Alliant Credit Union Mortgage Review 2026

Alliant Credit Union overview

Headquartered in Illinois, Alliant Credit Union has been in business since 1935, when it was founded as a credit union for United Airlines employees. Since then, Alliant has grown into a major financial institution with more than 900,000 members. There are membership requirements, but you easily join by becoming a member of the Alliant Credit Union foundation, which supports educational and digital inclusion.

Two borrowing options stand out as unique to Alliant’s product lineup. One is the Home Rewards program, which incentivizes buyers to work with a select network of real estate agents in exchange for a rebate at closing of between $350 and $9,500, depending on the home's sales price (this program isn’t available in all states). The other program allows first-time buyers to take out a loan with no down payment and no private mortgage insurance.

Pros and cons of Alliant Credit Union

Affordability: 5 stars

Because of its competitive interest rates, array of affordable loan options and fewer fees than some other lenders, Alliant Credit Union earns 5 out of 5 stars for affordability. 

• Interest rates: Alliant Credit Union reports competitive annual percentage rates (APRs) compared to Bankrate's national average, at the time of this review. It also displays rate and APR information on its website and allows you to estimate a personalized mortgage rate based on your credit score, down payment amount and other factors. Alliant offers tiered rate-locks: up to 365 days for construction loans and up to 90 days for refinance and purchase loans.  
• Down payment: Alliant Credit Union offers conventional loans for 3 percent down and FHA loans for 3.5 percent down. If you choose a VA or USDA loan, no down payment is required. The credit union also offers a no-down-payment loan option for first-time homeowners with no private mortgage insurance (PMI). 
• Fees: Alliant Credit Union charges an origination fee between $995 and of $1,200 for conventional mortgages. Origination fees may vary for other products. However, the credit union doesn’t charge an application fee, membership fee or escrow waiver fee.
• Closing costs: Alliant Credit Union takes a “no surprises” approach to fees, disclosing all closing costs upfront.

Availability: 5 stars

Many lenders offer some mortgage types but not others; Alliant’s product lineup includes government-backed and conventional loans, as well as fixed- and adjustable-rate options. Robust product offerings and nearly nationwide reach contribute to the lender's perfect 5 out of 5 stars for availability.

• Products offered: Alliant provides its customers with conventional, jumbo, FHA, VA, USDA and construction loans, as well as refinancing and more. Fixed-rate loans and a variety of adjustable-rate mortgages are available.
• Footprint: The credit union lends in all U.S. states except Maryland.
• Where to find: Banking services, including mortgages, are online only. There are physical corporate offices, which aren’t open to customers, but no branch locations. However, you can apply for a mortgage over the phone with a loan officer.

To help you better understand what types of borrowers are interested in this lender, here’s more information about Bankrate users who submitted a form to this lender through our site:

Borrower experience: 4.5 stars

Straightforward access to rate estimates and a speedy online preapplication process contribute to a positive customer experience. However, the lender lacks some convenience factors and transparency about qualifying criteria online. For these reasons, Alliant gets 4.5 out of 5 stars for borrower experience. 

• Application and preapproval process: To apply for a mortgage through Alliant, you’ll need to fill out an online application or spend about 10 to 15 minutes over the phone providing the lender some basic information about your finances for a preapproval. Once a seller accepts your offer on a home, you’ll communicate again with a loan officer to formally apply for a mortgage.
• Transparency: While the lender doesn’t disclose specific borrower requirements online, its rate tool does offer a glimpse into its application standards. By inputting a few key details — including your property type, purchase price, down payment, zip code and credit score — you'll receive a quote for your rate and APR for several different loan types. There's no need to include your contact information. The website also has a calculator that estimates your monthly payments. 
• Customer service: Borrowers can contact the credit union at 800-328-1935 on Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. CT or Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT. Or, you can reach Alliant by email at mortgages@alliantcreditunion.com. Its website also includes contact forms for each of its loan officers.

Alliant Credit Union is one of the largest credit unions in the country, accredited by the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating. The credit union receives an “average” rating on the review site Trustpilot, based on more than 130 customer reviews. Alliant was not included in J.D. Power's 2025 mortgage origination satisfaction study.