NOLA Lending Group

What NOLA Lending Group does

NOLA Lending Group is a regional retail mortgage lender founded in 2002 in New Orleans, Louisiana, operating across Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida. The company originates conventional, government (FHA, VA, USDA), non-agency (jumbo up to $3 million, DSCR investor), specialty (condo, manufactured housing, temporary buydowns), and bond-program mortgages, plus refinancings. Distribution is delivered through a network of loan officers and at least ten branch locations, supplemented by an online pre-qualification portal (apply.nolalending.com), web-based mortgage calculators, and active social channels. The platform is supported by in-house processing and underwriting, with loans funded by First Federal Bank's own capital post-acquisition, and servicing handled through LoanCare.

The business operates under NMLS #408902 and is a division of First Federal Bank, an OCC-regulated, FDIC-insured community-based mutual bank with approximately $3.9 billion in assets headquartered in Florida. Following First Federal Bank's January 2026 acquisition of NOLA Lending Group from Fidelity Bank, the NOLA brand was retained and most employees were expected to be kept, while a February 2026 announcement indicated 108 positions would be cut as part of the transition. Revenue is generated per closed loan through origination fees and interest rate spreads, with loans either sold on the secondary market or retained.

Customer segments are diversified across first-time homebuyers, military and veterans, medical professionals (Advanced Medical Practitioners Program), self-employed borrowers, rural USDA-eligible buyers, jumbo borrowers, and real estate investors. The company maintains formal partnerships with Louisiana Housing Corporation, Mississippi Home Corporation, Florida Housing Finance Corporation, City of New Orleans, HANO, and federal agencies (Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, VA, USDA) to deliver down-payment assistance and bond programs across its three-state footprint. Geographic licensing excludes Kansas, Maryland, New Jersey, and New York.

Name

NOLA Lending Group

Legal name

NOLA Lending Group, a division of First Federal Bank

Website

https://nolalending.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

NOLA Lending Group is a regional retail mortgage lender and division of First Federal Bank originating conventional, government, jumbo, and specialty home loans across Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida via in-house processing and a multi-state loan officer network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Residential Mortgage Lending

NAICS

Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers (52231), Savings Institutions and Other Depository Credit Intermediation (52218)

SIC

Mortgage Bankers & Loan Correspondents (6162), Savings Institution, Federally Chartered (6035)

akta.pro primary industry

Government-Insured Mortgage Origination (FHA/VA/USDA) (FSALAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Affordable Housing / Down Payment Assistance (DPA) Mortgage Origination (FSALAAAM)

Keywords

• Residential mortgage lending
• Home loan origination
• Government loan programs
• Jumbo mortgage financing
• Down payment assistance

Headquarters

HQ city

Mandeville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Mortgage Origination Fees and Rate Margins: NOLA Lending Group generates revenue through mortgage origination fees and interest rate margins on closed loans. The company originates mortgages across conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, jumbo, and specialty programs. Loans are closed using First Federal Bank's own capital and may be sold on the secondary market or retained in the servicing portfolio. The company also offers refinancing products.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

NOLA Lending Group originates and closes residential mortgage loans across conventional, FHA, VA, USDA Rural Development, jumbo, and specialty programs in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida. Operating as a division of First Federal Bank, the company handles in-house processing and underwriting through closing, with loans funded using First Federal Bank's own capital and supplemented by digital self-service tools such as an online pre-qualification portal and mortgage calculators.

Product overview

NOLA Lending Group is a mortgage lending division of First Federal Bank offering a comprehensive suite of home loan products across Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida. The product portfolio consists of Conventional Programs (Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Construction Loans), Government Programs (FHA, VA, USDA Rural Development), Non-Agency Programs (Jumbo Loans, DSCR Investment Property Loans), Specialty Programs (Condo Loans, Manufactured Housing, Temporary Buydown Programs), Bond Programs/Downpayment Assistance, Additional Loan Options (Home Equity, Medical Practitioners Program), and Home Mortgage Refinancing. The company also provides digital platforms including an Online Pre-Qualification Application portal and Mortgage Calculator tools. Operating since 2002, NOLA Lending Group delivers in-house processing and underwriting with loans closed using First Federal Bank's own funds.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Conventional Programs Traditional mortgage loans including Fannie Mae HomeReady, Freddie Mac Home Possible, Fannie Mae HomeOne, and Conventional Construction Loans for individual borrowers with strong credit and stable income seeking purchase or refinance financing.
• Government Programs (FHA / VA / USDA) Federal government-backed loans including FHA 203(b) and 203(h), VA loans for eligible veterans and service members, and USDA Rural Development loans with flexible down payment requirements for individual borrowers who may not qualify for conventional loans.
• Non-Agency Programs (Jumbo and DSCR) Flexible mortgage solutions for unique financial situations including Jumbo Loans up to $3 million for high-value properties and DSCR loans for real estate investors qualifying based on property rental income.
• Specialty Programs Customized mortgage options including Condo Loan Programs, Manufactured Housing Loans, and Temporary Mortgage Buydown Programs (1-0, 2-1, 1-1, 3-2-1 structures) for buyers of non-standard property types or those seeking reduced early-stage payments.
• Bond Programs / Down Payment Assistance State and local housing finance agency programs in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida offering reduced interest rates, down payment assistance, and forgivable loans for low-to-moderate-income families and first-time homebuyers, including Louisiana Housing Corporation MRB programs, Mississippi Home Corporation HAT/Smart6/Easy8/Trusty10, and Florida Housing Finance Corporation HFA Preferred / Hometown Heroes programs.
• Additional Loan Options (Home Equity and Advanced Medical Practitioners Program) Flexible financing solutions beyond traditional mortgage programs including Home Equity Loans and the Advanced Medical Practitioners Program for healthcare providers (MD, DDS, DNP, CRNA, NP, PA, DVM, and others) with flexible credit requirements and student loan deferral.
• Home Mortgage Refinancing Mortgage refinancing services allowing homeowners to lower interest rates, shorten loan terms, switch from adjustable to fixed-rate loans, or access home equity for home improvements, debt consolidation, or other significant expenses.
• Online Pre-Qualification Application Portal Digital mortgage application portal allowing prospective borrowers to complete a mortgage pre-qualification application online, followed up by a dedicated loan officer to complete origination.

Quantifiable outcome

• Access to over 25 investor rate quotes daily to ensure competitive pricing
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles9 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• First Federal Bank of FloridacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 January 2026First Federal Bank of Florida signed a definitive agreement to acquire NOLA Lending Group from Fidelity Bank. The acquisition transfers NOLA Lending Group's assets and operations across Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida to First Federal Bank. The platform transition was expected to complete within 60 days of closing, with most employees retained. First Federal Bank planned to invest in additional technology tools and expanded product offerings for the acquired customer base.
• Alston & BirdminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 5 January 2026Legal counsel for the acquisition of NOLA Lending Group by First Federal Bank of Florida.
• Bradley Arant Boult CummingsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 5 January 2026Legal counsel for the acquisition of NOLA Lending Group by First Federal Bank of Florida.
• Louisiana Housing CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLouisiana Housing Corporation works with homebuyers, lenders, realtors, and counselors to facilitate homeownership through Mortgage Revenue Bond (MRB) programs including the MRB Home Program, MRB Program, and MRB Keys for Service, available through NOLA Lending Group for eligible Louisiana borrowers.
• Mississippi Home CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMississippi Home Corporation offers programs including Housing Assistance for Teachers (HAT), Smart6 ($6,000), Easy8 ($8,000), and Trusty10 ($10,000) for down payment and closing cost assistance for eligible Mississippi borrowers through NOLA Lending Group.
• Florida Housing Finance CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlorida Housing Finance Corporation offers FL First Loans Bond, FL Homeownership Loans Program, HFA Preferred/Advantage Conventional Bond Programs, and Hometown Heroes programs available through NOLA Lending Group for eligible Florida borrowers.
• City of New OrleanscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of New Orleans offers the Soft Second Program and Direct Homebuyer Assistance Program providing down payment and closing cost assistance to first-time homebuyers in Orleans Parish, available through NOLA Lending Group.
• Housing Authority of New Orleans (HANO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHANO Program provides technical guidance and financial assistance to help HANO families transition from public housing to homeownership, with NOLA Lending Group serving as a lending partner.
• Fannie MaecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNOLA Lending Group offers Fannie Mae loan products including HomeReady, HomeOne, and standard conventional mortgage programs.
• Freddie MaccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNOLA Lending Group offers Freddie Mac Home Possible mortgage programs for low-to-moderate income buyers.
• Federal Housing Administration (FHA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNOLA Lending Group offers FHA-insured mortgage loans including 203(b) and 203(h) programs for eligible borrowers.
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNOLA Lending Group offers VA home loans for eligible veterans, active-duty personnel, reservists, and qualifying surviving spouses.
• U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNOLA Lending Group offers USDA Rural Development loans providing 100% financing for eligible properties in designated rural areas.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Rocket Mortgage: Largest U.S. retail mortgage lender and dominant digital-first brand — competes with NOLA across all product categories but operates at vastly larger scale and represents the structural competitor that traditional regional lenders must defend against.
• United Wholesale Mortgage: Largest U.S. wholesale mortgage lender and broader industry incumbent — not a direct retail competitor but sets competitive pricing benchmarks via broker channels that influence NOLA's investor pricing.

Direct peers

• loanDepot: National retail and wholesale mortgage lender offering conventional, government, and non-QM products across multiple states — directly comparable to NOLA's multi-product retail mortgage model and footprint-based origination approach.
• Guild Mortgage: Mid-sized retail mortgage lender with strong government loan programs and footprint across the Sun Belt — closely comparable to NOLA's emphasis on FHA/VA/USDA and Gulf South regional focus.
• Caliber Home Loans: Retail and wholesale mortgage lender with diversified conventional, government, and non-QM products — comparable to NOLA's product breadth and multi-channel origination.
• PrimeLending: PlainsCapital subsidiary and full-service retail mortgage lender with multi-state branch distribution and diversified product set — comparable to NOLA's model of broad product suite across a regional branch network.
• Academy Mortgage: Retail mortgage lender with strong first-time homebuyer programs and multi-state branch presence — comparable to NOLA's first-time buyer focus and government/DPA product emphasis.
• Fairway Independent Mortgage: Retail mortgage banker with strong government program specialization and a multi-state branch model — directly comparable to NOLA's VA/FHA/USDA emphasis and in-house processing approach.
• CrossCountry Mortgage: Multi-state retail mortgage lender with in-house processing and branch-based loan officer model — comparable to NOLA's regional retail origination and vertical integration approach.
• NewRez LLC: Retail and wholesale mortgage lender (formerly Shellpoint) offering conventional, government, and non-QM products with growing branch footprint — comparable to NOLA's product diversification and multi-channel model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/NOLALendingGrp
• Facebookfacebook.com/nolalending
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nola-lending-group
• Instagraminstagram.com/nolalending

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about NOLA Lending Group