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Veterans First vs. Veterans United

Both companies are highly rated VA lenders, but Veterans United comes out slightly ahead of its competitor.

If you’re looking for a VA loan, both companies are good choices. But when it comes to a history of positive customer reviews, Veterans United comes out ahead.

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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At a quick glance
  • Consider Veterans First if you’re after a government-backed loan.
  • Choose another lender if you want a conventional, home equity or jumbo loan.
  • Consider Veterans United if you want a top-rated VA lender.
  • Choose another lender if you want a home equity loan or HELOC.
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
  • Several options for government-backed loans
  • Experience working with military borrowers
  • Strong customer service
  • High customer ratings. Veterans United has high customer ratings, even on the BBB, where a majority of customers go to complain.
  • Streamlined application. Its online application for preapproval takes just a few minutes.
  • 24/7 customer service. VU's helpline is always open, with mortgage specialists available whenever best meets your schedule.
Cons
  • No online preapproval
  • No online application
  • No conventional, home equity or jumbo loans
  • No equity or specialty mortgage products. VU's mortgage offerings are more traditional, and the only way to access your home's equity is to refinance your loan.
  • Little info on non-VA loans. It can be hard to find information on VU's non-VA mortgages on its website.
  • Limited branch locations. This lender offers loans in all 50 states, but in-person service is limited to 17 states.
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.

Disclaimer: The partners on Finder's mortgage comparison tables are sorted in alphabetical order.

Name Product USFHL Loan products offered State availability Min. credit score
Rocket Mortgage
Not rated yet
Rocket Mortgage logo
Conventional, Jumbo, FHA, VA, Refinance
Available in all states
620
Apply online for free and lock in your rate for 90 days.
Veterans United
Not rated yet
Veterans United logo
Conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, Jumbo, Refinance
Available in all states
620
Veterans United stands out from other lenders for its focus on serving the military community.
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Writer

Kat Aoki was a personal finance writer at Finder, specializing in consumer and business lending. She’s written thousands of articles to help consumers make better decisions on their home loans, bank accounts, credit cards, cryptocurrency and more. Kat is well versed in working with leading brands in the real estate, mortgage and personal finance industries, and her expertise has been featured on Forbes Advisor, Lifewire and financial comparison sites like iSelect and realestate.com.au. She holds a BS in business administration from California State University, Sacramento and enjoys hiking and yoga in her spare time. See full bio

Kat's expertise
Kat has written 185 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Mortgages
  • Home equity loans
  • Mortgage refinancing

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