NBKC Bank Mortgage Review 2026
NBKC Bank, rated 4/5 stars by LendingTree experts, is a good choice for borrowers seeking an online lender with traditional mortgage programs at competitive rates.
NBKC is best for borrowers seeking an online loan option for common mortgage types at competitive rates.
See how we reached our verdict below.
- Guaranteed payout if the loan doesn’t close on time
- First-time homebuyer and other specialty loans available
- Online application available
- Can only see available rates after entering personal information
- Physical branches are limited to Kansas
- No USDA loan offerings
NBKC Bank mortgage overview
Provide a quick summary of basic information about this lender, and give bullet points for:
- Areas of service: All 50 states
- Digital service: Offers online mortgage applications
- Headquarters: 8320 Ward Parkway, Kansas City, MO 64114
- Website: NBKC.com
NBKC rates and fees
Rates
NBKC does not share rates for all of its mortgage products on its website. You’ll need to enter your details to receive a personalized quote.
NBKC’s rates are much lower compared to other national competitors, averaging around 0.18 percentage points lower than the average prime offer rate (APOR) in 2024. For example, Bank of America’s rate is 1.19 percentage points higher than the APOR, and TD Bank’s rate was 0.93 percentage points higher.
The APOR is the average annual percentage rate (APR) a bank typically offers in the current market to a low-risk borrower.
Fees
NBKC doesn’t share its fees on its website, but you can likely expect charges like closing costs and the ability to purchase mortgage points. The bank will outline what fees you may need to pay once you’re further along in the preapproval process.
Based on 2024 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) data, NBKC charged an average of $5,166 in closing costs for its mortgages, and with origination fees averaging about $986.
These amounts are more competitive compared to many other lenders. For instance, PennyMac’s average closing costs were $8,002, and AmeriSave’s were $8,107.
The bank offers an “nbKC Local” program for low- and moderate-income homebuyers in the Kansas City area. Borrowers who can meet the qualifying criteria can receive up to $1,000 toward closing costs and $2,000 toward the down payment on a home purchase.
What types of mortgage loans does NBKC offer?
NBKC offers a variety of home loans, including:
NBKC offers conventional loan options, including adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs), fixed-rate mortgages, cash-out refinancing and rate-and-term refinancing.
Conventional loan qualification requirements
- No disclosed minimum credit score, but lenders typically require at least 620
- As low as 3% down payment required
Backed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), FHA loans tend to be less stringent in their credit requirements compared to conventional loans.
NBKC offers FHA loans for home purchase and refinancing.
FHA loan qualification requirements
- Minimum 500 credit score
- Minimum 3.5% down payment
VA loans are backed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. NBKC offers both VA home purchase loans and streamlined refinancing.
VA loan qualification requirements
- Down payment may not be required for eligible borrowers
- No set minimum credit score, but many lenders require at least 620
NBKC offers jumbo loans, for borrowers who need a mortgage that exceeds conforming loan limits, up to a maximum of $1,249,125.
Jumbo loan qualification requirements
- 620 minimum credit score
- 10% minimum down payment
- 50% maximum DTI ratio
NBKC offers home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) and home equity loans, which the bank describes as a closed-end mortgage. For its HELOCs, the bank is offering a six-month introductory APR.
Home equity loan qualification requirements
- Loan-to-value (LTV) maximum up to 85%
- No disclosed minimum credit requirements, but NBKC says it requires “a good FICO score”
- Requires a $25,000 home equity minimum
NBKC mortgage qualifications
| Credit score minimum |
|
| DTI ratio
Debt-to-income (DTI) ratio compares your monthly gross income to your monthly debt payments.
|
|
| Down payment minimum |
|
Don’t know your credit score? Get your free score on LendingTree Spring today.
NBKC doesn’t explicitly state what its exact minimum criteria are for approving or denying home loan applications. Based on 2024 HMDA data, however, NBKC approved borrowers who had an average LTV ratio of 81.1% across all loan types. Plus, about 54.6% of borrowers had debt-to-income (DTI) ratios less than 40%, with only 29% having higher DTI ratios than 43%.
When it comes to loan applications, NBKC approved about 86.3% of its applications for home loans. Compared to other lenders, the bank’s approval rates are around the same. Many of the nation’s larger lenders have approval rates around 70% to 80%.
How does NBKC Bank compare to other lenders?
|  |  |
|
| LendingTree’s rating |
Expert review from LendingTree.
Back to our NBKC summary |
Expert review from LendingTree.
Read our NBKC vs. Truist comparison |
Expert review from LendingTree.
Read our NBKC vs. BMO comparison |
| Minimum credit score | Not published | 600 to 640 | 580 to 640 |
| Minimum down payment | 0% to 3.5% | 0% to 3.5% | 0% to 5% |
| Rate spread
Rate spread is the difference between the average prime offer rate (APOR) — the lowest APR a bank is likely to offer any private customer — and the average annual percentage rate (APR) the lender offered to mortgage customers in 2024. The higher the number, the more expensive the loan.
| -0.18% | 0.80% | 1.04% |
| Loan products and programs |
|
|
|
| Better for: | Borrowers who want competitive rates with online lending options. | Existing Truist customers looking to qualify for rate discounts. | Borrowers looking to take advantage of discounts and banking at physical branches. |
NBKC vs. Truist
Both NBKC and Truist have similar loan offerings. Although both may have mortgage offerings on their websites, neither publishes all of their loan rates online. What stands out about Truist is its interest rate discount, though you will need to be an existing banking customer and meet deposit and investment requirements with qualifying accounts.
Read more in our full Truist mortgage review.
NBKC vs. BMO
BMO doesn’t publish its rates online except for its home equity and HELOC loans, whereas NBKC discloses rates for some of its mortgage offerings. BMO offers a rate discount if you opt into automatic payments through the bank’s checking account. NBKC doesn’t offer much in terms of discounts unless you receive assistance from one of its programs for low- to moderate-income borrowers. It also has fewer physical branches compared to BMO if you’re interested in speaking with someone in person.
Read more in our full BMO mortgage review.
How to apply for an NBKC mortgage
1. Choose your loan type
Go to the NBKC website and click on the “Apply Now” button on its home loans section. You will then be prompted to answer a few questions about your loan needs and personal details, like your email address.
2. Get prequalified
You can get prequalified through the bank’s website by filling out the initial form to see the loan rates you may qualify for.
3. Submit a loan application
Once you compare loan rates and terms and want to move forward with the process, you can proceed with a full application. Speak with an NBKC representative to determine whether you’ll be able to lock in your mortgage rate at this stage of the loan process.
Learn more about how to apply for a home loan.
- Identification
- Tax documents
- Bank statement
- Pay stubs
- Debt and asset statements
- Gift letters (if you’re using gifted funds)
Is it safe to get prequalified with NBKC?
It’s safe to apply for a mortgage with NBKC. You may be subject to a soft credit pull when you get prequalified, which shouldn’t impact your credit score.
Getting preapproved is the next important step in the homebuying process because you’re seen as a more serious buyer when submitting a purchase offer. Many real estate agents want to know that you have the financial means to purchase a home before working with you. Getting preapproved does involve a hard credit pull, but the impact on your credit score should be relatively minor and temporary.
NBKC’s customer service experience
NBKC has different phone numbers depending on whether you’re a prospective or current customer:
- Loan applicants: 800-375-8096, available Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. CST
-
Existing loan borrowers: Available from Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CST
- 913-253-0180 (for eight-digit account numbers)
- 855-230-0480 (for 10-digit account numbers)
You can also email the bank at [email protected] for any loan product or application questions or engage with its chatbot.
Other lenders offer similar contact options, though some may have additional choices like live chat with a loan officer and sending a secure online message.
How LendingTree experts rated NBKC Bank
LendingTree’s mortgage lender rating is based on a five-point scoring system that factors in several features, including digital application processes, available loan products and the accessibility of product and lending information.
LendingTree’s editorial team calculates each rating based on a review of information available on the lender’s website. Lenders receive a half-point on the “offers standard mortgage products” criterion if they offer only two of the three standard loan programs (conventional, FHA and VA). In some cases, additional information was provided by a lender representative.
NBKC’s scorecard:
⭕ Publishes rates online
✅ Offers standard mortgage products
⭕ Includes detailed product info online
✅ Shares resources about mortgage lending
✅ Provides an online application
Frequently asked questions
NBKC lets you get quotes and go through the application process online. You can also manage your loan through its online portal after you close on the loan.
NBKC has been in business since 1999 and is a legitimate bank.
You can view more info about NBKC’s state licenses and registrations through the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System and Registry (NMLS) website.
When you submit your application for preapproval or a full application, your credit score will most likely be affected due to a hard credit inquiry. According to LendingTree’s credit score study, your score typically only drops by 20 points and will go back up within a year.
NBKC is a Better Business Bureau accredited business and is rated A+ by the organization, the highest rating a company can receive. The company received an average of 4.86 stars out of 5 based on 521 customer reviews. The positive reviews noted that their loan officers and lending department were communicative throughout the loan closing process. The negative reviews mainly consisted of issues with NBKC’s banking accounts and confusion over documents needed for refinancing.
NBKC also has a 4.8-out-of-5 rating based on 1,136 reviews on Trustpilot. Positive and negative reviews noted similar sentiments from the BBB website.
These positive and critical reviews demonstrate that customers will have different experiences with NBKC. While you could have a smooth process with the loan application, you may experience some challenges if your loan situation is more complex.