Bank size matters far less than lender type. Each channel prices and processes loans differently, so that is the comparison worth making. You are really choosing among a few kinds of shops: - Big banks and traditional banks. Convenient if you want the mortgage next to your checking account, but they lend from their own menu. If your scenario does not fit their box, you get a no instead of a better fit. - Credit unions. Relationship pricing, and some hold loans in portfolio, which occasionally helps a tricky file. The product range is still limited to what they offer. - Independent mortgage banks and big-box lenders. Volume shops that can be competitive on plain-vanilla loans. Pricing and service quality vary widely. - Mortgage brokers. A broker shops your loan across many investors instead of one menu, which usually means better pricing and more options when your situation is not cookie-cutter. The broker model is the one we use. Josh and his team work with 145 investors and handle the loan directly rather than referring you out. The practical takeaway: do not assume the institution you already bank with will give you the best mortgage. Lender type shapes your pricing and your options, so compare across channels before you commit.