Compare Mortgage Lenders
Select two lenders to compare side by side using 2023 HMDA federal data: approval rates, denial rates, loan sizes, loan types, and geographic reach.
Key Metrics
| Metric | FIRST WESTERN BANK | Bell Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Total Applications | 593 | 13,496 ▲ |
| Loans Originated | 459 | 10,872 |
| Approval Rate (higher is better) | 77.4% | 80.6% ✓ |
| Denial Rate (lower is better) | 5.6% ✓ | 5.8% |
| Avg Loan Amount | $278,828 | $305,468 |
| Avg Interest Rate (lower is better) | 6.803% | 6.655% ✓ |
| Avg Applicant Income | $37,000 | $37,000 |
| Applications Denied | 33 | 781 |
| Applications Withdrawn | 94 | 1,720 |
✓ Better indicates the more favorable value for borrowers. Data: CFPB HMDA 2023.
Loan Type Mix
| Loan Type | FIRST WESTERN BANK | Bell Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Conventional | 519 (87.5%) | 12,115 (89.8%) |
| FHA | 50 (8.4%) | 847 (6.3%) |
| VA | 21 (3.5%) | 495 (3.7%) |
| USDA | 3 (0.5%) | 39 (0.3%) |
Loan Purpose Breakdown
| Purpose | FIRST WESTERN BANK | Bell Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Home Purchase | 473 | 10,070 |
| Refinancing | 65 | 980 |
| Cash-out Refinancing | 21 | 370 |
| Home Improvement | 20 | 1,082 |
| Other | 14 | 993 |
Top States by Loan Volume
| State | Originated | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | 219 | #16 |
| State | Originated | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 6,342 | #1 |
| North Dakota | 569 | #3 |
Summary
- 593 total applications · 459 originated
- Approval rate: 77.4%
- Denial rate: 5.6%
- Avg loan: $278,828
- Avg rate: 6.803%
- HQ: MINOT, ND
- 13,496 total applications · 10,872 originated
- Approval rate: 80.6%
- Denial rate: 5.8%
- Avg loan: $305,468
- Avg rate: 6.655%
- HQ: Fargo, ND
Methodology
Comparisons are drawn from the CFPB 2024 HMDA Snapshot National Loan-Level Dataset, published by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and distributed via the FFIEC. Every figure on this page comes from lenders' mandatory HMDA filings — not voluntary marketing claims.
Approval (origination) rate = originated ÷ total applications. Denial rate = denied ÷ total applications. Rates do not sum to 100% because HMDA also records withdrawn, incomplete, and approved-but-not-accepted outcomes. Denial rates reflect a lender's applicant mix as much as its underwriting stance; compare alongside loan-type mix and geography before drawing conclusions.
Side-by-side comparisons are informational only and do not constitute financial, legal, or mortgage advice. Always obtain and compare written Loan Estimates before applying.