Columbia, MO · Independent non-bank lender · CFPB · 82,764 loans in 2025
82,764
loans originated, 2025
178,189
applications, 2025
51
states and territories
2
gaps bigger than at similar lenders
How to read this section
For Black, Hispanic and Asian applicants, we look at how much more often Mortgage Research Center turns them down than White
applicants: the gap. Then we compare that gap with the gap at similar lenders, for similar applications: the same
income, loan size, debt-to-income range, loan-to-value, loan type, kind of property and place.
"Bigger gap" means we are at least 99% sure the gap is bigger than at similar lenders. That is a reason to look
closer, not proof of discrimination. The public data has no credit scores and none of the documents a lender
reviews, and the kind of loans a lender makes can widen a gap for good reasons. Each result below gives the numbers
and the explanations they allow.
FIG. 1 — GAPS AGAINST SIMILAR LENDERS
Mortgage Research Center's gap is bigger than at similar lenders for Black purchase and Black refinance applicants.
Each dot compares Mortgage Research Center's gap with the gap at similar lenders: at 1x they are the same, at 2x its gap is twice as large. A gap is how much more likely the group is to be turned down than White applicants. The line around each dot shows the range the true value probably lies in (95%). Amber: groups where we are at least 99% sure the gap is bigger.
SOURCE: FFIEC HMDA 2025; JENNER ANALYTICS NATIONAL DENIAL MODEL
Black purchase
Mortgage Research Center's gap for Black purchase applicants is bigger than at similar lenders.
How sure we are that the gap is bigger than at similar lenders: 99.9%.
Of the purchase applications it decided in 2025, it turned down 14% of 8,739 from Black applicants and 8% of 38,354 from White applicants. The most common reason: poor credit history, given for 33% of the Black applicants turned down and 26% of the White applicants turned down.
Mortgage Research Center, which lends as Veterans United Home Loans, makes almost only VA loans (92%), for veterans and service members. For purchase applicants, credit history is given somewhat more often for Black applicants (33% of those turned down, against 26%).
The public data has no credit scores, savings or full credit histories, so our comparison cannot allow for them. A difference in them between the groups applying would produce a gap like this one.
Black refinance
Mortgage Research Center's gap for Black refinance applicants is bigger than at similar lenders.
How sure we are that the gap is bigger than at similar lenders: 99.5%.
Of the refinance applications it decided in 2025, it turned down 66% of 5,203 from Black applicants and 60% of 19,338 from White applicants. The most common reason: poor credit history, given for 73% of the Black applicants turned down and 60% of the White applicants turned down.
It turns down most people who apply to refinance: 60% of White applicants and 66% of Black applicants. Poor credit history is the main reason for both, given for 73% of the Black applicants turned down and 60% of the White applicants.
The public data has no credit scores, savings or full credit histories, so our comparison cannot allow for them. A difference in them between the groups applying would produce a gap like this one.
FIG. 2 — REASONS FOR TURNING APPLICANTS DOWN, 2025
Why applications were turned down, beside White applicants at the same lender.
Each bar is 100% of the applications the lender decided for that group; the coloured part was turned down, split by the main reason the lender gave, and the rest were approved. Applications the applicant withdrew are not counted.
SOURCE: FFIEC HMDA 2025, FIRST REASON GIVEN
Applicants
Turned down: group
Turned down: White
How sure the gap is bigger
Result
Hispanic purchase
10%
8%
84.7%
Not clearly bigger
Hispanic refinance
63%
60%
98.1%
Not clearly bigger
Black purchase
14%
8%
99.9%
Bigger gap than at similar lenders
Black refinance
66%
60%
99.5%
Bigger gap than at similar lenders
Asian purchase
9%
8%
93.5%
Not clearly bigger
"How sure the gap is bigger": how sure we are that the lender's gap is bigger than at similar lenders. We call it bigger at 99% or more.
Not tested, too few applications: Asian refinance. A test needs, for that loan purpose, at least 100 decided applications from the group and from White applicants, with at least 20 of each turned down and 20 approved.