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State Employees’ Credit Union Mortgage Review 2026
Last updated on June 3, 2026
Written by
Lead Writer & Content StrategistCo-written by
Contributing EditorWritten by
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- 50+ mortgage lenders reviewed and rated by our team of experts.
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Our Take
5.0
Home loans overall
NerdWallet rating
The Nerdy headline:
If you live in the Southeast and meet its narrow membership criteria, State Employees’ Credit Union in North Carolina is worth checking out. However, it doesn’t offer government-backed mortgages. Will appeal to first-time home buyers eligible for generous grants and specialty loans.
Jump to:Full Review
State Employees' Credit Union: NMLS#430055
Min. credit score
N/A
Min. down payment
0%
Loan types and products
Purchase, Refinance, Home Equity, Jumbo, Fixed, Adjustable
Pros
- Offers a zero-down mortgage without private mortgage insurance.
- Participates in multiple first-time buyer assistance programs.
- APRs are very competitive, according to the latest federal data.
Cons
- Credit union membership eligibility is limited.
- Loans only available in five states.
- Doesn’t offer government-backed mortgages.
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: SECU mortgage options
State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU) is a credit union based in Raleigh, North Carolina. Loans are available in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia and Tennessee. HELOCs are not available in Tennessee.
🏠 Common mortgages
• Fixed- or adjustable-rate
• Conventional
• Jumbo
• Rate-and-term refinance
🔑 Specialty loans
• Loans for vacation/second homes
• Loans for self-employed borrowers
• ITIN loans
• Conventional loans for manufactured homes
• Historic preservation home loans
💵 Home equity
• HELOC
• Cash-out refinance
SECU special offers and discounts
SECU’s First Time Homebuyer’s Mortgage, a five-year adjustable-rate mortgage, offers three impressive benefits:
- No down payment requirement (for homes up to $500,000).
- No private mortgage insurance.
- Up to $2,000 in closing cost assistance.
Buyers can qualify if they haven’t owned a home in the past three years. The benefits are also available to certain state agency and public school employees.
SECU partners with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta, which offers three programs to make homeownership more affordable for low- and moderate-income households:
- First-Time Home Buyer Assistance Product: Offers up to $17,500 in down payment and closing cost assistance as a forgivable grant to borrowers who meet qualifications.
- Community Partners Product: Offers up to $20,000 in assistance for current or retired workers in helping professions including law enforcement, education, health care, firefighters and first responders; as well as active-duty members of the U.S. military, veterans or their surviving spouse.
- Workforce Housing Plus+ Program: Offers up to $15,000 in homebuying assistance as a forgivable grant for those making between 80% and 120% of the area median income, measured either by county or statewide.
What does SECU 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 SECU handles most often.
In 2025, SECU’s purchase mortgages were mostly conventional loans. The lender also originated a small number of jumbo loans, and it does not offer FHA or VA loans.
How we score State Employees’ Credit Union'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.
State Employees’ Credit Union earned a 5-star home loans overall rating from NerdWallet. Here’s how that score breaks down across our five weighted subcategories.
Excellent
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.
Average
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.
Excellent
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.
Good
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 State Employees’ Credit Union's home loans. But you’re the expert when it comes to the features of your own best-match mortgage lender.Nerdy Tip
SECU 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 look at the latest customer satisfaction scores from J.D. Power and Zillow. However, SECU didn’t have data from either source for NerdWallet to share. We also contacted the lender’s customer support.
SECU mortgage customer service options
Here’s how you can get in touch with SECU.
Ways to reach SECU
Physical branches . . . . . . ✅
Phone support . . . . . . . . . ✅
Mobile app . . . . . . . . . . . . ✅
Online chat (bot) . . . . . . . 🚫
Online chat (human) . . . . 🚫
🤓 Our Nerds say... mobile app punches above its weight class
Abby Badach Doyle, lead writer, mortgages
SECU’s mobile app earns a 4.9 rating on the App Store, reflecting more than 250,000 ratings. That’s impressive for a regional credit union — we’ve seen larger lenders offer apps with lower ratings or fewer features.
» MORE: How to apply for a mortgage
Alternatives to a SECU home loan
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.
For a credit union experience, FourLeaf Federal Credit Union has an easy membership requirement: Just open a savings account with a $5 minimum deposit. Andrews Federal Credit Union offers up to $20,000 in Federal Home Loan Bank grants to first-time home buyers who meet income requirements and other qualifications.
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.