Disclaimer: The partners on Finder's mortgage comparison tables are sorted in alphabetical order.
Key takeaways
- Veterans United edges out Veterans First with a 4.9/5 Trustpilot score from nearly 8,000 reviews — 96% of customers rate it excellent, versus 93% for Veterans First.
- Veterans United offers conventional, jumbo, FHA, VA, and USDA loans, while Veterans First is limited to VA, FHA, USDA, and refinance products only.
- Both lenders serve all 50 states and require a minimum 620 credit score, with Veterans United offering online preapproval and 24/7 support.
- Veterans First has no online preapproval process, which can slow things down — Veterans United’s branch network covers 17 states for in-person support.
Our verdict: Veterans United wins by a slight margin
Veterans First and Veterans United are lenders specializing in VA loans for military members and their families. VA loans require no down payment and no private mortgage insurance (PMI), making them an ideal choice for many people.
However, we think Veterans United comes out slightly ahead of Veterans First for its bigger loan selection and volume of positive reviews. While customers give both companies high ratings, Veterans United has garnered thousands more positive reviews on sites like Trustpilot and Zillow. Veterans United even has a solid 4.81 out of 5 rating on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website as of December 2021, which is unusual for a financial company.
As both companies are highly rated VA lenders, we feel confident recommending either company for your VA loan needs. As always, be sure to compare quotes from multiple lenders to make sure you’re getting the best rate and lowest fees for your credit score.
Veterans First |
Veterans United |
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| Get rates | See rates | |
| At a quick glance |
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| Loan products offered | VA, FHA, USDA, Refinance | Conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, Jumbo, Refinance |
| State availability | Available in all states | Available in all states |
| Min. credit score | 620 | 620 |
| Trustpilot Rating | 4.9 | |
| Pros |
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| Cons |
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| More info | Read Review | Read Review |
Veterans First customer reviews
Unlike Veterans United, Veterans First Mortgage isn’t accredited on the BBB as of January 2022. It earns 1 out of 5 stars with two customer ratings. On Trustpilot, over 1,400 customers give the company a solid 4.8 out of 5 star rating to date. Of these customers, 93% say the company is “excellent” and only 3% had a bad experience.
Most customers rave about their loan officers, mentioning high levels of knowledge and experience that contributed to a smooth process. Negative reviews mention delays in closing and repeated requests for the same paperwork.
Veterans United customer reviews
As of January 2022, Veterans United has a 4.82 customer rating out of 5 stars and an A+ business rating with the BBB for closing 106 customer complaints in the last three years.
On Trustpilot, Veterans United earns an above-average 4.9 stars out of 5 from nearly 8,000 reviewers to date. Of these customers, 96% rate the company as “excellent” while less than 1% had a bad experience.
Reviews praise Veterans United loan officers for making the process professional, transparent and low stress. Negative reviews mention underwriting delays and unexpected credit pulls.
Compare other mortgage options
Both Veterans First and Veterans United could be a good choice for a VA or other government-backed loan. However, if you’re after a conventional loan with no origination fees, consider a digital lender like Better or Beeline.
Alternatively, if you want a specialized home loan for more complex needs, we suggest Draper & Kramer Mortgage or North American Savings Bank. Both these lenders offer a wide range of loan products and, in some cases, more flexible underwriting criteria.
Find your perfect mortgage by comparing these lenders and lender marketplaces. Select See rates to get a personalized quote.
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