Business Insider's personal finance team compared NBKC Bank to the best mortgage lenders and found it to be a standard lender.
NBKC Bank Mortgage is a no-frills mortgage lender that ranks high in customer satisfaction and offers a unique mortgage program for pilots. Its average fees are also on the low end. But some of its products are only available in the Kansas City area.
620
3%
Conforming, FHA, VA, construction, mortgages for pilots, HELOC
- Simple online process
- Low average fees
- Unique mortgage program for pilots
- HELOCs are only available to Kansas City metro area residents
- Doesn’t show rates online
NBKC Bank is one of Personal Finance Insider's best mortgage lenders. It's a worthwhile option if you have a good credit score. It's an especially strong choice for those looking for a convenient online experience, since it lets you easily apply online.
- Provides mortgages in all 50 US states and Washington, DC
- Branches in Kansas City, Missouri
- Minimum credit score and down payment displayed are for conforming mortgages
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Rocket Mortgage
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AmeriSave Mortgage Corporation Mortgages
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New American Funding
Understanding NBKC Mortgages
Nationwide Lending
NBKC Bank has branches in the Kansas City area, both in Kansas and Missouri. But for the most part, it's an online mortgage lender. It originates mortgages in all 50 U.S. states.
NBKC Bank Mortgage Options
You can get the following types of home loans through NBKC:
- Conforming loans
- FHA loans
- VA loans
- Construction loans
- Mortgages for pilots
- HELOCs (Kansas City metro area only)
Homebuyer Assistance
NBKC has a program called nbKC Local that provides up to $3,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance to first-time homebuyers in the Kansas City area who earn up to 80% of the area median income.
The bank also partners with the Missouri Housing Development Commission to provide down payment assistance to eligible borrowers.
NBKC Bank Mortgage Interest Rates and Fees
Based on our review of Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data, NBKC Bank's mortgage rates are around average compared to other lenders.
In 2023, the average borrower getting a conventional loan with this lender paid $1,644 in origination charges, according to HMDA data. This is low compared to other lenders.
NBKC Bank Mortgage Overall Lender Rating
Loan Types: 3.5 out of 5
NBKC has a fairly limited selection of mortgages, but it does have a few products that help it stand out, particularly if you're in the Kansas City area.
Affordability: 4 out of 5
Borrowers paid significantly less in origination charges with NBKC in 2023 compared to many other mortgage lenders we've reviewed, according to HMDA data.
This lender may be particularly affordable if you're in the Kansas City area and you qualify for homebuyer assistance.
Customer Satisfaction: 4.87 out of 5
On its Zillow lender profile, NBKC Bank has a 4.94 out of 5-star rating, based on over 14,000 customer reviews. On Trustpilot, the bank has a 4.8 out of 5-star rating, based on over 800 customer reviews.
Trustworthiness: 5 out of 5
NBKC doesn't have any current public scandals. The Better Business Bureau gives NBKC Bank an A+ rating. A good BBB score signals that a company is honest in its advertising, transparent about business practices, and responds effectively to customer complaints.
NBKC Bank Mortgage Pros and Cons
Pros
- Easily apply online
- Average fees are low
- Unique mortgage program for pilots
Good Lender for Pilots
It can sometimes be difficult for pilots — particularly early-career pilots — to qualify for a mortgage because of how their pay is structured. NBKC has a lot of experience working with these types of borrowers and offers loans specifically for them, including a VA pilot loan.
Cons
- Offers HELOCs, but they're only available to those in the Kansas City metro area
- Lacks rate transparency
Can't Explore Current Rates Online
NBKC doesn't display any current sample rates online, and to get a customized rate quote, you'll need to provide your email address and phone number. This can make it difficult to compare this lender to others if you're still in the research phase and aren't quite ready to talk with a lender yet.
What Borrowers Are Saying About NBKC Bank Mortgages
Business Insider looked at positive and negative customer reviews, online forums, BBB complaints, and other sources to understand what borrowers think about NBKC Bank's mortgage offerings.
Fast Process, Great Customer Service
NBKC has a ton of positive online customer reviews and comments across multiple websites and very few complaints. Previous borrowers said the process was quick and smooth and that the mortgage pros they worked with were communicative, knowledgeable, and helpful.
How NBKC Bank Mortgages Compare
NBKC Bank vs. Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation
Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation has a larger number of mortgage options than NBKC Bank, including USDA loans, reverse mortgages, and physician loans. But NBKC's average fees are lower.
Both of these lenders are strong choices if customer service is important to you. Fairway ranked high in J.D. Power's 2024 Mortgage Origination Satisfaction Study.
Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation Review
NBKC Bank vs. Rocket Mortgage
Rocket Mortgage gives you multiple term length options, with terms as short as eight years, making it one of the best refinance lenders. The lender also ranked high in customer satisfaction according to J.D. Power's 2024 satisfaction study.
Rocket has a specialty loan called the ONE+ mortgage, which allows a 1% down payment and comes with a grant for 2% of the purchase price (up to $7,000). But Rocket doesn't have construction loans, pilot mortgages, or HELOCs. It does, however, have a home equity loan.
NBKC Bank Mortgage FAQs
Yes, NBKC has an A+ from the Better Business Bureau. It originates mortgages throughout the U.S. and ranks very high in customer satisfaction.
Yes, NBKC is a direct mortgage lender. This means it originates its own home loans, whereas a mortgage broker connects you with multiple lenders to find the best fit.
NBKC's mortgage rates are around average compared to other mortgage lenders, according to our review of HMDA data.
You'll likely need a credit score of at least 620 to get a mortgage with NBKC, though it may vary depending on the type of loan you're getting.
Why You Should Trust Us: How We Reviewed NBKC Bank Mortgage
To review NBKC Bank's mortgage offerings, we used our methodology for reviewing mortgage lenders.
We look at four factors — loan types, affordability, customer satisfaction, and trustworthiness — and give each a rating between 1 and 5, then average these individual ratings for the overall lender rating. Lenders get higher ratings if they offer a high number of loan types with affordable features, have positive customer reviews, and don't have any recent public controversies.
