SAFE Credit Union at a glance, 2025
Every figure is from the lender's own HMDA filing. "vs national" compares with all lenders combined.
How the A grade breaks down
Each component is a percentile rank among 412 home-equity (HELOC) lenders. Higher is better. Components the lender does not report are left out and the weights redistributed.
Approval oddsdecision denial rate, weight 45%
93rd10.1% deniedPricingmedian rate spread over APOR, weight 30%
75th-0.35 ptsProcesswithdrawn + incomplete share, weight 15%
18th18.9%Closing coststotal loan costs ÷ loan amount, weight 10%
12th5.26% of loanTrend, 2023–2025
| Year | Applications | Originated | Denial rate | Decision denial | Median rate | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1,750 | 1,117 | 9.8% | 13.2% | 7.34% | $458M |
| 2024 | 1,259 | 840 | 8.7% | 11.5% | 7.99% | $276M |
| 2025 | 1,366 | 989 | 8.2% | 10.1% | 5.75% | $246M |
What SAFE Credit Union lends
Applications by purpose and loan type in 2025, with the denial rate for each. A lender's mix explains a lot of its headline rate: HELOCs and FHA loans are denied far more often than conventional purchase loans.
By loan purpose
By loan type
Also: 770 home-equity lines, 0 reverse mortgages, 6 manufactured homes, 43 investment properties.
Why SAFE Credit Union denies applications
Primary reason reported for each of the 112 denials in 2025. Lenders can cite up to four reasons; this is the first one listed.
Who gets approved at SAFE Credit Union
Decision denial rate by applicant profile. Groups with fewer than 20 applications are omitted.
| Applicant income | Applications | Originated | Decision denial rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $50k | 59 | 17 | 41.4% |
| $50k – $100k | 309 | 191 | 18.6% |
| $100k – $150k | 355 | 267 | 10.6% |
| $150k – $250k | 387 | 302 | 5.9% |
| Over $250k | 214 | 173 | 2.3% |
| Applicant age | Applications | Originated | Decision denial rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25–34 | 87 | 63 | 4.6% |
| 35–44 | 325 | 233 | 10.3% |
| 45–54 | 370 | 277 | 11.2% |
| 55–64 | 268 | 191 | 9.5% |
| 65–74 | 207 | 152 | 9.3% |
| Over 74 | 87 | 53 | 17.2% |
Where SAFE Credit Union lends
1 states and 28 counties in 2025. Click a state for the lender's full record there.
| State | Applications | Originated | Denial rate | Median rate | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 1,366 | 989 | 8.2% | 5.75% | #138 |
Frequently asked questions
SAFE Credit Union denied 10.1% of the applications it decided on in 2025. The national figure across all lenders was 22.6%. On approval odds it ranks in the 93rd percentile of home-equity (HELOC) lenders.
The most common reason SAFE Credit Union gave in 2025 was "debt-to-income ratio", cited on 55.4% of its denials. Lenders report up to four reasons per denial to the CFPB; the full breakdown is on this page.
The median interest rate on loans SAFE Credit Union originated in 2025 was 5.75%, and its median rate spread over the average prime offer rate was -0.35 points. Rates on this page are what borrowers actually got, not advertised rates.
In 2025, 22% of its applications were for home purchases, 16% for refinancing (including cash-out), and 61% for home improvement or other purposes. By loan type: 100% conventional, 0% FHA, 0% VA.
Every figure on this page comes from the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) Loan/Application Register published by the CFPB, which lenders are required by federal law to file. We add the grade and the comparisons; we do not add facts.