Bell Bank Mortgage Reviews

During the three-year period from 2019 to 2021, Bell Bank had an average home purchase rate lower than the national average. In 2021, it was 0.05% lower.

Your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio, as well as your credit score and other factors, can greatly impact your interest rates. Generally speaking, the lower your DTI ratio, the better the interest rate you'll get. According to company origination data, over half of its applicants had a DTI ratio of 36% or lower.

Bell Bank offers both fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs). Fixed-rate mortgages offer predictable monthly payments, which is why it's the most common type of mortgage.

You may consider an ARM, however, if you plan to own our home for only a short period of time to save during the introductory low-rate period. There are some drawbacks to consider with an ARM, so you’ll want to consult with a loan advisor to see if it’s a good fit for your situation.

Bell Bank Mortgage average home purchase rate vs. national average

You can start the preapproval process by completing a loan application on Bell Bank’s website. It’s not a full loan application; it only asks for preliminary information like your name, address and Social Security number. The company will also ask for authorization to pull your credit report.

Once you complete this short application, a loan officer will reach out to gather more information. Be prepared to answer questions about your income and assets — Bell Bank uses this information to determine your loan amount. It may be helpful to have the following information handy:

• Employment history for the past two years
• Recent residence history
• Current pay stubs
• Prior years’ tax returns
• W-2s for past two years

Your loan advisor can provide information about the timeline for preapproval. The company states that you should receive a decision within 24 to 48 hours. Bell Bank processes and underwrites loans in-house, which allows for fast preapproval decisions.

Bell Bank Mortgage application features

According to Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data, Bell Bank offers conventional (with fixed or adjustable rates), FHA, VA, USDA and jumbo loans. The company also offers a variety of loans to assist borrowers with building or renovating homes, like lot loans and construction-to-permanent loans. The Bell Doctor Loan Program features no PMI requirement for medical professionals on as little as 5% down.

In 2021, Bell Bank received 11,807 home purchase applications. Of those applications, zero preapprovals were denied. About 2% of these applications were denied, and about 88% of applications resulted in closed loans.

Loan applications for home purchases only by year

Refinancing

Bell Bank offers both rate-and-term refinance loans and cash-out refinances. The industry shifted toward refinancing in 2020 and 2021 due to low rates — still, according to federal data, home purchases (about 48%) accounted for the largest portion of Bell Bank’s mortgages in 2021.

Since bottoming out in early 2021, rates have risen steadily. Fewer borrowers are expected to refinance in 2022 as a result.

Home purchase vs. refinance loans by year

HELOC and home equity loans

Bell Bank has both HELOC and home equity loan options for borrowers looking to tap into their home’s equity for funding. While both forms of financing can come in handy for a variety of purposes, home equity loans are best used when you need the funds upfront (like for consolidating high-interest credit card debt into one payment). HELOCs are better when you need consistent access to funds (for emergencies, to pay medical bills, etc.).

Bell Bank isn't particularly transparent about its borrower requirements. You’ll likely need a 620 credit score and a 3% down payment to qualify for a conventional loan. The company does provide a low-down-payment option, called the Bell Moving Forward loan, which allows for 1% down. You do need a credit score of at least 620 to qualify, though.

Credit score requirements for government-backed mortgages can vary by lender, so you should consult with a loan officer to learn more about these options.

National mortgage requirements by type

For more information on other loan types, see our guide on jumbo loans.

Bell Bank doesn’t disclose its lender fees until you apply. However, the company does state that most home loans are eligible for no origination fees (these fees are often 0.5% to 1% of the loan amount).

Origination fees are part of closing costs, which altogether can add up to around 2% to 5% of the loan total. These costs may include appraisal fees, insurance premiums, real estate taxes, title fees and other fees. After you’ve been preapproved, you can expect to receive a Loan Estimate, which details all of the estimated closing costs.