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.
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.
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.
Kat Aoki is 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.
Cornerstone Home Lending offers a standard list of mortgage loans with some portfolio options, but you have to contact a loan officer for rates and fees.
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