2025 Mortgage Review: United Community Bank

United Community Bank, founded in 1950 in Blairsville, Georgia, is now headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina. As one of the Southeast’s largest full-service banks, it manages $27.7 billion in assets and operates 243 offices across six states. Its new Greenville headquarters, housing over 300 employees, is WELL Certified™ Bronze, reflecting a commitment to employee well-being, sustainability, and continued growth in the region.

See today’s mortgage interest rates on TrueRate.

How United Community Bank compares to other lenders

Headquarters Greenville, South Carolina
Websiteucbi.com
Rate0.17% less than the median rate
Lender fees$921 (median)
Savings after 1 year, compared to the median interest rate$921
Savings after 10 years, compared to the median interest rate$5,860
Added cost after 1 year (vs. Tomo Mortgage) $1,657
Added cost after 10 years (vs. Tomo Mortgage) $5,234

For a $400,000 mortgage, United Community Bank’s rates and lender fees will likely result in savings of around $921 in the first year and $5,860  after 10 years compared to the median lender. Borrowers should rate shop and compare United Community Bank to lower cost lenders such as Tomo Mortgage to see if around double the savings can be secured.

What customers are saying


United Community Bank’s mortgage lending receives mixed but balanced sentiment on third-party platforms. On Yelp, some branches are praised for personable, helpful mortgage staff and a genuine community bank feel, while Bankrate and SmartAsset highlight the bank’s broad mortgage offerings and strong customer service reputation in the Southeast.

However, consistent negative reviews on the BBB cite undisclosed attorney fees at closing and poor communication during the loan process. Yelp also features complaints about rude or inattentive staff and long wait times for mortgage services. Overall, reviews reflect both positive experiences with staff and loan options, and concerns about transparency and service consistency.

How to compare mortgage lenders

Interest rates. Comparing rates between lenders isn’t always straightforward. Many promote low headline rates that require paying “points” upfront to buy down the interest rate. To make a true comparison, focus on the par rate (0 points) and the APR, which reflects both the interest rate and any lender fees. Even small differences can translate into significant savings over the life of the loan.

Lender fees or loan origination fees. Many lenders charge fees that add thousands to the cost of a loan. It’s important to look at both the rate and the fees together to understand the true cost of borrowing. For a $400,000 mortgage, avoiding even a $1,000 fee could contribute to meaningful savings in the first year and over the long term.

On-time close rate. Most lenders do not publicly share their on-time close rates. However, it’s a critical factor—especially if your home contract has tight deadlines. Asking about their process for meeting close dates, including underwriting and document review timelines, can give you more confidence when choosing a lender.

Pre-approval and offer letters. Some lenders offer fast pre-qualifications that may not be fully underwritten, which can weaken your offer in competitive markets. It’s important to ask whether a lender’s pre-approvals are fully underwritten and how credible their letters are when presented with an offer.

Customer satisfaction. If detailed customer review data isn’t readily available, check third-party review sites or ask the lender for references. It’s important to understand how they handle communication, responsiveness, and issue resolution throughout the loan process.

Employee reviews. Company culture often influences how clients are treated. A lender with strong employee satisfaction typically delivers better service, more organized processing, and a smoother overall experience for borrowers.

To better understand how we compare mortgage rates fairly, see our TrueRate Methodology.

If you’re ready to start your journey to homeownership, get pre-approved with Tomo Mortgage today.

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