You may have considered a large commercial bank for your home loan needs, but what about a boutique commercial bank?
That’s how CFBank describes itself, a Columbus, Ohio-based retail mortgage lender that recently converted from a savings and loan (S&L) into a national bank.
Despite being a publicly-traded company worth about $100 million dollars, they say they offer concierge banking services via a “high-touch relationship style.”
So if you’re the type who wants to use a big bank to get your mortgage, perhaps because you’re old school, but don’t want to get lost in the bureaucracy, CFBank might be for you.
Let’s discover more about them to see if they’re the right fit.
CFBank Mortgage Quick Facts
- Full-service commercial bank founded in 1882
- Publicly-traded company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio
- Offer mortgages, checking and savings accounts, and other consumer loans
- Originated roughly $1 billion in home loans last year
- Appear to specialize in mortgage refinancing with limited or no lender fees
- Licensed to lend in all 50 states and D.C.
They’re probably one of the oldest mortgage lenders around, given the fact that they were founded all the way back in 1882.
Of course, they don’t just offer home loans – they’re a full-service bank with all types of products including checking and savings accounts, credit cards, and business banking services.
But we’ll focus on the mortgage part. Last year, they funded nearly $1 billion in home loans, with over $100 million coming from their home state of Ohio, and another $100 million or so from far away California.
Roughly 80% of their overall volume was made up of mortgage refinances, with the remainder home purchase lending. So they appear to be the go-to bank for refinancing.
They are licensed to lend in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, meaning there are no geographical limitations.
How to Apply for a Mortgage with CFBank
- You can apply for a home loan directly from their website in minutes
- They use a digital mortgage application powered by fintech company Blend
- Or request a mortgage rate quote instead and discuss pricing with a loan officer
- They also have branch locations throughout the state of Ohio if you prefer face-to-face interaction
If you’re interested in applying for a home loan, simply visit the CFBank website and hit the “Apply Now” button.
From there, you’ll be sent to their digital mortgage application powered by Blend, which allows you to complete the form from anywhere on any device.
You can link financial accounts, scan and upload necessary paperwork, and eSign documents.
You’ll also be able to see what you can afford, compare loan options, and get personalized mortgage rates.
And of course, a dedicated lending team will be with you along the way should you have any questions or require assistance.
All in all, they provide a digital, hands-off loan process, but are there to step in if and when you need them.
Types of Loans Offered by CFBank Mortgage
- Home purchase loans and mortgage refinances (rate and term and cash out)
- Conventional loans backed by Fannie/Freddie
- Jumbo home loans that exceed conforming loan limit
- FHA loans and VA Loans
- Interest-only mortgages
- No PMI loans
- No money down mortgages
- Construction loans and lot loans
- Home renovation loans
- Bridge loans
- Investor loans
- Home equity lines of credit (HELOCs)
- Fixed-rate mortgages: 15- and 30-year terms
- Adjustable-rate mortgages: 5/1 and 7/1 ARMs
As you can see, they offer an absolute ton of different home loan programs.
And you can get financing on all types of properties, whether it’s an owner-occupied condo, vacation home, or multi-unit investment property.
You can even get financing for a lot, a new construction loan, or a renovation loan if you’re working with a fixer-upper.
Additionally, CFBank offers non-QM loan products including interest-only loans, along with zero down financing and high-LTV loans without PMI.
Unlike a lot of smaller mortgage lenders, they’re also able to offer home equity lines of credit (HELOCs), and jumbo loans if your loan amount exceeds the conforming loan limit.
In summary, they’ve got basically everything under the sun, though it’s unclear if they offer USDA loans.
With regard to loan types, you can get a fixed-rate mortgage or an adjustable-rate mortgage in a variety of different loan terms.
CFBank Mortgage Rates
You can see their mortgage rates if you click on “Check today’s rates,” at which point you’ll need to fill out a fairly lengthy lead form.
It’d be nice if they just listed their mortgage rates right on their website so you didn’t have to go to all that trouble, but that’s their prerogative.
Ultimately, advertised mortgage rates don’t mean a whole lot unless you actually qualify for them and the loan assumptions they make match up with your unique loan scenario.
But it would be helpful to at least see where they stand rate-wise. However, it is possible to see their mortgage rates on the Zillow mortgage platform if comparing lenders there.
From what I saw, they offered one of the lowest rates on a conventional 30-year fixed with just $1 in lender fees.
Some of their other listed rates came with lender credits as well. In other words, they appear to offer no cost refinances if that’s what you’re looking for.
CFBank Mortgage Reviews
On SocialSurvey, they have a 4.74-star rating out of 5 based on more than 4,000 reviews. That’s a pretty impressive rating given the large number of reviews.
On Zillow, they have a 4.41-star rating out of 5 at last glance, based on nearly 200 customer reviews.
Many of the reviewers indicated that the interest rate they received was lower than expected.
While CFBank is not Better Business Bureau accredited, they do have an A+ rating at the moment, which is based on customer complaint history.
In summary, they might be a good option if you’re an existing homeowner looking to refinance to a lower rate, or if you want to take advantage of one of their more unique loan programs.
CFBank Mortgage Pros and Cons
The Good
- Licensed to lend in all 50 states
- Offer a ton of different home loan programs
- Can apply for a mortgage directly from their website
- Digital mortgage application powered by Blend
- Excellent customer reviews
- A+ BBB rating
The Maybe Not Good
- Do not publicize their mortgage rates
- Do not list their lender fees
- May not offer USDA loans