NBKC is a VA lender with easy online access and competitive rates. It offers VA home loans nationwide despite only having physical agents in the greater Kansas City area.
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NBKC Bank mortgage review
- Minimum credit score
- 620
- Minimum down payment (Conventional)
- 3%
- State availability
- Available in all states
Our verdict
Offers a guaranteed closing on your mortgage but a limited service area for other mortgage products.
NBKC is good for veterans in all 50 states, and offers a completely online application. But if you're looking for in-person support and don't live in Kansas City, you'll need to look elsewhere.
Details
Features
| Loan products offered | Conventional, Refinance, VA, FHA, Home equity (limited availability) |
| Minimum credit score | 620 |
| Minimum down payment (Conventional) | 3% |
| State availability | Available in all states |
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Pros
- Veterans loans require no lender, origination, underwriting or processing fees.
- Among the few lenders able to fund VA and FHA loans in all 50 states.
- Close-on-time guarantee of $2,500 to both the borrower and seller.
Cons
- No in-person support unless you live near Kansas City.
- Home equity products only available in the Kansas City metro area.
- Website gives no detailed information about its mortgage products.
Our take on NBKC Bank
NBKC Bank has a great reputation for its VA loan, because it offers loans nationwide and doesn’t charge lender fees on VA loans. It also offers an on-time closing guarantee that can help make your offer more attractive to sellers.
The bank’s biggest drawback is its limited service areas. NBKC talks up its ability to finance VA and FHA loans nationwide, but it can only offer home equity products and construction loans to the Kansas City metro area.
Unfortunately, its website may also be an issue. There are very few details about the bank’s home loan programs, which means you have to either call customer service or go through the preapproval process to know enough about the loans to compare them to what other providers offer.
Close on time or get $2,500
NBKC gives you a guaranteed closing date as soon as the loan documents are received. That guarantee means if the mortgage doesn’t close on that date, the bank pays both you and the seller $2,500. NBKC’s close-on-time guarantee can make your offer more attractive to sellers who want a quick closing.
Lending requirements aren’t listed
NBKC doesn’t list specific requirements for its loans, but you typically must meet the following standards to be eligible for a loan:
- Maximum debt-to-income ratio (DTI) of 45% to qualify for a conventional loan
- Minimum personal credit score of 600 for FHA, VA and USDA loans
- Minimum personal credit score of 620 to qualify for conventional mortgages
- Maximum 97% loan-to-value ratio or a 3% down payment
Fees aren’t listed
Like most banks, NBKC doesn’t provide details about its mortgage fees, but these are the typical fees you can expect to pay unless you’re a veteran:
- Closing fees. The fees included in closing a mortgage include title insurance, taxes and lenders fees. These can cost between 2% and 5% of your loan.
- Origination fee. Ranging from 0.5% to 1% of your loan, the lender often charges a fee for processing your application.
- Ongoing fees. These fees include recurring costs like private mortgage insurance (PMI), late fees on your mortgage payment or early repayment fees.
NBKC Bank reviews are high
NBKC is accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and has an A+ rating for answering 44 complaints over the last three years, 21 of which have been closed in the last 12 months. As of August 2022, the bank has 1,473 customer reviews, averaging 4.84 out of 5 stars. Its ranking is considerably lower on Trustpilot, where only 19 customer reviews contribute a TrustScore of 2 out of 5 stars.
Online customer reviews praise loan consultants for personalized service, prompt responses and expertise. However, a few negative reviews say their closing process was slow and delayed.
4 steps to getting a mortgage with NBKC Bank
NBKC prides itself on its straightforward application process, with four main steps:
- Apply. Fill out the online application and upload your required documentation or call 800-375-8096 to apply over the phone with a loan specialist.
- Sign your documents. Once your application has been approved, NBKC sends your loan documents either electronically or by mail. You just have to sign and return them to the bank.
- Wait for your appraisal and title. NBKC hires a local appraiser and works with the seller or real estate broker to order the title and work out the legalities.
- Prepare for closing. Your closing is scheduled as soon as NBKC receives your documents. If you don’t have a local branch, your closing is held at the title company or a local attorney’s office.
Documents you’ll need
Gather the following documents before you apply:
- Two years of W2s
- Your last month of paycheck stubs
- Documented child support and alimony income
- Document all monthly debt payments
- Account records for deposit accounts, CDs, Money Market and 401k
- Two most recent bank statements
- Documentation of any gift funds, if allowed on your loan
NBKC Bank offers a variety of loan options
The NBKC website offers almost no details surrounding its mortgage products, so these loan program descriptions are general and based on what most banks typically offer.
Refinancing options available through NBKC
- Cash-out refinance. Replace your existing loan with a larger loan to tap into your home equity for cash.
- Rate and term refinance. Refinance to lock in a lower interest rate or change the term of your loan to pay it off sooner or lower your monthly payment.
- FHA cash-out refinance. If you have at least 20% equity in your home, you can refinance to a larger loan amount and take the difference in cash.
- FHA streamline refinance. You can refinance your existing FHA loan without all of the documentation and underwriting required for a regular FHA mortgage. You can’t cash out with this option.
Other specialty loans
- Home equity loans. NBKC doesn’t list these loans under the home equity tab, but the FAQ section says it offers second mortgage options, which is the same thing. We were unable to get details about these loans, though.
- Home equity lines of credit (HELOCs). The NBKC HELOC is only available to Kansas City residents and comes with a 7-year draw period and 15-year repayment period, which are slightly shorter than the average HELOC terms.
- Construction to permanent loans. Also called a one-close construction loan, this allows you to finance your construction costs and mortgage together, so you only pay one set of closing costs. You must live in the Kansas City metro area to get a construction loan with NBKC.
- Pilot mortgage loans. This loan program is designed to work with airline pilots and the unique ways they are paid. But NBKC offers no details about the loan on its website, and a call to customer service didn’t give us more information.
Alternatives to NBKC
You’ll need to shop around to find the right lender for you. And you can start by using our table of providers. Select See rates to get a personalized rate based on your personal financial information, or select More info to read our review. Disclaimer: The partners on Finder's mortgage comparison tables are sorted in alphabetical order.
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NBKC Bank is not currently available on Finder
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- Fast service
- More flexibility
- Prepayment is OK
- Complete your application online
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Heather Finder
Staff writer
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