Cardinal Financial Mortgage Review 2026

Cardinal Financial has been in business since 1987. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the company also operates another division called Sebonic Financial and has more than 100 branch locations.   

Pros and cons of Cardinal Financial

Affordability: 5 stars

Because of the company’s down payment assistance programs, low APRs and no- and low-down payment loan offerings, Cardinal Financial gets high marks for affordability.

• Interest rates: Cardinal Financial reported an annual percentage rate (APR) well below Bankrate's national average at the time of this review.
• Down payment: The lender offers down payment assistance programs to help eligible borrowers cover a down payment or closing costs. Additionally, the company provides no-down-payment VA and USDA loans, and conventional loans for only 3 percent down.
• Closing costs: Cardinal Financial estimates that typical closing costs will total 2 to 5 percent of the purchase price, which is in line with the industry average.

Availability: 5 stars

Because of the company’s wide range of loan options and nationwide footprint, it received a perfect score for availability.

• Home loans offered: Cardinal Financial offers an impressive variety of mortgages, including standard options — such as conventional, FHA, VA and jumbo loans — and harder-to-find products, like USDA loans, single-close construction loans and loans for tiny homes and manufactured housing.
• Footprint: Cardinal Financial has a license to lend in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
• Where to find: Borrowers can manage their entire mortgage application online with the company’s platform, Octane. There are also Cardinal branches in many U.S. states.

Borrower experience: 3.2 stars

Because it doesn’t offer online preapproval or personalized rates through its website, Cardinal Financial received a lower score for borrower experience.

• Application and preapproval process: Cardinal Financial doesn’t offer a do-it-all-yourself mortgage preapproval experience. Instead, you’ll need to speak with a loan officer to determine the best loan choice for your situation before you can apply. After that, Octane does allow for online documentation uploads and e-signing to streamline the process. The platform also lets you check your loan status at any time.
• Transparency: The company’s website doesn’t offer the ability to personalize a rate quote — or even sample rate. This is something many competitors provide.
• Customer service: You can contact the lender by phone at 855-561-4944, email, online form, online chat or text message. You can also visit a branch location for assistance. 

Cardinal Financial is accredited by the Better Business Bureau and holds an A+ rating from the organization. It also receives high marks on Trustpilot, garnering an "Excellent" rating on the review site.

What Bankrate users say about Cardinal Financial 

On Bankrate, many borrowers say that the online application process is easy and streamlined. Some also say that loan officers explained loan terms and conditions well and that the lender honored its rates and terms. However, reviews are mixed when it comes to customer service responsiveness. Some borrowers say the lender was available to answer questions and address concerns, while others say it was hard to get a hold of someone at times.