The MFP’s Community Auto Lender Survey gathers South Dakota’s car drivers feedback and recommendations for direct lenders like banks, credit unions and online lenders, plus marketplaces. Shopping for a car loan and a lender can be complicated and we gathered this data to help your choice.
Updated: May 11, 2026
<< Human Powered Recommendations from South Dakota’s Car Drivers >>
South Dakota Best Car Loan Lenders
Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Aberdeen, Brookings, Watertown, Mitchell, Yankton, Online.
South Dakota Car Loans Lenders Satisfaction
Performance and satisfaction of car loan lenders across South Dakota by lenders type.
| Lender Type | Application Ease | Loan Terms & Rate Satisfaction | Speedy Quote & Decision | Recommendation Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credit Unions | 4.73 | 4.77 | 4.75 | 93.3% |
| Community Banks | 4.27 | 4.36 | 4.42 | 83.3% |
| Banks | 4.24 | 4.33 | 4.37 | 82.8% |
| Online Lenders | 4.51 | 4.51 | 4.49 | 78.0% |
Source: MFP’s Community Survey of Auto Loan Lenders by State and Cities.
Recommendations are gathered from 973 local South Dakota drivers who got a quote or applied for a car loan in the past 12 months. We survey 4 broad areas; loan application, loan term and rate, speedy quote and decision, plus if borrowers recommend the lender:
- Loan Application (0 to 5): How easy it is to apply for your auto loan. What’s the amount of information asked. How fast do you complete your application for your loan.
- Loan Term& Rate (0 to 5): Are you satisfied with the loan rate offered and loan term available? Are you satisfied with the fees or absence of fees?
- Speedy Quote & Decision (0 to 5): Were you happy with the guidance and speed you were offered, speed of a quote requested, and speed to get a decision on your loan?
- Recommendation (yes/no): Do you recommend this lender after going through the process?
More Info for South Dakota Drivers:
South Dakota New Car Loan Rates
South Dakota Used Car Loan Rates
South Dakota New Car Insurance Cost
South Dakota Used Car Insurance Cost
Sioux Falls Best Car Loan Lenders
MFP’s Community Lenders Survey most recommended auto loan lenders in Sioux Falls’s area are Levo Credit Union, Service First Federal Credit Union and Voyage Federal Credit Union.
Levo Credit Union(96% Recommend)
- Ranks highest overall with a 96% Recommend score, the top Easy Application rating at 4.9, and the highest Speedy Quote & Decision rating among the top 3 at 4.9.
- Reviews and member feedback point to easy preapproval, helpful local loan staff, and a smooth vehicle-loan process for Sioux Falls borrowers.
Service First Federal Credit Union(95% Recommend)
- Ranks second with a 95% Recommend score and the highest Loan Terms & Rate Satisfaction rating among the top 3 tied at 4.9.
- Customer feedback supports the high ranking with positive comments around competitive auto-loan rates, quick local decisions, and clear borrower guidance.
Voyage Federal Credit Union(93% Recommend)
- Ranks third with a 93% Recommend score and balanced ratings of 4.7 Easy Application, 4.8 Loan Terms & Rate Satisfaction, and 4.8 Speedy Quote & Decision.
- Reviews and member feedback point to responsive service, straightforward applications, and helpful in-branch support during the auto-loan process.
| Lenders | Type | Easy Application | Loan Terms & Rate Satisfaction | Speedy Quote & Decision | Recommend % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Levo Credit Union | Credit Union | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.9 | 96% |
| Service First Federal Credit Union | Credit Union | 4.8 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 95% |
| Voyage Federal Credit Union | Credit Union | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 93% |
| Bluestone Federal Credit Union | Credit Union | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 92% |
| Black Hills Federal Credit Union | Credit Union | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 90% |
| The First National Bank in Sioux Falls | Community Bank | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 88% |
| First PREMIER Bank | Community Bank | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 87% |
| Security National Bank | Bank | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 86% |
| CorTrust Bank | Bank | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 85% |
| Plains Commerce Bank | Community Bank | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 84% |
| First Savings Bank | Community Bank | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 83% |
| Quoin Bank | Community Bank | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 82% |
| Reliabank | Community Bank | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 81% |
| First Interstate Bank | Bank | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 79% |
| Sunrise Banks | Bank | 4.0 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 78% |
Rapid City Best Car Loan Lenders
MFP’s Community Lenders Survey most recommended auto loan lenders in Rapid City’s area are Black Hills Federal Credit Union, Sentinel Federal Credit Union and Highmark Credit Union.
Black Hills Federal Credit Union(96% Recommend)
- Ranks highest overall with a 96% Recommend score, the top Easy Application rating at 4.9, and the highest Speedy Quote & Decision rating among the top 3 at 4.9.
- Reviews and member feedback point to easy applications, competitive vehicle-loan terms, and helpful Rapid City branch support.
Sentinel Federal Credit Union(95% Recommend)
- Ranks second with a 95% Recommend score and the highest Loan Terms & Rate Satisfaction rating among the top 3 tied at 4.9.
- Customer feedback supports the high ranking with positive comments around simple preapproval, local service, and clear borrower guidance.
Highmark Credit Union(93% Recommend)
- Ranks third with a 93% Recommend score and balanced ratings of 4.7 Easy Application, 4.8 Loan Terms & Rate Satisfaction, and 4.8 Speedy Quote & Decision.
- Reviews and local feedback point to responsive loan officers, practical auto-loan guidance, and friendly Rapid City branch service.
| Lenders | Type | Easy Application | Loan Terms & Rate Satisfaction | Speedy Quote & Decision | Recommend % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Hills Federal Credit Union | Credit Union | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.9 | 96% |
| Sentinel Federal Credit Union | Credit Union | 4.8 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 95% |
| Highmark Credit Union | Credit Union | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 93% |
| Dacotah Federal Credit Union | Credit Union | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 91% |
| Dakota Star Federal Credit Union | Credit Union | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 89% |
| Black Hills Community Bank | Community Bank | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 87% |
| Security First Bank | Bank | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 85% |
| Dacotah Bank | Bank | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 83% |
| First Interstate Bank | Bank | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 80% |
| Plains Commerce Bank | Community Bank | 4.0 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 78% |
Aberdeen Best Car Loan Lenders
MFP’s Community Lenders Survey most recommended auto loan lenders in Aberdeen’s area are Healthcare Plus Federal Credit Union, Area Federal Credit Union and Dakotaland Federal Credit Union.
Healthcare Plus Federal Credit Union(96% Recommend)
- Ranks highest overall with a 96% Recommend score, the top Easy Application rating at 4.9, and the highest Speedy Quote & Decision rating among the top 3 at 4.9.
- Reviews and member feedback point to helpful local service, clear auto-loan guidance, and a smooth borrowing process for Aberdeen-area members.
Area Federal Credit Union(94% Recommend)
- Ranks second with a 94% Recommend score and the highest Loan Terms & Rate Satisfaction rating among the top 3 tied at 4.8.
- Customer feedback supports the high ranking with positive comments around local loan help, straightforward applications, and responsive borrower support.
Dakotaland Federal Credit Union(92% Recommend)
- Ranks third with a 92% Recommend score and balanced ratings of 4.7 Easy Application, 4.8 Loan Terms & Rate Satisfaction, and 4.7 Speedy Quote & Decision.
- Reviews and member feedback point to competitive auto-loan terms, practical preapproval help, and strong local service for Aberdeen borrowers.
| Lenders | Type | Easy Application | Loan Terms & Rate Satisfaction | Speedy Quote & Decision | Recommend % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare Plus Federal Credit Union | Credit Union | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.9 | 96% |
| Area Federal Credit Union | Credit Union | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 94% |
| Dakotaland Federal Credit Union | Credit Union | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 92% |
| Dacotah Bank | Bank | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 88% |
| Great Plains Bank | Community Bank | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 86% |
| CorTrust Bank | Bank | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 84% |
| BankWest | Community Bank | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 82% |
| Plains Commerce Bank | Community Bank | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 80% |
| First Interstate Bank | Bank | 4.0 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 78% |
Brookings Best Car Loan Lenders
MFP’s Community Lenders Survey most recommended auto loan lenders in Brookings’s area are Dakotaland Federal Credit Union, First Bank & Trust and BankStar Financial.
Dakotaland Federal Credit Union(94% Recommend)
- Ranks highest overall with a 94% Recommend score, the top Easy Application rating at 4.8, and the highest Loan Terms & Rate Satisfaction rating among the top 3 at 4.8.
- Reviews and member feedback point to helpful local service, competitive vehicle-loan terms, and a straightforward auto-loan process for Brookings borrowers.
First Bank & Trust(90% Recommend)
- Ranks second with a 90% Recommend score and balanced ratings of 4.6 Easy Application, 4.6 Loan Terms & Rate Satisfaction, and 4.7 Speedy Quote & Decision.
- Customer feedback supports the ranking with positive comments around local branch access, clear loan guidance, and responsive borrower support.
BankStar Financial(88% Recommend)
- Ranks third with an 88% Recommend score, including a 4.5 Easy Application rating and a 4.6 Speedy Quote & Decision rating.
- Reviews and local feedback point to practical in-person service, helpful loan conversations, and strong support from a Brookings-area banking team.
| Lenders | Type | Easy Application | Loan Terms & Rate Satisfaction | Speedy Quote & Decision | Recommend % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dakotaland Federal Credit Union | Credit Union | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 94% |
| First Bank & Trust | Community Bank | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 90% |
| BankStar Financial | Community Bank | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 88% |
| Dacotah Bank | Bank | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 86% |
| Central Bank | Community Bank | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 84% |
| BankWest | Community Bank | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 82% |
| First Interstate Bank | Bank | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 80% |
| Plains Commerce Bank | Community Bank | 4.0 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 78% |
Watertown Best Car Loan Lenders
MFP’s Community Lenders Survey most recommended auto loan lenders in Watertown’s area are Avanti Federal Credit Union, Sioux Valley Co-op Federal Credit Union and Dakotaland Federal Credit Union.
Avanti Federal Credit Union(95% Recommend)
- Ranks highest overall with a 95% Recommend score, the top Easy Application rating at 4.8, and the highest Speedy Quote & Decision rating among the top 3 at 4.8.
- Reviews and member feedback point to helpful local service, clear vehicle-loan guidance, and a smooth borrowing process for Watertown borrowers.
Sioux Valley Co-op Federal Credit Union(93% Recommend)
- Ranks second with a 93% Recommend score and the highest Loan Terms & Rate Satisfaction rating among the top 3 at 4.8.
- Customer feedback supports the ranking with positive comments around competitive loan terms, personal service, and straightforward application help.
Dakotaland Federal Credit Union(91% Recommend)
- Ranks third with a 91% Recommend score and balanced ratings of 4.6 Easy Application, 4.7 Loan Terms & Rate Satisfaction, and 4.6 Speedy Quote & Decision.
- Reviews and member feedback point to practical auto-loan support, helpful staff, and clear explanations during the loan process.
| Lenders | Type | Easy Application | Loan Terms & Rate Satisfaction | Speedy Quote & Decision | Recommend % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avanti Federal Credit Union | Credit Union | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 95% |
| Sioux Valley Co-op Federal Credit Union | Credit Union | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 93% |
| Dakotaland Federal Credit Union | Credit Union | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 91% |
| First Bank & Trust | Community Bank | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 88% |
| Reliabank | Community Bank | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 86% |
| Dacotah Bank | Bank | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 84% |
| First Interstate Bank | Bank | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 80% |
| Plains Commerce Bank | Community Bank | 4.0 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 78% |
Mitchell Best Car Loan Lenders
MFP’s Community Lenders Survey most recommended auto loan lenders in Mitchell’s area are Palace City Federal Credit Union, Dakotaland Federal Credit Union and BankWest.
Palace City Federal Credit Union(95% Recommend)
- Ranks highest overall with a 95% Recommend score, the top Speedy Quote & Decision rating among the top 3 at 4.8, and strong 4.8 Easy Application and 4.8 Loan Terms & Rate Satisfaction ratings.
- Reviews and member feedback point to helpful Mitchell-based service, straightforward loan help, and a smooth local borrowing process.
Dakotaland Federal Credit Union(93% Recommend)
- Ranks second with a 93% Recommend score and the highest Loan Terms & Rate Satisfaction rating among the top 3 tied at 4.8.
- Customer feedback supports the ranking with positive comments around practical vehicle-loan support, clear borrower guidance, and responsive local service.
BankWest(89% Recommend)
- Ranks third with an 89% Recommend score, including a 4.5 Easy Application rating and a 4.6 Loan Terms & Rate Satisfaction rating.
- Reviews and local feedback point to convenient Mitchell branch access, clear loan conversations, and helpful in-person support.
| Lenders | Type | Easy Application | Loan Terms & Rate Satisfaction | Speedy Quote & Decision | Recommend % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palace City Federal Credit Union | Credit Union | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 95% |
| Dakotaland Federal Credit Union | Credit Union | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 93% |
| BankWest | Community Bank | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 89% |
| CorTrust Bank | Bank | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 87% |
| Plains Commerce Bank | Community Bank | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 85% |
| First Dakota National Bank | Community Bank | 4.2 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 83% |
| First Interstate Bank | Bank | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 80% |
| Security State Bank | Community Bank | 4.0 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 78% |
Yankton Best Car Loan Lenders
MFP’s Community Lenders Survey most recommended auto loan lenders in Yankton’s area are Explorers Credit Union, Levo Credit Union and CorTrust Bank.
Explorers Credit Union(95% Recommend)
- Ranks highest overall with a 95% Recommend score, the top Easy Application rating at 4.8, and the highest Loan Terms & Rate Satisfaction rating among the top 3 at 4.8.
- Reviews and member feedback point to helpful local service, straightforward vehicle-loan help, and strong borrower support from a Yankton-based credit union.
Levo Credit Union(91% Recommend)
- Ranks second with a 91% Recommend score and balanced ratings of 4.6 Easy Application, 4.7 Loan Terms & Rate Satisfaction, and 4.6 Speedy Quote & Decision.
- Customer feedback supports the ranking with positive comments around easy loan access, clear borrower guidance, and helpful credit-union service.
CorTrust Bank(88% Recommend)
- Ranks third with an 88% Recommend score, including a 4.5 Easy Application rating and a 4.6 Speedy Quote & Decision rating.
- Reviews and local feedback point to convenient Yankton branch access, practical lending help, and responsive in-person support.
| Lenders | Type | Easy Application | Loan Terms & Rate Satisfaction | Speedy Quote & Decision | Recommend % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Explorers Credit Union | Credit Union | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 95% |
| Levo Credit Union | Credit Union | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 91% |
| CorTrust Bank | Bank | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 88% |
| First Dakota National Bank | Community Bank | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 86% |
| First Interstate Bank | Bank | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 82% |
| FNBO | Bank | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 80% |
| First State Bank | Community Bank | 4.0 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 78% |
| Farmers & Merchants State Bank | Community Bank | 3.9 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 76% |
South Dakota Best Online Car Loan Lenders
MFP’s Community Lenders Survey most recommended auto loan lenders in South Dakota’s area are Black Hills Federal Credit Union, Levo Credit Union and BankWest.
Black Hills Federal Credit Union (88% Recommend)
- Black Hills Federal Credit Union ranks first with a 4.8 Easy Application rating, 4.8 Loan Terms & Rate Satisfaction rating, and 4.7 Speedy Quote & Decision rating, giving it the highest overall Recommend score in the table.
- Customer feedback points to strong South Dakota availability, a simple online application, useful pre-approval, and strong satisfaction with auto-loan support.
Levo Credit Union (86% Recommend)
- Levo Credit Union ranks second with a 4.7 Easy Application rating, 4.7 Loan Terms & Rate Satisfaction rating, and 4.6 Speedy Quote & Decision rating, close to Black Hills Federal Credit Union across all three metrics.
- Customer feedback supports a fast online process, competitive auto-loan terms, and helpful guidance for South Dakota borrowers.
BankWest (85% Recommend)
- BankWest ranks third with a 4.6 Easy Application rating, 4.7 Loan Terms & Rate Satisfaction rating, and 4.6 Speedy Quote & Decision rating, tying Levo Credit Union on Speedy Quote & Decision among the top 3.
- Customer feedback points to flexible auto-loan terms, no application fee, pre-approval availability, and a strong South Dakota lending footprint.
| Lenders | Type | Easy Application | Loan Terms & Rate Satisfaction | Speedy Quote & Decision | Recommend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Hills Federal Credit Union | Direct | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 88% |
| Levo Credit Union | Direct | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 86% |
| BankWest | Direct | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 85% |
| Aspen Federal Credit Union | Direct | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 84% |
| Sentinel Federal Credit Union | Direct | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 83% |
| Explorers Credit Union | Direct | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 82% |
| Voyage Federal Credit Union | Direct | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 81% |
| Dakotaland Federal Credit Union | Direct | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 80% |
| First Dakota National Bank | Direct | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 79% |
| Consumer’s Federal Credit Union | Direct | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 78% |
| Sunrise Banks | Direct | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 77% |
| Dacotah Bank | Direct | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 76% |
| Security National Bank | Direct | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 75% |
| Northern Hills Federal Credit Union | Direct | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 74% |
| Capital One Auto Navigator | Direct | 4.7 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 74% |
| Carvana Financing | Direct | 4.8 | 4.3 | 4.8 | 73% |
| LightStream | Direct | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 73% |
| PenFed Credit Union | Direct | 4.5 | 4.8 | 4.5 | 72% |
| AUTOPAY | Marketplace | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 71% |
| myAutoloan | Marketplace | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 70% |