Best Mortgage Lenders in Illinois—Backed by Data

TrueRate Analyst

By:

TrueRate Analyst

Best Mortgage Lenders in Illinois

Data-backed picks using 2024 closed-loan pricing (30-year fixed, conventional, primary residence).

Buying a home in Illinois comes with its own set of challenges—rising property taxes, tight suburban inventory, and varying market conditions from Chicago to downstate. Whether you’re buying a condo in the city or a starter home in the suburbs, choosing the right mortgage lender can save you thousands. From competitive rates to fast closings, these are the top lenders helping Illinois homebuyers navigate a tough market.

To help buyers make smarter choices, we analyzed closed-loan data from hundreds of thousands of loans across 119 different lenders operating in Illinois. Our sample included 30-year fixed, conventional primary home purchase loans. You can see the full TrueRate analysis. These aren’t teaser quotes or advertised rates—this data reflects the real rates and fees buyers locked in.

Each lender listed below consistently outperformed the state median on pricing, while also offering competitive products and solid borrower support. 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.

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 saw what was broken in the mortgage industry (think bait-and-switch, inflated rates, a black box of confusing fees) and set out to fix it. It was ranked Best Online Lender 2025 by Bankrate, earning strong customer reviews, and is backed by major financial services companies. With historically some of the lowest rates among lenders operating in Illinois, borrowers are likely to see large cost-savings.

Lower prices enable more transparency: you can get personalized rates online without applying or talking to sales. The rate tool includes a slider that shows how your monthly payment changes with and without points—clarity most lenders don’t offer until deep into the process.

Heads-up on refinancing: Tomo Mortgage doesn’t offer refinancing at this time.
See today’s rates

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”
— Melina B., Virginia (via Google)
“Loan advisory team was remarkably responsive… stayed engaged until the very end.”
— Selva D., New Jersey (via Google)
“Because of Tomo’s low APRs… it gets a perfect 5 out of 5 stars for affordability.”

Why it stands out

Credit Union 1 is a member-owned, not-for-profit cooperative and direct mortgage lender headquartered in Lombard, Illinois. Serving approximately 89,000 members, its service area includes the Chicago metro, northern and central Illinois, northwest Indiana, Georgia, and the Las Vegas metro. Historically aggressive on rate (with somewhat higher fees).

See rate ranges

Read full review: Credit Union 1

What customers say

Reviews are mixed. Some borrowers report communication gaps and underwriting delays; others appreciate transparent costs and hands-on support from in-branch officers. A niche perk discussed online is a paid “rate modification” option (not a full refi).

Why it stands out

Heartland Credit Union (Springfield) earns our pick for DPA. Its Heartland 100 Home Loan offers $0 down and 100% financing—without PMI—available in 15-, 20-, and 30-year fixed terms. Minimum 660 FICO and ≤45% DTI. Local decisioning, competitive rates, and flexibility with non-traditional income histories improve access for Illinois buyers.

See rate ranges

What customers say

Limited third-party mortgage-specific reviews on major platforms; public commentary focuses more on general banking/member services.

Chase Bank and Rate originated billions in Illinois home loans last year, but only Rate appears in our closed-loan dataset used for ranking. We reviewed HMDA volume and spot-checked public rate sources for additional context. These aren’t directly comparable to our ranked lenders, but they’re useful reference points when shopping broadly.

Chase Bank

Originated over $2.5B across roughly 7,000 Illinois loans in 2024 (avg. ~$343k). Mix: ~77% purchase, ~23% refi, with a small share of home improvement loans.

Rate

Originated over $2.9B in Illinois home loans in 2024 across 8,000+ loans (avg. ~$354k). Mix: ~87% purchase, ~13% refi.

Per our TrueRate model, Rate’s pricing trends about 0.04% below the state median—roughly $505 saved after the first year vs. a median-priced lender and about $1,700 over 10 years. Compared with Tomo Mortgage, a typical borrower would pay an estimated $2,073 more after one year and $9,476 more over 10 years. Even small rate differences add up meaningfully.

Lender Pick HQ Interest Rates (historical) Lender Fees Notable Programs / Notes Website Full Review
Tomo Mortgage Best overall value & experience New York, NY ~0.30% below median $0 Bankrate “Best Online Lender 2025”; transparent online quotes; no refi currently tomo.com Read full review
Credit Union 1 Best Local Lender Lombard, IL ~0.54% below median ~$1,599 Aggressive pricing; some reports of slower processing creditunion1.org Read full review
Heartland Credit Union Best Local CU for DPA Springfield, IL ~0.34% below median ~$585 Heartland 100: $0 down, 100% financing, no PMI; fixed terms available hcu.org Read full review

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Tomo Mortgage
5 out of 5 stars
Bankrate Zillow