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Refinance lenders, compared

Best Mortgage Refinance Lenders of October 2026

Lenders that publish a mortgage refinance, including cash-out, compared on minimum credit score, loan types and fees as each states them. We do not quote personal rates.

Independent research. Every number is checked against the provider's own page and dated. Some links may earn us a commission, which never changes a ranking. How we make money

Short answer

  • Lists a VA streamline refinance (IRRRL): Veterans United Home Loans, 620 min. credit score (read Oct 14, 2026). Eligibility for VA loans depends on military service and a Certificate of Eligibility.…
  • A rate lock of 60 days or more: SoFi Mortgage, 90 days rate lock (read Oct 14, 2026).

7 refinance lenders compared; 7 of 7 in the main list were re-read in the last 14 days (newest read Oct 14, 2026). Ranking rule: Lenders are shown by how much of their own terms we could verify and how plainly they publish fees, then alphabetically. It is not a ranking of who is cheapest or best for you, because no list can know that: your rate depends on your credit, down payment, property and state. Lenders cannot pay to change their position or what we say about them. How we rate

Our top picks for refinance lenders

Each pick is one fact about a lender's own published terms, with the rule written on its label. Whether a refinance saves you money depends on its closing costs and how long you keep the loan, so check that with the refinance calculator.

Publishes a dated refinance example
Chase Home Lending logo

Chase Home Lending

Big-bank lender with 3% down, FHA, VA and jumbo loans to $9.5 million, plus homebuyer grants in eligible areas

6.875% rate, 7.056% APRExample (not a quote)

Example stated as of October 13, 2026 (10:17 AM ET), with its assumptions on the lender page.

Verified October 14, 2026
Lists a VA streamline refinance (IRRRL)
Veterans United Home Loans logo

Veterans United Home Loans

VA-loan specialist with $0 down, a published daily VA rate table and a typical 620 minimum score

620Min. credit score

Eligibility for VA loans depends on military service and a Certificate of Eligibility.…

1 other we list also qualify; this one ranks first in our order.

Verified October 14, 2026
A rate lock of 60 days or more

Also: States its origination fee

SoFi Mortgage logo

SoFi Mortgage

Online bank mortgages with 3% down for first-time buyers, a published $1,495 origination fee and a 90-day rate lock

90 daysRate lock

Lock and Look: lock your rate for up to 90 days while you search. No lock fee is published.

Verified October 14, 2026

From the editor

Seven lenders are on this page as of October 14, 2026: every one lists a rate-and-term refinance and a cash-out refinance on its own site, and each figure was read from those pages that day. A refinance replaces your current mortgage with a new one, so it comes with closing costs of its own. That is why the first question is not which lender has the lowest rate, but whether the savings will pay for the costs before you move or refinance again. Use the refinance calculator to find that point for your numbers, then ask a few lenders for official offers. We do not quote rates: your own comes from the lender.

Compare the top 7 refinance lenders

Refinance lenders compared
Refinance lendersMin. credit scoreCash-outRate lockFees statedVerified
Better Mortgage logo
Better Mortgage
580YesSee termsOrigination fee not publishedOct 14, 2026
Chase Home Lending logo
Chase Home Lending
620YesSee termsProcessing fee not publishedOct 14, 2026
Rocket Mortgage logo
Rocket Mortgage
580YesSee termsApplying is free; fee not publishedOct 14, 2026
Veterans United Home Loans logo
Veterans United Home Loans
620YesSee termsVA funding fee 2.15% on first useOct 14, 2026
SoFi Mortgage logo
SoFi Mortgage
See termsYes90 days$1,495 origination feeOct 14, 2026
Navy Federal Credit Union Mortgage logo
Navy Federal Credit Union Mortgage
See termsYes60 days1% origination; 1.75% Choice feeOct 14, 2026
Bank of America Home Loans logo
Bank of America Home Loans
See termsYesSee termsFee amounts not publishedOct 14, 2026

Each date is when we last checked the provider's own page. Rates and terms can change, so confirm with the provider before you apply.

The top 7 refinance lenders, ranked

In ranking order. Each one lists the numbers that decide the choice, its main strengths and its main catches.

1
Better Mortgage logo

Better Mortgage

All-digital direct lender in all 50 states with 3-minute online pre-approval and FHA, VA and jumbo loans

Min. credit score
580
Min. down (non-VA)
3.5%
Loan types
Conventional, FHA, VA, Jumbo
Online pre-approval
Yes

Better Mortgage is an online direct lender that offers loans for buying a home, refinancing and cash-out refinancing. Where it lends: all 50 states and DC. On its own site it lists Conventional, FHA, VA and Jumbo loans.

  • +Online pre-approval in as little as 3 minutes with a soft credit check
  • +VA loans with no down payment; FHA from 3.5%; conventional from as little as 5%
  • −The example rates on its page include about 2 discount points, so each APR is well above its rate
  • −Its own pages disagree on the minimum conventional credit score (620 in its FAQ, 580 in a 2025 article)

Watch out

  • Every example rate on its page includes roughly 2.1 to 2.4 discount points, so the APRs run well above the rates.
  • The rate table is built for a ZIP code and assumes a 760 or higher score, 20% down and debt-to-income under 35%. Better says your actual rate, payment and costs could be higher.
2
Chase Home Lending logo
Refinance example

Chase Home Lending

Big-bank lender with 3% down, FHA, VA and jumbo loans to $9.5 million, plus homebuyer grants in eligible areas

Min. credit score
620
Min. down (non-VA)
3%
Loan types
Conventional, FHA, VA, Jumbo
Online pre-approval
Yes

Chase Home Lending is a bank that offers loans for buying a home, refinancing and cash-out refinancing. On its own site it lists Conventional, FHA, VA and Jumbo loans.

  • +Chase Homebuyer Grant of $2,500 or $5,000 on eligible primary-residence purchases in eligible census tracts
  • +3% down on conventional and DreaMaker loans (DreaMaker has income limits)
  • −Per its disclosure, the Closing Guarantee excludes refinances and loans of $2 million or more, and Chase can withdraw it without notice
  • −Its sample APR leaves out a processing fee whose amount is not published

Watch out

  • The example rate on its page includes 1.851 discount points and does not state a credit score or loan-to-value.
  • Chase's APR example leaves out the processing fee and any other loan-specific charges.
3
Rocket Mortgage logo

Rocket Mortgage

Online lender with FHA, VA and jumbo loans, 1% down on ONE+, and a published rate table with its assumptions

Min. credit score
580
Min. down (non-VA)
1%
Loan types
Conventional, FHA, VA, Jumbo
Online pre-approval
Yes

Rocket Mortgage is an online lender that offers loans for buying a home, refinancing and cash-out refinancing. Where it lends: all 50 states and DC. On its own site it lists Conventional, FHA, VA and Jumbo loans.

  • +Publishes an example rate table with its assumptions, points and payments, dated the day we read it
  • +Down payments from 0% (VA), 1% (ONE+), 3% (conventional) and 3.5% (FHA)
  • −The example rates carry 1.75 to 2 discount points, which is why each APR sits above its rate
  • −The origination fee is not published, only that it varies with your situation

Watch out

  • Its example rates include 1.75 to 2 discount points. That is why the APRs on its page run 0.2 to 0.9 percentage points above the rates.
  • The example assumes a 740 credit score and 80% loan-to-value (70% for jumbo). Many borrowers will be quoted differently.
4
Veterans United Home Loans logo
VA IRRRL

Veterans United Home Loans

VA-loan specialist with $0 down, a published daily VA rate table and a typical 620 minimum score

Min. credit score
620
Min. down payment
0% (VA)
Loan types
VA, USDA, FHA, Conventional
Online pre-approval
Yes

Veterans United Home Loans is a mortgage banker that offers loans for buying a home, refinancing and cash-out refinancing. Where it lends: all 50 states (not every loan type is available in every state).

  • +$0 down VA purchase loans, including VA jumbo, with full entitlement
  • +Publishes a daily VA rate table with its points and assumptions
  • −VA funding fee of 2.15% on a first-use purchase and 3.3% for later use, unless you are exempt
  • −Its sample VA rates include about 1.8 points ($5,348 on the $295,000 sample loan)

Watch out

  • The VA funding fee is 2.15% of the loan on a first-use purchase or cash-out refinance, 3.3% for later use and 0.5% on a Streamline, unless you are exempt (some disabled Veterans are).
  • Its sample VA rates include about 1.8 points: $5,348 on the $295,000 sample loan.
5
SoFi Mortgage logo
60-day lock or moreFee stated

SoFi Mortgage

Online bank mortgages with 3% down for first-time buyers, a published $1,495 origination fee and a 90-day rate lock

Min. down (non-VA)
3%
Loan types
Conventional, FHA, VA, Jumbo
Online pre-approval
Yes

SoFi Mortgage is an online bank that offers loans for buying a home, refinancing and cash-out refinancing. Where it lends: all states, with an exception for purchase loans in New York (its eligibility page wording is ambiguous).

  • +Lock and Look lets you lock your rate for up to 90 days while you search
  • +3% down for qualifying first-time buyers, and VA loans with no down payment
  • −No minimum credit score or debt-to-income limit is published
  • −The standard origination fee is $1,495; the $500 discounts need SoFi products or qualifying deposits

Watch out

  • A 3% down payment applies to qualifying first-time buyers only. Other borrowers need at least 5% on conventional loans, and conventional loans above 80% loan-to-value need PMI.
  • The standard origination fee is $1,495. The $500 discount and extra $500 for SoFi Plus or qualifying deposits are not automatic.
6
Navy Federal Credit Union Mortgage logo

Navy Federal Credit Union Mortgage

Credit union mortgages for military members and families: VA and $0-down loans, no PMI and a free 60-day rate lock

Min. down (non-VA)
0%
Online pre-approval
Yes

Navy Federal Credit Union Mortgage is a credit union that offers loans for buying a home, refinancing and cash-out refinancing. On its own site it lists Conventional, VA, Jumbo, Homebuyers Choice (0% down) and Military Choice (0% down) loans.

  • +Homebuyers Choice and VA loans with no down payment, and Navy Federal says it never requires PMI
  • +No-Cost Freedom Lock: a 60-day lock with up to two float-downs (total drop up to 0.25%) at no charge
  • −Members only: armed forces, DoD, veterans and their families, with a $5 savings account
  • −Its advertised rates include discount points and a 1% origination fee unless you accept a higher rate

Watch out

  • Membership is required: armed forces, the Department of Defense, veterans and their families, with a Membership Savings Account of at least $5.
  • The advertised 'as low as' rates include discount points (0.25 to 0.875) and require a 1% origination fee, which can be waived for a 0.25% higher rate.
7
Bank of America Home Loans logo

Bank of America Home Loans

National bank with 3% down programs, FHA and VA loans, jumbo loans, and down payment grants in select markets

Min. down (non-VA)
3%
Loan types
Conventional, FHA, VA, Jumbo
Online pre-approval
Yes

Bank of America Home Loans is a bank that offers loans for buying a home, refinancing and cash-out refinancing. On its own site it lists Conventional, FHA, VA and Jumbo loans.

  • +Affordable Loan Solution: 3% down with a competitive rate, subject to income limits
  • +Down Payment Grant of up to 3% of the price (up to $10,000) for first-time buyers in select markets
  • −No minimum credit score is published; its rate tool assumes a score of 740 or higher
  • −The live rates did not appear in the page text we could read, so no sample rates are shown

Watch out

  • Bank of America does not publish a minimum credit score. Its rate tool assumes excellent credit, a score of 740 or higher.
  • Several affordable-lending programs have income limits and are available in select markets only.

How to choose refinance lenders

Refinancing can save money or cost money. Take these in order, and it is fine to decide it is not worth it.

  1. Decide what you want the refinance to do

    A rate-and-term refinance changes your rate, your loan length, or both. A cash-out refinance replaces your mortgage with a larger one and pays you the difference in cash, so you owe more afterwards. If you have a VA loan, a VA IRRRL (interest rate reduction refinance, sometimes called a streamline) is a simpler option; Veterans United and Navy Federal both list it. Knowing which one you want keeps you from comparing the wrong offers.

  2. Work out your break-even point

    Divide the closing costs by what your payment drops each month. In our worked example, a $300,000 balance at 7.5% with 28 years left, refinanced to 6.5% for 30 years with $6,000 in closing costs, the payment falls from $2,139 to $1,896, a drop of $242 a month. The costs are earned back in about 2 years 1 month. Stay seven years and you come out about $14,108 ahead; leave after a year and you are behind. These are example numbers, not rates anyone is offering.

  3. Watch the length of the new loan

    A lower payment is not the same as a cheaper loan. Take $200,000 owed at 6.5% with 15 years left, refinanced into a new 30-year loan at 6.0% with $3,000 rolled in. The payment falls from $1,742 to $1,217 a month, but if you kept each loan to the end, interest from today would be about $235,152 on the new loan versus $113,599 on the old one. A shorter new loan, or paying extra on the new one, avoids resetting the clock.

  4. Compare closing costs and points, not just rates

    Closing costs include the lender's own fees, an appraisal, title services and any points. Points are money paid up front to lower the rate, and they only pay off if you keep the loan long enough. SoFi states a $1,495 origination fee on a refinance. Navy Federal states a 1% origination fee on its advertised Choice rates. Chase's sample refinance rate on October 13, 2026 came with 1.811 points and left out a processing fee. Others do not publish fee amounts, so ask for them in writing.

  5. Ask about the rate lock

    A rate lock holds your rate for a set number of days while you close, and extending one can cost extra. SoFi's Lock and Look lets you lock for up to 90 days. Navy Federal's No-Cost Freedom Lock is 60 days with up to two float-downs. Chase says locks usually run 30 to 90 days and will likely carry a fee. Longer locks matter more when a refinance is slow to close.

  6. Get official offers from at least three lenders

    Ask each lender for a Loan Estimate for the same loan amount, the same loan length and the same points, and compare them side by side. Rerun the refinance calculator with each lender's actual closing costs. Asking does not commit you to anything.

Also worth a look

Products that do one thing unusually well, with the catch we would want to know before applying.

  • Veterans United Home Loans logo
    Veterans United Home LoansIf you have a VA loan

    Lists VA IRRRL (Streamline) and VA cash-out refinances. The VA funding fee is 0.5% on a Streamline, 2.15% on a first-use cash-out, unless you are exempt, and eligibility rules apply.

    Read the review
  • Navy Federal Credit Union Mortgage logo
    Navy Federal Credit Union MortgageA longer, free rate lock

    A free 60-day lock with float-downs, VA IRRRL and conventional refinances, and it says it never requires PMI. Members only, and its advertised rates include points.

    Read the review
  • SoFi Mortgage logo
    SoFi MortgageA 90-day rate lock

    Lock and Look lets you lock for up to 90 days, and it states its $1,495 origination fee on refinances. It does not publish a minimum credit score.

    Read the review
  • Chase Home Lending logo
    Chase Home LendingA published refinance example

    Shows a dated refinance example (6.875% rate, 7.056% APR on $350,000 with 1.811 points on October 13, 2026) and lists cash-out refinancing. Its Closing Guarantee does not cover refinances.

    Read the review

How we ranked these refinance lenders

Lenders are shown by how much of their own terms we could verify and how plainly they publish fees, then alphabetically. It is not a ranking of who is cheapest or best for you, because no list can know that: your rate depends on your credit, down payment, property and state. Lenders cannot pay to change their position or what we say about them.

Providers cannot pay to change this order. If a paid placement ever appears in a list, it is labeled Sponsored and never carries a “best for” label.

  • What the lender publishes itself

    Minimum scores, down payments, fees and limits are read from the lender's own pages and dated. We leave out anything we could not confirm.

  • Fees stated plainly

    Whether the lender says what it charges: origination fees, rate-lock terms, closing costs. A fee that is not published is flagged, not guessed.

  • Who can borrow

    Membership rules, eligibility (such as VA), state coverage and loan types, written on each lender page.

  • Honest downsides and record

    Written risk flags, and any CFPB enforcement action we can see on the CFPB's own site.

Lenders reviewed
7
State a minimum credit score
4 of 7
Latest check
Oct 14, 2026

Date of the newest lender-page stamp

Frequently asked questions

When does refinancing make sense?

When the money you save each month adds up to more than the closing costs before you sell or refinance again. Divide the closing costs by the monthly drop in your payment to get the break-even point, and compare it with how long you expect to stay. Also check that the new loan does not simply stretch your debt over more years. The refinance calculator on this site does both.

What does it cost to refinance?

It varies by lender, loan size and state, and it is made of the lender's fees, an appraisal, title and settlement services and any points. We do not publish an average because we have not verified one from a primary source. The Loan Estimate a lender gives you lists every cost, and asking several lenders for the same terms makes them comparable.

What is the difference between a rate-and-term and a cash-out refinance?

A rate-and-term refinance replaces your loan with a new one to change the rate, the length, or both. A cash-out refinance replaces it with a larger loan and pays you the difference in cash. Cash-out increases what you owe against your home, so the risk is higher if you cannot keep up with payments.

Are the sample rates here what I would get?

No. Where a lender publishes an example, we show it with the lender's own assumptions and its date, and it is an illustration. Your rate depends on your credit, your equity, the property, the state and the day you lock. Only an official offer from a lender is your rate.

Do these lenders all offer cash-out refinances?

Yes. All seven list a cash-out refinance on their own sites as of October 14, 2026. Terms differ: for example, limits on how much of your home's value you can borrow against are set by each lender and by loan type, and we show what each one publishes on its page.

Best Mortgage Refinance Lenders was last updated in October 2026 and uses rates and fees we verified against each provider's own page. Spot something out of date? Tell us.