. These lenders stood out not only for their low rates, but also for their wide national reach and the high number of refinances they originated during the period we studied. Even with rates still relatively high, the lenders on our list have originated an above-average number of refinances.

Our honorable mentions are another group of lenders to keep on your radar. While they lend in fewer states, they’re worth considering if you live in a region they serve.

Homeowners generally refinance to save money on their mortgages when current market rates are lower than the mortgage rate they’re paying. But that’s not the only reason — and knowing your goal can help you decide whether refinancing is a good idea for you. Do you have an adjustable rate and want the stability of a fixed payment? Are you interested in moving from a government-backed loan to a conventional? Do you want to shorten your loan term and pay off your mortgage sooner?

Various refinancing loan types can help you accomplish those and other goals. If you’re hoping to save money on a conventional loan, you might choose a standard rate-and-term refinance. But if you have a government-backed FHA, VA or USDA loan, you may qualify for a streamlined refinance, which requires less paperwork. Or if you have enough equity in your home and need money for repairs, a cash-out refinance could be an option.

Look for a lender that offers the loan type you need and has a history of working with borrowers in situations like yours. Getting recommendations from friends and family can help, as can checking reviews to see what other borrowers say about their experiences. 

Keep in mind, though, that the lender you choose may not be with you long term. Mortgages are often sold or transferred to another lender.

Once you have a list of at least three refinance lenders, submit an application to see the rate, fees and terms you’ll qualify for. All of these details are available on a lender’s loan estimate, which you’ll receive after applying. 

The rate might be the first thing you look for, but it shouldn’t be the only thing. When refinancing, you have to pay closing costs just like when you bought your home. Factoring in fees lets you compare the total cost of refinancing across lenders.

The lender you choose should ideally offer a combination of low costs and good customer service.

If your lender reached out to you recently about refinancing, take a step back. Assuming refinance rates are higher than when you first got your loan, it’s likely not a smart move — unless you have another reason to refinance, such as switching from an adjustable-rate mortgage to a fixed rate or from a government-backed loan to a conventional. 

However, if you see a rate that’s lower than the one you’re paying — a full percentage point is a good rule of thumb — be ready to jump on it. This might be the case if you paid more than you needed to for your original loan. According to Bankrate’s research, 79% of refinance borrowers could have gotten a lower rate on their loan than they did. 

Refinancing is typically a choice, and ideally, it should save you money. Figure out if your refinancing timing is right by crunching the numbers with a mortgage refinance calculator.

Bankrate reviewed 5,538 U.S. lenders in public record home lending data and rated the 1,962 that had enough verified pricing data for us to score accurately. Those lenders account for 87% of all mortgages issued between 2022 and 2025.

From there, we narrowed the list by applying additional criteria to find the best refinance lenders. What matters most to us is telling you where to get the lowest rate. That rate might come from a lender that advertises with us and shows its rates right on Bankrate. It might not, and we'll let you know either way. That's why we include both ratings: the Bankrate Rating covers lenders that advertise with us, and the Overall Rating covers lenders' pricing as reported in public home lending records.

Rate isn’t the only factor, though. We also look for lenders that treat borrowers well through closing and serve a wide range of customers. And we look for refinance volume to identify the lenders with real experience. Refinances made up about 22% of mortgage originations nationally in 2024 and roughly 29% in 2025. Requiring that refinances account for at least 20% of a lender's volume sets a floor that holds whether refinance activity climbs or falls.

A lender makes our list if it:

• Earns a 5-star Overall or Bankrate Rating
• Lends in at least 30 states
• Originates enough refinances to make up 20% or more of its loan volume, per Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data

Fewer than 1% of the rated lenders meet all three standards.

Some lenders earn the rating and have the refinance volume but lend in only a few states, or they have eligibility requirements, like a credit union membership. You'll find those lenders in our honorable mentions.

See how we calculate our Overall and Bankrate Ratings. Or compare every lender we rated.

Bankrate's evaluations are editorially independent. Advertising relationships determine which lenders can display rates on our site. What they don’t determine is who makes this list.