RBFCU Home Equity Loans and HELOC Review 2025: Low Rates for Texans

3.3 _/5

Our take: Randolph-Brooks Federal Credit Union offers home equity products for Texas homeowners at competitive rates. It’s worth considering if you own property in the Lone Star State, but we always recommend obtaining several quotes from the best home equity loan and HELOC lenders for comparison.

Home Equity Loans

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• Wide range of repayment terms
• Competitive rates
• Minimal closing costs
• No application or appraisal fees for loans under $175,000

• Only available in Texas
• Credit union membership is required
• Only available on primary homes

Rates (APR)	Starting at 5.345% fixed
Funding amount	Up to 80% of your home’s appraised value (Specific amounts not disclosed)
Repayment terms	4, 7, 10, 15, 20, or 30 years

HELOC

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• Competitive rates
• Minimal closing costs
• No application or appraisal fees for loans under $175,000

• Only available in Texas
• Credit union membership is required
• Only available on primary homes

Rates (APR)	Starting at 7.065% variable
Funding amount	Up to 80% of your home’s appraised value (Specific amounts not disclosed)
Repayment terms	10-year draw | Up to 15-year repayment

Table of Contents

1. About RBFCU home equity loan
   1. Costs and fees
   2. Repayment
   3. How to apply
   4. Alternatives
      1. vs. Figure (fixed-rate HELOC)
      2. vs. Navy Federal Credit Union
      3. vs. Spring EQ
2. About RBFCU HELOC
   1. Costs and fees
   2. Repayment
   3. How to apply
   4. Alternatives
      1. vs. Figure
      2. vs. Aven
      3. vs. FourLeaf Credit Union
3. Pros and cons
4. Customer reviews
5. Contact RBFCU

About RBFCU home equity loan

Rates (APR)	Starting at 4.961% fixed
Loan amounts	Up to 80% of your home’s value
Repayment periods	4, 7, 10, 15, 20, or 30 years
Maximum LTV	80%
Fees	Minimal closing costs, and no application or appraisal fees for loans under $175,000

RBFCU’s home equity loan lets you borrow a lump sum at a fixed rate. It’s only available for primary residences in Texas, and you must be a credit union member to apply.

Borrowers can access up to 80% of their home’s appraised value, minus any outstanding mortgage balance or liens. Rates start as low as 4.961% APR for a four-year term and start at 6.788% APR for 30 years.

Costs and fees

RBFCU doesn’t charge an application or appraisal fee for loans under $175,000. You’ll still need to cover minimal closing costs, which include standard filing and processing fees. Larger loans may come with additional charges, but RBFCU doesn’t disclose full fee schedules upfront.

You won’t pay a prepayment penalty, and interest may be tax-deductible if the funds are used for qualifying home improvements. (Check with a tax advisor to confirm.)

Repayment

You can choose from six repayment terms:

• 4, 7, 10, 15, 20, or 30 years

All loans have a fixed interest rate, so your monthly payments stay the same throughout the life of the loan. This predictability is typical of home equity loans, and it can make them a good fit for borrowers who know exactly how much they need to borrow and want consistent budgeting.

How to apply

To apply for an RBFCU home equity loan, you must:

• Be an RBFCU member
• Own a primary residence in Texas
• Meet RBFCU’s credit and income requirements (not publicly disclosed)

The process includes three main steps:

1. Apply (online, by phone, or in branch)
2. Complete paperwork (including info about your home’s tax-assessed value and mortgage balance)
3. Finalize your loan once underwriting is complete

RBFCU estimates a 45-day closing window from application to funding.

Alternatives to the RBFCU home equity loan

If you’re not a Texas property owner or just want to do your due diligence and consider several lenders, here’s how Randolph-Brooks stacks up against three of our team’s picks for the best home equity loans:

RBFCU vs. Figure (fixed-rate HELOC)

If you want the flexibility of a HELOC but prefer predictable monthly payments, Figure’s fixed-rate HELOC might be a better fit than RBFCU’s traditional home equity loan. Unlike RBFCU, Figure doesn’t limit loans to Texas residents, and the online process is typically much faster, with same-week funding possible.

RBFCU vs. Navy Federal Credit Union

Navy Federal offers home equity loans that are a solid alternative if you’re eligible for membership and want access to more flexible loan amounts. Navy Federal serves military members and their families nationwide.

RBFCU vs. Spring EQ

Spring EQ offers home equity loans that allow you to borrow up to 90% of your home’s value, which is higher than RBFCU’s 80% cap. It may be a better fit for borrowers with strong credit and high equity needs outside of Texas.

About RBFCU HELOC

Rates (APR)	Starting at 6.564%
Loan amounts	Up to 80% of your home’s appraised value
Draw period	10 years
Repayment period	15 years
Maximum LTV	80%
Fees	Minimal closing costs, and no application or appraisal fees for loans under $175,000

The Randolph-Brooks Federal Credit Union home equity line of credit gives Texas homeowners flexible access to funds over time. It’s a revolving credit line with a 10-year draw period and up to 15 years to repay, making it useful for ongoing expenses like home renovations, tuition, or medical bills.

You can borrow up to 80% of your home’s appraised value. RBFCU will evaluate your credit, income, and property value to determine eligibility and loan size.

Costs and fees

Like the home equity loan, RBFCU’s HELOC comes with no application or appraisal fees for lines under $175,000. Borrowers only pay minimal closing costs, and no prepayment penalties apply if you pay off your balance early.

Like the home equity loan, HELOC interest may be tax-deductible depending on how you use the funds.

Repayment

• Draw period: 10 years
• Repayment period: Up to 15 years

During the draw period, you can withdraw funds as needed (the minimum draw amount is not disclosed). After the draw period ends, you’ll enter a repayment phase with regular monthly payments on the outstanding balance.

RBFCU’s HELOC has a variable interest rate, currently starting at 7.065% APR. Your actual rate will depend on your credit, the loan-to-value ratio, and other underwriting factors.

How to apply

To apply for an RBFCU HELOC, you’ll need to:

• Be an RBFCU member
• Own a primary residence in Texas
• Meet credit and income requirements

The application process is similar to that for the home equity loan and includes:

1. Apply online or at a branch
2. Submit home and financial documents
3. Close the loan, typically within 45 days

RBFCU allows you to track your application status online once submitted.

Alternatives to RBFCU HELOC

Here’s how RBFCU compares to three of our picks for the best HELOCs:

RBFCU vs. Figure

Figure offers a HELOC with fixed rates and fast funding. It’s available in most states. If you want predictable payments and access to your credit line sooner, Figure is a strong choice.

RBFCU vs. Aven

Aven is a tech-forward HELOC lender offering broader availability, fixed rates, and more flexible loan amounts. It may be better for borrowers looking to access lower credit lines or outside of Texas.

RBFCU vs. FourLeaf Credit Union

FourLeaf is another credit union option. Its features include a low 12-month introductory APR for creditworthy borrowers, along with a longer term and broader funding range.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Borrow up to 80% of your home’s value

• Competitive rates on both product options

• Wide range of repayment terms on home equity loans

Cons

• Only available in Texas

• Membership is required

• Borrowers pay some closing costs

• Only offered on primary homes

RBFCU customer reviews

Source	Rating	Number of reviews
Better Business Bureau (BBB)	1.18/5	35
Trustpilot	1.4/5	136

While the BBB has issued a “B” grade for the business overall, the customer feedback score is low, and the credit union doesn’t have BBB accreditation.

Common concerns mentioned in reviews include:

• Poor customer service and communication
• Accounts being frozen without notice
• Fee charges for inactive savings accounts
• Long phone wait times and limited service outside business hours
• Unexpected overdraft and maintenance fees
• Trouble accessing funds during emergencies
• Reports to ChexSystems following small overdrafts
• Unresolved customer issues related to frozen accounts and fraud

A few positive comments mention helpful financial advisors or branch-level service, but they are rare.

RBFCU shows up in Reddit threads discussing the best credit unions in Texas, especially around Austin and San Antonio. Sentiment is mixed:

Best Credit Union through Personal Research
byu/DiscountDrago inAustin

• One user praised RBFCU for offering a lower auto loan rate than competitors and using Experian for credit pulls.
• Others mentioned frustrations with the mobile app, lack of after-hours support, and security issues around mailed credit cards.
• A few commenters shared they’ve banked with RBFCU for years without issue.

Contact RBFCU

If you have questions about RBFCU’s home equity loans or HELOCs, or want to apply, you can reach out in several ways.

• Visit a branch: RBFCU has more than 60 locations across Texas. You can walk in or schedule an appointment in advance via the credit union’s website.
• Call: The mortgage department’s number is 210-945-3300. (Select option 3, then option 2 for home equity assistance.) Member Service (general support) is available at 800-580-3300. Representatives are available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Central Monday through Friday, and 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Central on Saturdays.
• Chat: Current members with an online login can chat with customer service representatives during regular business hours.
• Email: [email protected]
• Secure message. If you’re an RBFCU member, you can send a secure message to the team by logging in to the online portal.

How we rated RBFCU

We designed LendEDU’s editorial rating system to help readers find companies that offer the best home equity products. Our system awards higher ratings to companies with affordable solutions, positive customer reviews, and online transparency of benefits and terms.

We compared Randolph-Brooks to several home equity lenders, using hundreds of data points from company websites, public disclosures, customer reviews, and direct communication with company representatives. We weighted, scored, and combined each factor to produce a final editorial rating. This rating is expressed on a scale from 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest possible score. Our take is represented in our rating, recapped below.