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12 Best Adjustable-Rate Mortgage Lenders of 2026
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12 Best Adjustable-Rate Mortgage Lenders of 2026

Holden Lewis
Johanna Arnone
Holden Lewis
+1
Written by 

Holden Lewis

Edited by 

Johanna Arnone

Written by 

Holden Lewis

 and 
Last updated 02/03/2026
An adjustable-rate mortgage, or ARM, has an interest rate that can change over time. These are NerdWallet’s highest-rated lenders that offer ARMs.
 

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Best for fast preapproval

Rate

NMLS#2611

NerdWallet rating

4.5

Home loans overall
Min. credit score

620

Min. down payment

3%

Our take on Rate

The Nerdy headline

Rate boasts a streamlined application process, with full underwriting in as little as one business day — though for all its online conveniences, you'll still work with a human.

What we like
  • Fully underwritten mortgage approval in as little as one day for qualified borrowers.
  • Generous selection of loans, including government-backed, interest-only, jumbo and renovation.
  • Advertises a fixed-rate HELOC that can be funded in as few as five business days.
What we don't like
  • Some affordable loan options have income limits or other restrictions.
  • Details of less common loan types aren't available on the lender's website.
  • HELOC requires immediate, full withdrawal of funds, though there is an option to make additional draws.
Read our full review of Rate

Best for variety of loans

Flagstar

NMLS#417490

NerdWallet rating

5.0

Home loans overall
Min. credit score

600

Min. down payment

3%

Our take on Flagstar

The Nerdy headline

Flagstar Bank stands out for having a wide variety of home loan options, including harder-to-find products. But take note that Flagstar has reduced its mortgage business as part of corporate restructuring. Executives have indicated that the lender will rebuild its home lending operations by focusing on the needs of banking clients.

What we like
  • Offers down payment assistance programs to borrowers in qualifying areas.
  • Reported average time to close is 30 days, faster than the national average.
  • Conventional loan terms extend to 40 years, which is unusually flexible.
What we don't like
  • Branches are only available in nine states.
  • Interest rates and fees don’t stand out among competitors.
  • Sold its mortgage servicing business last year, meaning you’re likely to make payments with a different company.
Read our full review of Flagstar

Best for jumbo borrowers

PNC Bank

NMLS#446303

NerdWallet rating

5.0

Home loans overall
Min. credit score

620

Min. down payment

3%

Our take on PNC Bank

The Nerdy headline

PNC Bank has solid options for budgets large and small. Though average interest rates are on the high side, its wide selection of loans (even for lower credit scores) could be a good pick for first-time home buyers seeking a streamlined digital experience.

What we like
  • Solid variety of mortgage types, both standard and harder-to-find.
  • Online rate quotes are informative and easy to customize.
  • Offers down payment grants and no-PMI loans for low-income borrowers.
What we don't like
  • Some of the highest average interest rates of all lenders we review.
  • HELOC and construction/lot loans not available in all states.
  • In-person service not available in all states.
Read our full review of PNC Bank

Best for borrowers with military connections

Navy Federal

NMLS#399807

NerdWallet rating

5.0

Home loans overall
Min. credit score

N/A

Min. down payment

5%

Our take on Navy Federal

The Nerdy headline

Navy Federal is known for VA lending, but its flexible VA-like loan options truly stand out. You'll need a military connection to join the credit union.

What we like
  • Offers unique no-down-payment and no-mortgage-insurance loan options for military and civilian members.
  • 24/7 customer service supports borrowers stationed overseas.
  • Has both home equity loans and lines of credit.
What we don't like
  • Borrowers must join the credit union before applying for a mortgage, and all borrowers on the loan must be members for the loan to close.
  • Does not offer FHA, renovation or construction loans.
Read our full review of Navy Federal

Best for financial assistance

U.S. Bank

NMLS#402761

NerdWallet rating

5.0

Home loans overall
Min. credit score

620

Min. down payment

3%

Our take on U.S. Bank

The Nerdy headline

U.S. Bank offers a broad selection of mortgages, including some niche options. Rates and fees are middle of the road, per federal data. The bank offers helpful tech for rate shopping and live chat, though its online application could be smoother.

What we like
  • Wide variety of mortgages, including some harder-to-find types.
  • Experienced in construction and renovation loans.
  • Offers up to $17,500 in assistance (income/location requirements apply).
What we don't like
  • Rates shown online don’t reflect your credit score.
  • Contact form interrupts online application before you can complete it.
  • Few mortgage options for borrowers with low/bad credit.
Read our full review of U.S. Bank

Best for North Carolina area borrowers

State Employees' Credit Union

NMLS#430055

NerdWallet rating

5.0

Home loans overall
Min. credit score

N/A

Min. down payment

0%

Our take on State Employees' Credit Union

The Nerdy headline

State Employees’ Credit Union in North Carolina is worth checking out for those in the Southeast who meet its narrow membership criteria — especially first-time home buyers eligible for generous grants and specialty loans. But it doesn’t offer government-backed mortgages.

What we like
  • Offers a zero-down mortgage without private mortgage insurance.
  • Participates in multiple first-time buyer assistance programs.
  • Low average mortgage rates, according to the latest federal data.
What we don't like
  • Credit union membership eligibility is limited.
  • Loans only available in five states.
  • Doesn’t offer government-backed mortgages.
Read our full review of State Employees' Credit Union

Best for competitive interest rates

First Federal Bank

NMLS#408902

NerdWallet rating

5.0

Home loans overall
Min. credit score

620

Min. down payment

3%

Our take on First Federal Bank

The Nerdy headline

First Federal Bank stands out for its exceptionally low interest rates and its emphasis on government loans. Most likely to appeal to borrowers shopping for low rates and fees.

What we like
  • Strong experience in FHA and VA lending.
  • Average mortgage rates are on the low side, according to the latest federal data.
  • Minimum credit score requirement of 580 for some loans, which is lower than some competitors.
What we don't like
  • No mobile app.
  • Home equity lending is not a priority.
  • Does not offer renovation loans, but does offer construction loans.
Read our full review of First Federal Bank

Best for customer experience

SoFi

NMLS#696891

NerdWallet rating

5.0

Home loans overall
Min. credit score

620

Min. down payment

3%

Our take on SoFi

The Nerdy headline

SoFi offers perks for existing customers, including a discount on closing costs and accessible customer support. The site primarily highlights conventional home loan offerings, so borrowers looking for other loan types may need to reach out directly for more details.

What we like
  • Interest rates are on the lower side, according to the latest federal data.
  • Conventional loan borrowers can choose between a 10-, 15-, 20- or 30-year term.
  • HELOC borrowers may access up to 90% of their home equity.
What we don't like
  • Sample mortgage interest rates are shown for conventional purchase and refinance loans, but not for other loan types.
  • For customized mortgage rates, you have to provide your contact information.
  • - Online details on some loan products are scant.
Read our full review of SoFi

Best for "float down" option

Andrews Federal Credit Union

NMLS#410421

NerdWallet rating

5.0

Home loans overall
Min. credit score

620

Min. down payment

3%

Our take on Andrews Federal Credit Union

The Nerdy headline

Andrews Federal Credit Union is on the smaller side, but offers big value through low rates and fast closings. Its online rate quote tool is exceptionally informative. Renovation loans aren’t available, and the lender tells us VA and FHA loans aren’t a priority.

What we like
  • Offers free, one-time “float down” if mortgage rates drop while your loan is in progress.
  • Average time to close is 28 days, faster than the national average.
  • Online rate tool is exceptionally user-friendly and detailed.
What we don't like
  • No renovation loans.
  • VA and FHA loans aren’t a priority.
  • U.S. branches limited to Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C. and New Jersey.
Read our full review of Andrews Federal Credit Union

Best for customer experience

Veterans United

NMLS#1907

NerdWallet rating

5.0

Home loans overall
Min. credit score

620

Min. down payment

3%

Our take on Veterans United

The Nerdy headline

Veterans United originates more VA mortgages than any other lender. Though average fees are on the higher side, it’s a solid pick for veterans and military borrowers looking for a VA loan with ample support along the way.

What we like
  • Offers a range of VA mortgages, including refinance, energy-efficient and jumbo.
  • 24/7 customer service line supports servicemembers stationed internationally.
  • Average time to close is 34 days, faster than the national average.
What we don't like
  • Average origination fee is on the higher side, according to the latest federal data.
  • Website doesn’t have online chat.
  • No renovation loans.
Read our full review of Veterans United

Best for California borrowers

Golden 1 Credit Union

NMLS#669333

NerdWallet rating

4.5

Home loans overall
Min. credit score

N/A

Min. down payment

3%

Our take on Golden 1 Credit Union

The Nerdy headline

Golden 1, a California-based credit union, dedicates a significant portion of its business to jumbo loans — useful for those navigating the state’s high home prices. However, VA and USDA loans aren’t available.

What we like
  • Maximizes first-time buyer assistance with in-house and statewide funds.
  • Offers a closing cost discount when using their real estate agent network.
  • Interest rate discounts available to some account holders.
What we don't like
  • Membership is mostly limited to California residents.
  • No VA or USDA loans.
  • HELOCs, but no home equity loans.
Read our full review of Golden 1 Credit Union

Best for first-time home buyers

Truist

NMLS#399803

NerdWallet rating

4.5

Home loans overall
Min. credit score

620

Min. down payment

3%

Our take on Truist

The Nerdy headline

If you prefer people to tech, Truist might be a good fit for you. Preapproval and customer care happen mostly offline, and for details on less-common loan types or custom rates you'll need to talk to a person. Despite the human touch, customer satisfaction ratings are notably low.

What we like
  • Offers a wide range of mortgage options focused on affordability.
  • Convenient online application.
  • Generous grants for qualifying home buyers in select locations.
What we don't like
  • Getting custom rates and applying for mortgage preapproval both require human contact.
  • Customer care leans heavily on phone and in-person service.
  • HELOCs are not available in most states, though home loans are available everywhere in the U.S. except Alaska, Arizona and Hawaii.
Read our full review of Truist

How we chose the best adjustable-rate mortgage lenders

Our team of mortgage experts follows an objective, consumer-first methodology to assess ARM lenders and pick the best.

40

Lenders reviewed

We review 40 lenders, including major banks, credit unions, and online lenders operating across multiple states.

4

Categories assessed

Each lender is evaluated across four weighted categories covering rates and fees, types of home loans offered, rate transparency and customer experience.

120+

Data points analyzed

Our team tracks and reassesses hundreds of data points annually for reviewed lenders, ensuring up-to-date, accurate comparisons.

Star rating categories

We evaluate the following categories and carefully weigh how each factor impacts your experience. Read more about how we determine those ratings.
Interest rates and fees

30%

Lenders score higher for offering lower interest rates and fees.

Rate transparency

25%

We score lenders on whether sample (or customizable) mortgage rates are posted online.

Variety of home loans offered

25%

We evaluate the variety of mortgage options a lender offers, including construction and renovation loans.

Customer experience

20%

Lenders are evaluated on customer experience, including ways to apply and get in touch with customer service.

5.0

Overall score

The star ratings on this page reflect each lender's rating for purchase loans overall. We scored the category and chose lenders for this page using the following methodology:
NerdWallet reviewed 40 mortgage lenders, including the majority of the largest U.S. mortgage lenders by annual loan volume (measured among lenders with at least a 1% market share), lenders with significant online search volume and those that specialize in serving various audiences across the country.
For inclusion in this roundup, lenders must offer adjustable-rate mortgages and rate highest for home loans overall, according to NerdWallet experts.
NerdWallet solicits information from reviewed lenders on a recurring basis throughout the year. All lender-provided information is verified through lender websites and interviews. We also utilized the most recent available HMDA data for origination volume, origination fee, average interest rate and share-of-product data.
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What is an adjustable rate mortgage?

ARMs are home loans with interest rates that will change over time, in contrast to a fixed-rate mortgage. In most cases, ARM lenders provide a comparatively low fixed interest rate during an introductory period, which could be as few as three years or as many as 10.
When the introductory period expires, the interest rate adjusts to current market rates. If current rates are lower, your rate and mortgage payment may decrease. But if current rates are higher than the initial rate, your rate and mortgage payment may increase. ARM rates continue to change periodically — usually every six months — until you sell, refinance or pay back the mortgage in full.

When is an ARM is a good idea

Here are some situations in which an ARM makes sense:
  1. You’ll own the house for a short time. If you might relocate within three, five, seven or 10 years, an ARM may save you money. Military members and their families or doctors in a residency program are two examples of borrowers who may anticipate a move.
  2. You plan to pay off the mortgage quickly. Do you expect a financial windfall, such as an inheritance or lawsuit settlement, in the next few years? An ARM may allow you to make smaller monthly mortgage payments until the money comes in and you pay off the loan.
  3. You expect fixed-rate mortgage rates to decrease. It’s risky and hard to predict, but if you expect fixed-rate mortgage rates to drop below current ARM rates before your introductory period expires, an adjustable-rate mortgage may yield savings until fixed rates drop. Be aware that this option requires you to eventually refinance to a fixed-rate mortgage, which means choosing a lender, getting approved and paying closing costs, just like with your ARM.

When an ARM is a bad idea

An ARM probably isn’t the right choice if:
  1. You plan to put down roots. If you’re buying your forever home and have no plans to move, a fixed-rate mortgage might be more appropriate. While it may have a slightly higher rate, a fixed-rate mortgage involves less risk than an adjustable-rate mortgage, so your investment is better protected.
  2. You want a predictable mortgage payment. Sure, the interest rate on a fixed-rate mortgage may initially be higher than that of an ARM, but you’ll never have to worry about it going up, and you’re always free to refinance your mortgage if rates drop significantly in the years ahead.
  3. Your budget can’t handle a larger mortgage payment. Maybe you’re thinking about going back to school, starting a family or launching a business. These life changes could affect your income in the years ahead. If you’re not sure you could handle a mortgage payment that gets bigger when rates adjust higher, stick with the predictability of a fixed-rate mortgage.
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