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Navy Federal Credit Union Home Equity Loan Review 2026

Item: Navy Federal
Rating: 4.5

Last updated on May 8, 2026

Written by

Taylor Getler

Lead Writer & Content Strategist

Edited by

Johanna Arnone

Managing Editor

Fact Checked

Co-written by

Bella Angelos

Contributing Writer

Written by

Taylor Getler

Lead Writer & Content Strategist

Co-written by

Bella Angelos

Contributing Writer

Edited by

Johanna Arnone

Managing Editor

Fact Checked

Many or all of the products on this page are from partners who compensate us when you click to or take an action on their website, but this does not influence our evaluations or ratings. Our opinions are our own.

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Our Take

4.5

Home equity loans

NerdWallet rating

The Nerdy headline:

Navy Federal Credit Union has an unusually high borrowing limit, allowing you to withdraw up to 100% of your home’s equity. Take your pick from a five-, 10-, 15- or 20-year term. However, you’ll pay closing costs and will need an appraisal. Credit union membership is limited to those with a connection to the U.S. military.

Jump to:Full Review

Navy Federal: NMLS#399807

Max LTV

N/A

Min. credit score

Undisclosed

Loan types and products

Purchase, Refinance, Jumbo, Fixed, Adjustable, VA, Home Equity

Pros

High borrowing limit, up to 100% of your home’s equity.
No closing costs.
Flexible term options: 5, 10, 15 or 20 years.
Multiple ways to apply or contact customer service.

Cons

Credit union membership is limited to those with U.S. military connections.
Time to close is slower than average.
Home equity loans are not available for second homes.

Full Review

💲Navy Federal home equity loan rates

Home equity loan rates tend to move with the federal funds rate, which is set by the Federal Reserve. In addition to market factors, your home equity loan rate offers will be determined by your financial profile, including your credit score and income.

Navy Federal posts sample home equity loan rates online.

👍 Reasons to get a Navy Federal home equity loan

With a home equity loan from Navy Federal, borrowers can access up to 100% of their home equity. That’s a higher combined-loan-to-value (CLTV) ratio than what you’ll find at most lenders, where a maximum of 85% is typical. The maximum loan amount is $500,000.

Navy Federal also offers ample choice for loan terms, offering term lengths of five, 10, 15 or 20 years. There are multiple ways to apply for a home equity loan or contact customer service.

🤓

Nerdy Tip

Before you can get a home equity loan from Navy Federal, you’ll need to join the credit union. Requirements are fairly inclusive if you have a military connection. Membership is available to veterans and members of the armed forces, as well as their families and some civilian employees of the Department of Defense.

» MORE: Best home equity loan lenders

🤔 Reasons why Navy Federal’s home equity loan gives us pause

Navy Federal doesn’t offer a 30-year term, which is available from other lenders. It closes home equity loans in an average of 30 days, which is slower than the average 20 days among lenders NerdWallet surveyed in 2026. An appraisal is required.

Home equity loans are not available on second homes.

📎 Ways to apply for a Navy Federal home equity loan

How to Apply	Availability
Online 🧑‍💻	✅
Over the phone 📞	✅
Mobile app 📶	🚫
In person 🏦	✅

You can contact Navy Federal customer service in person, over the phone or through online chat.

» MORE: What you need to apply for a mortgage

🛒 Alternatives to a Navy Federal home equity loan

Wondering if another lender or product might be a better fit? It’s worth it to shop around to learn more about your options.

If you like Navy Federal’s high borrowing limit, PrimeLending and Andrews Federal Credit Union both come close with a 95% max CLTV.

If you’re looking for a longer term, U.S. Bank offers a 30-year option.

» MORE: Check out NerdWallet’s review of Navy Federal Credit Union mortgages

A home equity loan isn’t your only option

You can also explore products outside of home equity loans. Alternatives to home equity loans include a HELOC, which you can draw from as needed, or a cash-out refinance, which replaces your existing mortgage with a larger loan.

Navy Federal Credit Union also offers HELOCs and cash-out refinance loans.

» MORE: HELOC, home equity loan, and cash-out refinance, compared

Borrow from your home’s equity

Find the best lender

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Methodology

NerdWallet rates home equity loan lenders based on what matters most to borrowers: home equity loan rates and fees, how much of a lender’s business is dedicated to home equity loans, home equity loan market share, product accessibility, loan terms, borrowing limits, closing costs, customer experience and rate transparency.

We review more than 40 lenders and score home equity loan 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, manageable closing costs, flexible repayment terms, 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.

About the authors

Taylor Getler

Lead Writer & Content Strategist

Taylor Getler is a home and mortgages writer for NerdWallet. Her work has been featured in outlets such as MarketWatch, Yahoo Finance, MSN and Nasdaq. Taylor is enthusiastic about financial literacy and helping consumers make smart, informed choices with their money. Email: tgetler@nerdwallet.com.

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Bella Angelos

Contributing Writer

Bella Angelos is a contributing writer on the home loans content team at NerdWallet, where she began working in 2023 and has supported multiple teams across a wide range of personal finance topics. She loves the variety of her work and how every day brings not only something new to share, but even more to learn. Growing up in Seattle and earning her journalism degree at Louisiana State University, Bella is Pacific Northwest rooted and Southern grown. She’s happiest whether she’s on an Evergreen State trail or back in the Bayou with a bucket of crawfish. She approaches her work with the same value of balancing multiple perspectives and is passionate about making financial topics approachable for anyone.

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About the editor

Johanna Arnone

Managing Editor

Johanna Arnone helps lead coverage of homeownership and mortgages at NerdWallet. Previously, she worked for more than a decade in magazine publishing, including six years as the editor of Muse, an award-winning science and tech magazine for young readers. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English literature and a Master of Fine Arts in writing. Johanna has completed coursework in Boston University’s Financial Planning Certificate program. Email: <a href="mailto:jarnone@nerdwallet.com">jarnone@nerdwallet.com</a>.

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