NBKC Bank Mortgage Review 2023
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Our Take
5.0
The bottom line:
NBKC Bank charges relatively low mortgage rates and fees and offers a range of loans with a convenient online application. About 1 in 5 NBKC mortgages are VA loans, which are available to eligible veterans, active-duty service members and surviving spouses. Construction-to-permanent loans and home equity lines of credit are limited to the Kansas City area.
Full Review
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Pros & Cons
Pros
- Offers government-backed loans and some harder-to-find products, such as construction loans and speciality mortgages for pilots.
- Offers low rates and fees compared with other lenders, according to the latest federal data.
- Displays customized rates, with fee estimates, without requiring contact information.
Cons
- HELOCs and construction-to-permanent loans are available only in the Kansas City metro area.
Compare to Other Lenders
Min. credit score620 | Min. credit score620 |
Min. down payment3% | Min. down payment3% |
Loan types and productsPurchase, Refinance, Jumbo, Fixed, Adjustable, FHA, VA | Loan types and productsPurchase, Refinance, Home Equity, Jumbo, Fixed, Adjustable, FHA, VA, USDA |
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Full Review
What borrowers say about NBKC mortgage
NerdWallet’s lender star ratings assess objective qualities, including rates, fees and loan offerings. To assess borrowers’ subjective experiences with lenders, NerdWallet has gathered customer satisfaction ratings from Zillow.
NBKC receives a customer rating of 4.94 out of 5 on Zillow, as of the date of publication. The score reflects more than 12,800 customer reviews.
NBKC mortgage variety of loan types
5 of 5 stars
NBKC offers conventional, FHA and VA fixed-rate and adjustable purchase mortgages, as well as refinancing and jumbo loans.
Helping veterans with mortgages is an area of expertise; VA loans accounted for 21% of the bank’s mortgages in 2021, according to Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data. NBKC also offers a specialty loan program for pilots, whose unpredictable paychecks can make it difficult to meet income requirements for traditional mortgage approvals.
For borrowers looking to finance a new build with a construction-to-permanent loan, end financing is available only for borrowers in the Kansas City metro area. Renovation and home improvement loans are not available.
» MORE: Best construction lenders
NBKC HELOC and home equity loan
The lender also offers a home equity line of credit, or HELOC, and home equity loans. These first or second mortgages are a way for homeowners to access existing home equity without refinancing or selling their home. Funds obtained with a second mortgage can be used for expenses such as home improvements, education costs or debt consolidation.
NBKC’s home equity lines of credit are limited to borrowers in the Kansas City metro area, while home equity loans are available in all 50 states.
» MORE: Best HELOC lenders
NBKC mortgage ease of application
5 of 5 stars
You can be preapproved or pre-qualified for a mortgage online or over the phone. The NBKC website lets you load documents from your computer, track your application’s progress online or through the bank’s mobile apps and sign documents electronically. A loan officer will contact you after you’ve submitted your online application.
No matter how you choose to apply, customer service is available by phone and through online chat during extended business hours.
NBKC mortgage rates and fees
4 of 5 stars
NBKC earns 4 of 5 stars for average origination fee.
NBKC earns 4 of 5 stars for average mortgage interest rates.
Borrowers should consider the balance between lender fees and mortgage rates. While it's not always the case, paying upfront fees can lower your mortgage interest rate. Some lenders will charge higher upfront fees to lower their advertised interest rate and make it more attractive. Some lenders just charge higher upfront fees.
NBKC mortgage rate transparency
5 of 5 stars
The mortgage rate tool on NBKC’s website takes location and credit score into account to generate customized rates. Results display mortgage rate, APR, points, lender fees and potential monthly payments. Each option includes a button to apply online.
Alternatives to NBKC mortgage
Here are some comparable lenders we review that borrowers can consider.
Veterans United specializes in VA loans and offers an online application. Pennymac also excels in online capabilities and makes it easy to shop rates online.
» MORE: Best VA mortgage lenders
More from NerdWallet
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Methodology
NerdWallet’s overall ratings for mortgage lenders are evaluated based on four major categories: variety of loan types (purchase, refinance, fixed and adjustable, for example), ease of application, rates and fees and rate transparency. Among the factors we consider when scoring these categories are options to apply for and track loans online, the level of detail about mortgage rates on lender websites and our analysis of the rates and fees lenders reported in the latest available Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data. These scores generate ratings from 1 star (poor) to 5 stars (excellent).
