USDA Holds National Lenders of Year Award Ceremony

(Washington, D.C., June 17, 2026) - Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development hosted the 2026 National Lender of the Year Awards Ceremony to recognize the work of its top national lending partners supporting rural homeownership. These lenders helped rural families and individuals buy homes across the nation last year through USDA Rural Development's Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program.

"Home lenders are on the front lines of affordability. When they have the tools and backing to offer flexible, responsible financing, more working families can step into homes they can truly afford.," said USDA Rural Development Acting Under Secretary Todd Lindsey. "The National Lenders of the Year Awards recognize the essential role lenders play in advancing the Rural Housing Service's mission to help families achieve the dream of homeownership."

The agency will present awards to the following lenders:

USDA 2026 Top Local Lending Partner Award

1st - HR Mortgage Corp

2nd - Gum Tree Mortgage

USDA 2026 Underwriting Quality Award

1st - NVR Mortgage

2nd - Lower, LLC

3rd - Planet Home Lending

USDA 2026 Top Wholesale Lender Award

1st -United Wholesale Mortgage, LLC

2nd - Click N' Close, Inc.

3rd - New Rez LLC

4th - First Community Mortgage

5th - Kind Lending

USDA 2026 Single Close Construction Champion

1st - 1st Signature Lending

USDA 2026 Top Housing Financing Agency Servicer

1st - Idaho Housing & Finance Association

2nd - Virgina Housing Development Authority

USDA 2026 Top Servicing Lenders

1st - Penny Mac

2nd - Banco Popular De Puerto Rico

USDA 2026 Manufactured Housing Champion

1st - Guild Mortgage

USDA 2026 Top Originating Lender Award

1st -Guild Mortgage Company LLC

2nd - DHI Mortgage Company, LTD

3rd - Neighbors Bank

4th - Flat Branch Mortgage, Inc.

5th - Cross Country Mortgage LLC

USDA is a proud partner to all lenders who work with the agency to support rural homeownership.

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