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 | Gate City Bank | FIRST WESTERN BANK |
|---|---|---|
| Total Applications | 4,682 ▲ | 593 |
| Loans Originated | 3,056 | 459 |
| Approval Rate (higher is better) | 65.3% | 77.4% ✓ |
| Denial Rate (lower is better) | 10.3% | 5.6% ✓ |
| Avg Loan Amount | $184,925 | $278,828 |
| Avg Interest Rate (lower is better) | 6.923% | 6.803% ✓ |
| Avg Applicant Income | $35,000 | $37,000 |
| Applications Denied | 480 | 33 |
| Applications Withdrawn | 366 | 94 |
✓ Better indicates the more favorable value for borrowers. Data: CFPB HMDA 2023.
Loan Type Mix
| Loan Type | Gate City Bank | FIRST WESTERN BANK |
|---|---|---|
| Conventional | 4,050 (86.5%) | 519 (87.5%) |
| FHA | 487 (10.4%) | 50 (8.4%) |
| VA | 119 (2.5%) | 21 (3.5%) |
| USDA | 26 (0.6%) | 3 (0.5%) |
Loan Purpose Breakdown
| Purpose | Gate City Bank | FIRST WESTERN BANK |
|---|---|---|
| Home Purchase | 2,363 | 473 |
| Home Improvement | 1,029 | 20 |
| Other | 686 | 14 |
| Refinancing | 520 | 65 |
| Cash-out Refinancing | 84 | 21 |
Top States by Loan Volume
| State | Originated | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | 2,328 | #1 |
| State | Originated | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | 219 | #16 |
Summary
- 4,682 total applications · 3,056 originated
- Approval rate: 65.3%
- Denial rate: 10.3%
- Avg loan: $184,925
- Avg rate: 6.923%
- HQ: Fargo, ND
- 593 total applications · 459 originated
- Approval rate: 77.4%
- Denial rate: 5.6%
- Avg loan: $278,828
- Avg rate: 6.803%
- HQ: MINOT, 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 Rates do not sum to 100% because HMDA also records withdrawn, incomplete, and approved-but-not-accepted outcomes.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.