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Citi Mortgage Review 2026
Last updated on May 26, 2026
Written by
Lead Writer & Content StrategistCo-written by
Contributing EditorWritten by
Lead Writer & Content StrategistCo-written by
Contributing EditorMany 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.
Why trust NerdWallet
Why trust NerdWallet
- 50+ mortgage lenders reviewed and rated by our team of experts.
- 40+ years of combined experience covering mortgages and financial topics.
- Objective, comprehensive star rating system assessing 120+ categories and 5,000+ data points.
- Governed by NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
Our Take
4.0
Home loans overall
NerdWallet rating
The Nerdy headline:
APRs for Citi’s home loans are slightly more competitive than other lenders reviewed by NerdWallet, according to the latest federal data. Qualified borrowers can also get a mortgage with 3% down and no private mortgage insurance through the lender’s HomeRun mortgage. Most likely to appeal to existing Citi customers, since these borrowers can get a discount on rates or closing costs.
Jump to:Full Review
Citibank: NMLS#412915
National / regional
National
Min. down payment
3%
Loan types and products
Purchase, Refinance, Jumbo, Fixed, Adjustable, FHA, VA
Pros
- Average APR, which measures a combination of rates and fees, is lower than competitors.
- Rate discounts are available for existing customers.
- Ranks highly for customer satisfaction as a mortgage originator.
Cons
- Must create an account to apply.
- Borrowers may have to go to a separate website (Mortgage.com) for some information.
- Offers virtually no specialty home loans, including renovation mortgages and non-QM loans.
Lender | Min. credit score | Min. down payment | |
|---|---|---|---|
 Visit Lenderat NBKC at NBKC | 620 | 3% | Visit Lenderat NBKC at NBKC |
 Visit Lenderat New American Funding at New American Funding | N/A | N/A | Visit Lenderat New American Funding at New American Funding |
 Visit Lenderat Rocket Mortgage, LLC at Rocket Mortgage, LLC | 580 | 3.5% | Visit Lenderat Rocket Mortgage, LLC at Rocket Mortgage, LLC |
 4.0 Visit Lenderat GO Mortgage at GO Mortgage | 620 | 3% | Visit Lenderat GO Mortgage at GO Mortgage |
 Visit Lenderat Veterans United at Veterans United | 620 | 0% | Visit Lenderat Veterans United at Veterans United |
Full Review
At a glance: Citi mortgage options
Citi is a large bank based in New York City. Mortgages are available in all 50 states, but some offerings — such as Citi’s real estate agent matching service — are geographically limited.
🏠 Common mortgages
- Conventional loans (fixed-rate and adjustable)
- FHA loans
- VA loans
- Jumbo loans
🔑 Specialty loans
- HomeRun mortgage
💵 Home equity
- HELOCs
- Cash-out refinances
Citi special offers and discounts
In addition to its specialty HomeRun mortgage, Citi offers attractive perks for borrowers. These things stood out in our research.
- Relationship pricing: Existing banking or investing customers are eligible for discounts, which are offered on a sliding scale. Customers with as little as $1 in a Citi account can earn a $500 closing cost credit. Then, interest rate reductions from 1/8% to 1/2% are available depending on the size of your account balance. (The largest discounts go to customers with $2 million or more.)
- Closing cost credit: Citi offers a lender credit up to $7,500 for closing costs to those who meet specific income and location criteria and take a homebuyer education course.
- HomeStory: Citi offers a platform to connect with real estate agents. Borrowers who use a HomeStory agent to purchase their home can earn “rewards,” which are closing credits up to $9,500.
What mortgages does Citi specialize in?
A lender’s experience with your loan type can make a big difference. We looked at the latest federal data to find the types of mortgages Citi handles most often.
While conventional mortgages make up most of Citi’s home purchase lending, the bank is also a major jumbo loan lender. These accounted for 48% of Citi’s purchase originations in 2024.
How we score Citi's home loans
Like to read the fine print? We do, too. Each year, NerdWallet writers and editors review the latest data and research on mortgage lenders, including federal data, and use a consistent method to score them based on what matters most to borrowers.
Citi earned a 4-star home loans overall rating from NerdWallet. Here’s how that score breaks down across our five weighted subcategories.
Fair
Rates and fees (30%)
Rates and fees determine how much a loan will cost you overall. NerdWallet reviews the latest federal data to score each lender’s average APR spread — a measure that combines interest rates and fees. A higher score means lower typical costs compared to other lenders.
Good
Product accessibility (20%)
We evaluate how widely available a lender’s products are across the U.S. and how accessible they are to different financial profiles. A higher score means broader availability and more flexible requirements. A lower score means fewer options or stricter requirements.
Poor
Customer experience (20%)
We evaluate customer experience by testing and reviewing features like the online application, mobile app, and availability of phone or chat support. A higher score means a smoother, more convenient experience and easier access to help. A lower score means more friction or fewer support options.
Fair
Loan variety (15%)
We evaluate loan variety based on the range of home loan types a lender offers. A higher score means more options, while a lower score means a more limited selection.
Good
Rate transparency (15%)
We review how clearly lenders share rate information on their websites, including sample rates and tools to estimate personalized rates. A higher score means it’s easy to find clear, comprehensive details and compare rates. A lower score means less information is available, often requiring you to contact the lender.
🤓
NerdWallet’s ratings are objective and well-researched (we have the spreadsheets to prove it). But choosing a mortgage lender isn’t just about a star rating or a score breakdown. It’s also about finding the right lender for your unique situation. So yes: you can learn a lot from how the mortgage Nerds scored Citi's home loans. But you’re the expert when it comes to the features of your own best-match mortgage lender.Nerdy Tip
Citi mortgage reputation and customer experience
NerdWallet’s star ratings look at objective factors like rates, fees and loan options. To give you a sense of what the borrower experience is really like, we pulled the latest customer satisfaction scores from J.D. Power and Zillow and we contacted the lender’s customer support.
2025 J.D. Power U.S. Mortgage Origination Satisfaction Study
802
out of 1,000
Top-ranked satisfaction score: average = 760.
Mortgage origination covers the application through closing.
Zillow Mortgage Lender Customer Rating
4.85
out of 5
Above-average rating as of the date of publication.
Rating reflects more than 4,300 customer reviews.
Citi customer service options
Here’s how you can get in touch with Citi.
Ways to reach Citi
Physical branches . . . . . . ✅
Phone support . . . . . . . . . ✅
Mobile app . . . . . . . . . . . . ✅
Online chat (bot) . . . . . . . 🚫
Online chat (human) . . . . 🚫
» MORE: How to apply for a mortgage
🤓 Our Nerds say... you may have to answer questions before asking them
Taylor Getler, lead writer, mortgages
Borrowers can access customer service in person, over the phone or via mobile app. You can also request a call from an agent. When we called, we navigated a brief phone tree before connecting with an agent. The agent would not connect us with the home lending team until we provided personal information, including our phone number, full name and email address.
Alternatives to a Citi mortgage
Our biggest tip: Get offers from at least three different mortgage lenders. Comparison shopping can save you thousands of dollars. You can get rate quotes yourself, or work with a mortgage broker to shop around on your behalf.
Jumbo loan borrowers should explore Bank of America, which was NerdWallet’s pick for Best Jumbo Loan Lender in 2026. Bank of America also offers down payment grants up to $10,000 and closing credits up to $7,500 to qualified borrowers.
If you like the sound of Citi’s HomeRun mortgage, you may want to check out the Zero Down program from Guild Mortgage, which has no down payment requirement for borrowers with credit scores of 600 or higher.
» MORE: Best mortgage lenders
More from NerdWallet
Methodology
NerdWallet rates mortgage lenders based on what matters most to borrowers: rates and fees, product accessibility, customer experience, rate transparency and the range of loan options.
We review more than 40 lenders and score them using a weighted system that prioritizes affordability and a smooth borrowing experience. Lenders earn higher scores for offering lower borrowing costs, making loans widely available, clearly displaying rate information and supporting borrowers from application through closing.
We use a mix of lender-provided information, publicly available data and our own research and analysis to evaluate each lender. Recent regulatory actions may affect a lender’s score.