Data-driven picks for Arkansas buyers
Buying a home in Arkansas means navigating a market that ranges from Little Rock’s historic charm to growth hubs like Fayetteville, Rogers, and Jonesboro. With local banks and online lenders competing on rates, service, and loan options, choosing the right mortgage partner is key.
To help buyers make smarter choices, we crunched the numbers. We analyzed closed-loan data from hundreds of thousands of loans across 55 different lenders operating in Arkansas. Check out the full TrueRate analysis.
We also categorized lenders to help you find the right fit—whether you’re a first-time buyer, looking for a digital-first experience, or need something more specialized.
Tomo Mortgage
Why it stands out
Ok, we’re a little biased, but the numbers speak for themselves—low rates, no lender fees, better reviews. Tomo Mortgage was founded in 2025 by former Zillow execs who wanted to fix what was broken in the mortgage industry. They did away with bait-and-switch prices, inflated rates, and confusing fees. It was ranked Best Online Lender 2025 by Bankrate, based on its strong customer reviews and backing from major financial services firms. Tomo historically has some of the lowest rates among lenders operating in Arkansas.
Lower rates drive more transparency: you can get personalized rates online without applying or speaking to sales. The rate tool includes a slider that shows how your monthly payment changes with and without points—clarity and control from the start.
Read full review: Tomo Mortgage
What borrowers say
“I almost went with a different lender at first but ended up going to tomo and I’m glad I did… 10/10”
“Loan advisory team was remarkably responsive… stayed engaged until the very end.”
“Because of Tomo’s low APRs… it gets a perfect 5 out of 5 stars for affordability.”
Orion Financial
Why it stands out
Orion Financial (formerly Orion Federal Credit Union) offers mortgage solutions that could lead to meaningful savings—especially over time, thanks to no lender fees and competitive rates. The company officially rebranded in April 2025 to reflect a broader focus beyond traditional banking, expanding into small business and commercial lending while maintaining its community-driven roots. Alongside the name change, Orion launched a redesigned website aimed at improving user experience and financial tools. That said, homebuyers should review loan terms carefully and be aware that Orion has received predominantly negative feedback related to mortgage servicing and customer support. Our TrueRate analysis of thousands of loans shows their interest rates trend below market norm.
Read full review: Orion Financial
What borrowers say
Public, mortgage-specific reviews are limited and mixed, making it hard to draw firm conclusions from customer commentary alone but we included what reviews were available to give homebuyers a more complete picture.
“We had a fantastic experience with our mortgage specialist. She walked us through every step and answered every question patiently. Rates were excellent compared to other lenders”
“Payments were applied incorrectly for three months straight and it took forever to get it sorted. Calls weren’t returned and I had to go to the branch in person to fix it. Very stressful during my home purchase.”
Arkansas Federal Credit Union
Why it stands out
Arkansas Federal Credit Union serves members across the state with a full range of financial services, including home loans. True to the credit union model, AFCU offers some of the most competitive mortgage rates in the market. Still, borrowers should be aware that low rates don’t always mean zero fees—processing and origination costs can apply, so a full loan estimate is worth reviewing.
Our TrueRate analysis shows their 30-year fixed conventional rates frequently beat market averages.
Read full review: Arkansas Federal Credit Union
What borrowers say
Arkansas Federal Credit Union’s mortgage reviews show a mix of positive and negative experiences. Positives include competitive rates, friendly branch service (especially in Hot Springs). Negatives focus on transparency issues, poor communication and delays.
“their advertised rate, is only available to 40% downpayment borrowers with 740+ scores for 48 months (completely a bait and switch)”
“very instrumental in the success of our loan; in that we hardly knew we were in the loan process it went so smooth and was very well managed.”
Cadence Bank
Why it stands out
Cadence offers a rare combo: true 100% financing and no mortgage insurance—funded directly by the bank. The Right@Home programs target eligible buyers in specific neighborhoods (including parts of Birmingham), potentially avoiding both down payment and PMI. Cadence also provides a 0% down Physician Loan (MDs, dentists, residents) without PMI—an appealing track for medical professionals.
The bank doesn’t publish mortgage rates online, so you’ll need to connect with a loan officer. Reviews for mortgage servicing are limited; BBB complaints point to post-close communication and payoff-timing issues—so scrutinize Loan Estimates and servicing details closely.
Read full review: Cadence Bank
What borrowers say
Mortgage-specific public reviews are sparse but tend to lean poor. BBB complaints cite post-close communication and payoff timeline clarity. Proceed with careful review.
“Ended up walking away from a mortgage lender with Cadence Bank losing $700 due to horrible communication.”
“I’m closing on my new home tomorrow and I can’t say enough wonderful things ”
Other Big Mortgage Lenders in Arkansas
Rocket Mortgage and Averst Bank originated billions in Arkansas loans last year, but they didn’t appear in our closed-loan dataset. We reviewed HMDA volume and spot-checked public rate sources for context. These aren’t directly comparable to our ranked lenders, but they’re useful reference points when shopping broadly.
Rocket Mortgage
Originated $645M+ in Arkansas home loans in 2024 across 3,000+ loans (avg. loan size ~$215k). Mix: ~54% refi, ~46% purchase.
Averst Bank
Originated $1.1B+ across 4,000+ Arkanas loans in 2024 (avg. ~$260k). Mix: ~79% purchase, ~17% refi, ~4% improvement. As of Aug 1, 2025, no public aggregator rates.
Quick Comparison Summary
| Lender | Pick | HQ | Interest Rates (historical) | Lender Fees | Notable Programs / Notes | Website | Full Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomo Mortgage | Best Overall (Low Rates) | New York, NY | ~0.30% below median (historical) | $0 | Named Best Online Lender by Bankrate; online personalized rates; no lending fees; no refi currently | tomo.com | Read full review |
| Orion Financial | Best Local Lender | Memphis, TN | ~0.40% below median (historical) | ~$0 | No lender fees and competitive rates. Mixed customer reviews. | orionfcu.com | Read full review |
| Arkansas Federal Credit Union | Best Local Lender | Little Rock, AR | ~0.34% below median (historical) | ~$650 | Competitive rates, low fees, in-person options. | afcu.org | Read full review |
| Cadence Bank | Best for Specialized Loans | Houston, TX | ~0.22% below median (historical) | ~$1,370 | Right@Home (0% down, no MI); Physician Loan (0% down, no MI) | cadencebank.com | Read full review |