Navy Federal Credit Union HELOC Review 2026
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Our Take
4.5
Navy Federal Credit Union is a top HELOC lender by loan volume. Credit union membership is restricted to current and former servicemembers, their families and employees of the Department of Defense. Navy Federal’s HELOC stands out for having one of the highest borrowing limits among lenders surveyed by NerdWallet, as well as a long draw period of 20 years.
Pros
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Higher-than-typical borrowing limit of 95% CLTV.
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Long draw period of 20 years.
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No origination fees, annual fees or closing costs.
Cons
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Slower average time to close than many lenders surveyed by NerdWallet.
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Credit union membership is limited by military affiliation.
Lender | Max. loan amount | Max LTV | Min. credit score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Visit Lenderat Figure at Figure | $750,000 | 85% | 600 | Visit Lenderat Figure at Figure |
 Visit Lenderat Achieve at Achieve | $500,000 | 85% | 600 | Visit Lenderat Achieve at Achieve |
 Visit Lenderat New American Funding at New American Funding | $750,000 | 90% | 600 | Visit Lenderat New American Funding at New American Funding |
 Visit Lenderat NBKC at NBKC | $250,000 | 85% | 720 | Visit Lenderat NBKC at NBKC |
 Visit Lenderat Better at Better | $750,000 | 90% | 620 | Visit Lenderat Better at Better |
Full Review
💲 Navy Federal Credit Union HELOC Rates
HELOC rates are determined by two things. The first is the prime rate, a benchmark interest rate that banks set to determine the lowest rate offered to their most creditworthy customers. The prime rate is generally set around 3% above the federal funds rate.
The second part is a margin, which the lender calculates based on your financial qualifications (including your credit score, existing debts and income). The prime rate plus your margin equals your HELOC rate offer.
Current prime rate — last changed Dec. 2025 | Prime rate last week | Prime rate in the past year — low | Prime rate in the past year — high | Projected median prime rate for 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
6.75% | 6.75% | 6.75% | 7.5% | 6.4% |
Navy Federal posts sample HELOC rates online, though they aren’t customizable.
👍 Reasons to get a Navy Federal Credit Union HELOC
For borrowers who qualify for Navy Federal Credit Union membership, the lender’s HELOC comes with a high maximum borrowing limit of 95% combined loan-to-value ratio (CLTV) and a long draw period of 20 years. Navy Federal is also a major HELOC lender by loan volume, and was among the top 10 largest HELOC lenders of 2025.
There are no annual fees, origination fees or initial draw requirements. HELOCs are available for second homes.
» MORE: Best HELOC lenders
Reasons why Navy Federal Credit Union’s HELOC gives us pause
While some lenders offer an initial interest rate below prime to entice new customers, Navy Federal does not. The average reported time to close on a Navy Federal HELOC (30 days) is also a little longer than the average among lenders surveyed by NerdWallet (20 days).
The main thing to be aware of when it comes to applying for a Navy Federal HELOC is that not everyone will qualify for membership; you’ll need to have military or Department of Defense affiliation.
📎 Ways to apply for a Navy Federal Credit Union HELOC
How to Apply | Availability |
|---|---|
Online 🧑💻 | ✅ |
Over the phone 📞 | ✅ |
Mobile app 📶 | ✅ |
In person 🏦 | ✅ |
You can contact Navy Federal customer service via phone, in person at a branch location or through the website’s live chat feature.
🛒 Alternatives to a Navy Federal HELOC
Wondering if another lender or product might be a better fit? It’s worth it to shop around to learn more about your options.
Shoppers who want a lender that specializes in military borrowers and has a highly ranked HELOC should check out Veterans United. If you’re drawn to Navy Federal’s high borrowing limit, Andrews Federal Credit Union also has a maximum CLTV of 95%.
If you prefer the consistent payments that come with a fixed-rate, this option is also offered at Bank of America.
A HELOC isn’t your only option
You can also explore products outside of HELOCs. Alternatives to home equity lines of credit include a home equity loan, which offers a lump sum with a fixed rate, or a cash-out refinance, which replaces your existing mortgage with a larger loan.
Navy Federal offers both home equity loans and cash-out refinancing.
Borrow from your home’s equity
NerdWallet rates home equity line of credit lenders based on what matters most to borrowers: HELOC rates and fees, how much of a lender’s business is dedicated to home equity lines of credit, HELOC market share, product accessibility, borrowing flexibility and features, customer experience and rate transparency.
We review more than 40 lenders and score HELOC lenders using a weighted system that prioritizes affordability, flexibility and a smooth borrowing experience. Lenders earn higher scores for offering lower borrowing costs, higher combined loan-to-value (CLTV) limits, flexible draw and repayment terms, fixed-rate options, faster closing times and clear, accessible rate information, along with strong customer support throughout the process.
We use a mix of lender-provided information, publicly available data and our own analysis to evaluate each lender. Recent regulatory actions may affect a lender’s score.
