Now that tapping residence fairness is again in vogue, I figured it’d be useful to see who the highest HELOC lenders are.
That is particularly well timed with the prime fee lastly falling after 11 successive hikes, making these loans cheaper once more!
As you in all probability know, the 12 months 2023 was a tough one for mortgage lenders due to a lot increased rates of interest, and second mortgages have been impacted as nicely.
The newest annual figures from the Client Monetary Safety Bureau (CFPB) revealed that HELOC quantity fell from 1.4 million items in 2022 to only 1 million in 2023.
That’s fairly the drop-off, which the company attributed to a kind of leveling off after quantity surged in 2022 when householders gave up on cash-out refinances.
HELOC Quantity Slipped in 2023 After a Very Huge 12 months
As famous, HELOC quantity reversed course fairly markedly in 2023 (the newest full 12 months of information at present out there as of early 2025), falling 23.5% after a really sturdy 12 months in 2022.
Banks and mortgage lenders doled out about 1.4 million residence fairness strains of credit score (HELOCs) in 2022, per the newest HMDA information, however solely about a million in 2023.
That 2022 whole was 41.2% increased than the 962,000 HELOCs opened in 2021, and the second consecutive annual improve after a number of years of falling volumes.
I anticipated HELOC purposes to point out will increase once more in 2023 and 2024 since mortgage charges on current mortgages are so low relative to what’s out there at the moment.
In spite of everything, householders can faucet into their fairness with out dropping that 2-4% fee on their first mortgage. The identical can’t be stated of a money out refinance, wherein you quit your outdated fee within the course of.
However they didn’t maintain up in 2023, maybe as a result of 2022 was such a powerful 12 months. Be aware that they did nonetheless surpass 2021 ranges although.
Anyway, let’s discuss a take a look at who the highest HELOC originators have been in 2023 (most up-to-date 12 months out there).
Prime HELOC Lenders in 2023: Financial institution of America Was #1
RankingCompany Name2022 Mortgage Count1.Financial institution of America63,9182.PNC Bank52,8653.Residents Bank49,2864.Huntington Bank26,1755.Truist Bank25,8706.Determine Lending24,4867.U.S. Bank23,1248.State Workers CU19,1889.Navy Federal CU16,20610.Fifth Third Bank15,63011.Third Federal13,57512.Coastal Community12,40313.Areas Bank12,34414.TD Bank12,15315.Boeing Workers CU11,39616.BMO9,93517.Summit CU9,80218.Flagstar Bank8,69519.America First CU8,63020.UWM7,53121.Zions Bancorp7,27422.First Citizens7,26323.Desert Financial6,79924.Homebridge6,74425.???????
In 2023, Financial institution of America led all HELOC lenders with practically 64,000 strains of credit score originated, representing a stable 6.2% market share, per HMDA information from the CFPB.
Again in 2020, BofA had been the #1 HELOC lender with a 5.6% market share earlier than falling to fifth in 2021 and again to 3rd in 2022. So that they’ve made up loads of floor after which some.
They have been adopted by PNC Financial institution with practically 53,000 HELOCs originated for a 5.1% share.
In third was Residents Financial institution (49,286) with a market share of 4.7%.
Huntington Financial institution took fourth with 26,175 HELOCs opened and a 2.5% market share, adopted by Truist Financial institution with 25,870 strains of credit score opened for the same market share.
The one nonbank within the prime 25, apart from United Wholesale Mortgage, was Determine Lending, which got here in sixth with a 2.4% market share.
You’ll be able to see the highest 25 HELOC lenders within the desk above for extra particulars. These 25 establishments alone accounted for about 44% of the HELOC market total.
Be aware that for some motive the CFPB is lacking one of many top-25 entries and I’m undecided which one.
For reference, I’ve stored the 2022 numbers on this put up as nicely should you’re curious concerning the year-to-year motion, which you’ll be able to see under.
In 2022, PNC Financial institution was #1, adopted by Residents Financial institution after which BofA.
PNC Financial institution Was the Prime HELOC Lender in 2022
RankingCompany Name2022 Mortgage Count1.PNC Bank78,4732.Residents Bank64,6873.Financial institution of America57,0844.U.S. Bank41,5545.Truist Bank37,1866.Huntington Bank32,0277.Determine Lending25,1508.Fifth Third Bank22,6179.State Workers CU17,68710.Boeing Workers CU16,92111.Navy Federal CU16,57612.Third Federal16,33213.TD Bank16,19814.Areas Bank15,91615.Mountain America CU15,23616.PenFed15,18917.KeyBank13,75618.M&T Bank12,59619.America First CU12,47220.Spring EQ11,82021.Zions Bancorp10,99922.Ent CU10,87723.Flagstar Bank10,22024.BMO9,87225.First Citizens9,528
On the lookout for a HELOC? Attempt a Financial institution or a Credit score Union
When you’re in want of a HELOC, it’s best to know that they’re largely provided by depository establishments (DIs).
In 2023, all however three of the highest 25 HELOC lenders have been DIs and not one of the DIs have been thought of small banks.
In different phrases, virtually each HELOC was opened by a big financial institution or a credit score union as a result of they preserve the strains of credit score on their books as an alternative of promoting them off after origination.
This differs from first mortgages, which have been dominated by nonbank lenders over the previous a number of years.
These nonbank lenders, or non-DIs, together with Determine, UWM and Homebridge, accounted for simply 3.7% of the HELOC market. This quantity has ticked increased in recent times, however nonetheless stays very low.
It’s unclear if that can change in 2024 and past, although these firms want to get in on the motion by providing HELOCs and residential fairness loans.
For instance, Rocket Mortgage launched a closed-end residence fairness mortgage (HEL) in early August of final 12 months.
[Three Key Differences Between HELOCs and Home Equity Loans]
In the meantime, wholesale lender United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) launched three HELOCs, together with a standalone and a piggyback.
Regardless, there’s an excellent probability a neighborhood credit score union (or the financial institution you already do enterprise with) will supply HELOCs.
Tip: Credit score unions additionally appear to supply a wide array of adjustable-rate mortgages as nicely, in contrast to huge banks and nonbank lenders.
Who Are the Finest HELOC Lenders Out There?
We all know it’s largely banks and credit score unions that supply HELOCs. The query is which one is the very best of the bunch?
That’s onerous to say as a result of banks and credit score unions supply a number of completely different merchandise, not simply HELOCs.
As such, studying their evaluations in all probability received’t give us loads to chew on. Positive, we will see how they’re rated on the entire, however which may imply nothing with regard to their residence fairness lending.
Finally, I’d pay extra consideration to the rate of interest and mortgage phrases provided since HELOC charges can vary considerably from financial institution to financial institution.
And the closing prices! Many of those banks and CUs supply HELOCs with little to no closing prices.
Additionally preserve your eye on the margin provided, which mixed with the prime fee determines your fee. That is maybe one of the best ways to match HELOCs.
You should definitely be aware of the mortgage time period (what number of years to attract and pay it off) and the beginning rate of interest, which is typically discounted for a promotional interval.
There can also be distinctive perks, corresponding to the flexibility to lock in your fee so it’s now not adjustable.
Although the way in which issues are going, HELOC charges may need already peaked in 2023. And might be slated to fall much more this 12 months because the Fed continues to decrease its personal lending fee.
Both method, you’ll want to exhaust all of your choices in your HELOC search to make sure you don’t miss out on a greater deal.
Learn extra: Are you able to refinance a HELOC?
Earlier than creating this website, I labored as an account govt for a wholesale mortgage lender in Los Angeles. My hands-on expertise within the early 2000s impressed me to start writing about mortgages 18 years in the past to assist potential (and current) residence consumers higher navigate the house mortgage course of. Comply with me on Twitter for decent takes.