North American Savings Bank (NASB) Mortgage Review 2024

NASB mortgage rates

On average, NASB mortgage rates and lender fees tend to be lower than major competitors. In 2021 (the most recent data available), this lender saved borrowers a significant amount of money in origination fees and overall loan closing costs.

Before applying for a loan, you can check current home purchase and refinance rates on the lender’s website. Just note that mortgage interest rates depend on personal factors like your credit report, down payment, loan type, and debt-to-income ratio (DTI). So reach out to a North American Savings Bank loan consultant to see if they can offer you a competitive rate.

Average mortgage rates at major lenders

Average rate and fee data were sourced from public rate and fee records required by the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).

Rate lock protection from NASB

One benefit of working with North American Savings Bank is that it offers rate lock protection programs. Its RateSecure Rate Lock Program allows borrowers to lock their mortgage interest rate for 90 days. This can be a valuable tool when mortgage rates are on the rise. Locking your current rate for 90 days could give you more time to shop for the home you want without worrying about rates going up and forcing you out of your price range.

NASB also offers extended rate locks for new construction homes. With the lender’s Home Build Rate Protection, you can lock in a mortgage rate for up to nine months. Additionally, if rates drop during this period, you may be eligible to receive a lower rate.

North American Savings Bank mortgage review

NASB offers online banking and a portfolio of financial services. The bank provides checking accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts, and CDs. It also has a variety of mortgage loan options including home purchase and refinance loans and mortgages for investment properties and commercial real estate.

This broad footprint can make NASB a great option, especially if you’re looking for a specialized mortgage.

Some borrowers have special circumstances and don’t meet the criteria for traditional home loan programs. This can make it harder for them to get loans from other lenders. NASB, on the other hand, accommodates a wide range of home buyers and homeowners with its flexible lending guidelines and requirements.

Along with the standard conventional, FHA, and VA loans, NASB has a large number of proprietary mortgage programs. These may be suitable for:

• Self-employed borrowers
• Individuals with credit issues
• Those with limited cash savings
• Real estate investors

The lender also has programs specific to Missouri residents. One option is the Missouri Housing Development Commission program which provides eligible first-time home buyers and veterans with down payment and closing costs assistance.

Another option is the NASB Good Neighbor program which helps individuals with low credit scores — as low as 580 — purchase homes in underserved areas.

Although North American Savings Bank offers many loan solutions, it doesn’t have USDA loans or home equity loans. It also doesn’t operate any physical branch locations outside of the Kansas City, MO area.

Working with NASB mortgage

To get started, visit NASB’s website to check out current purchase and refinance rates.

First-time home buyers can begin mortgage preapproval online but they’ll have to complete the process by phone with a loan consultant. Despite being an online bank, NASB’s mortgage application and preapproval are still handled somewhat traditionally.

If you choose to apply with the company, you’ll create an NASB account to proceed with an online mortgage application. You’re then asked to provide personal information, including:

• Your name
• Your current address
• Your employment status
• Your income
• Your Social Security number
• The type of loan you want

An NASB loan officer will contact you to discuss your loan options.

The good news is that you don’t have to live in Missouri to apply for a loan. If you live outside the area, you can apply and upload documentation online, then schedule an electronic closing.

NASB customer reviews

North American Savings Bank doesn’t have a J.D. Power Satisfaction Score for 2021. However, the lender has 4.95 stars out of thousands of reviews on Zillow, and zero complaints filed against it with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

Many who applied for a purchase or refinance loan highly recommended NASB in online reviews. They described their experience as “pleasant,” “smooth,” “organized,” and “quick.” Several borrowers were also pleased with their mortgage rate and said their closing costs were “lower than expected.”

Customer service reviews at major lenders

Mortgage loan products at NASB

North American Savings Bank offers most standard home loan programs, including:

• Conventional loans: A loan conforming to guidelines set by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. First-time home buyers can qualify with as little as 3% down payment and 620 minimum credit score. You can usually stop paying private mortgage insurance (PMI) after a few years
• FHA loans: These loans are backed by the Federal Housing Administration. They require a 3.5% down payment and a minimum credit score of 580 with NASB. Although, you’re typically on the hook for mortgage insurance premiums (MIP) for the life of the loan
• VA loans: These zero-down home loans are available to active-duty military members, veterans, other select military service members, and their eligible spouses. There’s no down payment or ongoing mortgage insurance required, but you’ll need to make a one-time upfront funding fee
• Jumbo loans: These allow higher loan amounts than conforming mortgages. NASB jumbo loans require a minimum 10% down payment and qualifying home buyers can borrow loan amounts up to $1.25 million
• Fixed-rate mortgages (FRMs): Fixed-rate loans allow you to secure a mortgage rate for the life of the loan. Choose between 15 and 30-year loan terms. This loan type is ideal for those who want regular monthly mortgage payments
• Adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs): Adjustable-rate loans let you fix your rate for the first five, seven, or 10 years of your loan. After that, your rate will float with the market

Along with these traditional mortgage options, NASB offers a number of unique programs for borrowers with outside-the-box needs. These include:

• Bank statement loan: If you’re self-employed, you can get approved for a mortgage with no tax return. Instead, you’ll need 12 months of bank statements. This loan requires a minimum 10% down payment and a maximum DTI of 45%
• Flex loan: These loans are also ideal for self-employed borrowers, as well as those with non-traditional income and/or past credit issues. To qualify, you need a minimum down payment of 5% and a max DTI of 48%
• IRA loans: These loans, which aren’t sold on the secondary market, have flexible guidelines to accommodate borrowers who might not qualify for other loan programs
• Bridge loan: Do you need to sell your current home before buying another one? If so, you could use a bridge loan to get cash for your down payment and other expenses
• Fannie Mae HomeReady: Fixed-rate loans with a 3% down payment and reduced PMI rates for low-to-moderate income buyers
• Freddie Mac HomePossible: Fixed-rate loans with a 3% down payment, reduced PMI rates, and flexible credit score requirements for low-to-moderate income buyers

After you complete an application, an NASB loan officer will contact you to discuss mortgage options and help you find the right program for your needs.

Refinancing with North American Savings Bank

In addition to home purchase loans, NASB also offers refinancing. Homeowners can choose between refinance loans that will lower their monthly payments, reduce total interest costs, or tap home equity.

• Rate-and-term refinance: Exchange your original mortgage with a new one that offers more favorable loan terms or a lower interest rate
• Cash-out refinance: Access your home equity by replacing your current mortgage with a new, larger loan amount, and then receiving the difference as a lump sum of cash
• VA cash-out refinance: Similar to a traditional cash-out refi, but designed with VA loans in mind
• VA IRRRL: Also known as the Veterans Affairs Interest Rate Reduction Refinancing Loan, this is a low-doc, low-cost mortgage refinance

But while NASB’s programs can be ideal for refinancing an existing mortgage, the lender doesn’t offer home equity loans or home equity lines of credit (HELOCs).

Where can I get a mortgage with North American Savings Bank?

North American Savings Bank is licensed lend in every state and the District of Columbia. However, it only has branches near the Kansas City area. So many borrowers will need to conduct business online or over the phone.

Is NASB the best mortgage lender for you?

North American Savings Bank could be an excellent solution if you’re looking for a specialized mortgage program, maybe because you’re self-employed, have a low credit score, or don’t have enough cash in reserves for a down payment. With a wide selection of products ranging from conventional loans and government loans to non-QM options, this lender goes above and beyond to meet the needs of its customers.

You can use NASB for a purchase or refinance. But only apply if you’re okay with a digital process. Due to limited branches, you might have to complete the loan process electronically.

Be sure to request rate quotes from three to five lenders to see which can offer the best rates for your home loan. You can get started right here.

Methodology

The Mortgage Reports considers multiple factors when reviewing lenders. These factors include credit and down payment requirements, loan types offered, customer service indicators, and availability of online tools. We then use these factors to rank lenders in four categories:

• Lending flexibility: Includes the number of loan types offered, special programs offered, minimum down payment requirements, and minimum credit score requirements
• Customer service: Includes CFPB complaints per 1,000 loans and average rating from other top rating services
• Ease of application: Includes the availability of an online pre-approval or pre-qualification process
• Online experience: Includes the robustness of the lender’s online offerings, including online chat availability, phone number availability, and learning center/help center availability