If you are looking for where to make a Franklin American mortgage payment, the short answer is that Franklin American Mortgage Company no longer services loans under its own name — Citizens (Citizens Financial Group) acquired the company in 2018, (learn more about how home equity loans work: the complete 2026 guide to borrowing against your home) (learn more about what is civic? mortgage lender overview | rateroots) (learn more about how to buy a house in 2026: the complete step-by-step guide for first-time buyers) (learn more about best home equity loan lenders in 2026: 7 ranked by rates, ltv, and approval speed) (learn more about merchant cash advance rates: what to expect in 2025) and those loans were moved onto Citizens' servicing platform. You now pay, log in, and request payoff quotes through Citizens, not Franklin American. The fastest free method for most borrowers is automatic ACH draft from a checking account; the fastest one-time method is a same-day online payment (learn more about best heloc lenders for self-employed borrowers in 2026: 7 options compared). We compared all six payment channels below on speed, cost, and posting reliability, and walked through how to pull a payoff quote before a sale or refinance.
One caution before you start: mortgage servicing rights get sold routinely. Citizens may not be your current servicer even if it once was. The name and address on your most recent monthly statement is always the authoritative answer.
How We Ranked These Payment Methods
We evaluated each channel on the factors that decide whether a payment lands on time and without a fee:
| Criteria | Weight | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Posting speed | High | Payments post on the date received, not the date sent. Mail float causes most avoidable late fees. |
| Cost to use | High | Some servicers charge a convenience fee for phone or expedited payments; ACH is almost always free. |
| Reliability | High | A method that fails silently — a bounced draft, a lost check — costs you a 30-day credit report ding. |
| Proof of payment | Medium | Online confirmation numbers settle disputes that verbal phone payments cannot. |
Data sources: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau mortgage servicing rules (Regulation X and Regulation Z), federal Truth in Lending payoff-statement requirements, and standard servicer disclosure practice. Always verify specifics against your own loan documents and monthly statement.
1. Automatic ACH Draft (Autopay) — Best Overall
Best for: Nearly every borrower who wants to stop thinking about the due date
Typical cost: Free
Posting speed: Same day, on your chosen draft date
Enrolling in automatic monthly drafts from a checking account is the most reliable way to pay a mortgage. The servicer pulls the exact amount due, including escrow, on the same date each month, and the payment posts on the draft date rather than after mail delivery. Most servicers, including Citizens, offer ACH autopay at no charge, and some offer a biweekly option that produces one extra annual payment.
Pros
- No fee at nearly every major servicer
- Removes the risk of a forgotten or late payment entirely
- Adjusts automatically when an escrow analysis changes your payment amount
Cons
- You must keep the account funded or risk an NSF fee from both sides
- Cancelling requires advance notice, usually several business days before the draft date
- Extra principal payments still need to be set up separately
Who This Is Best For
Borrowers with steady income and a stable checking account. It is a poor fit if your cash flow is irregular and you time payments around deposits — in that case, one-time online payments give you more control.
2. One-Time Online Payment Through Your Servicer Portal — Best for Control
Best for: Irregular income, extra principal payments, and payoff-month timing
Typical cost: Free from a linked bank account
Posting speed: Same day if submitted before the daily cutoff
Logging into your servicer's account portal and making a one-time payment gives you the same posting speed as autopay with full control over timing and amount. This is also where you designate extra dollars as principal-only, which is the single most effective way to shorten a loan term. Keep the confirmation number — it is your evidence if a payment is ever disputed.
Pros
- Same-day posting before the cutoff, with an immediate confirmation number
- Lets you split principal, escrow, and additional payments explicitly
- Full payment history is visible in one place
Cons
- Requires remembering the due date every month
- Late-night submissions can post the next business day
- Portal login lockouts happen at the worst possible moment
Who This Is Best For
Self-employed borrowers, anyone making irregular principal paydowns, and borrowers in the final months of a loan who need precise control over the last payment.
3. Phone Payment — Best for Same-Day Rescue
Best for: The day a payment is about to go late
Typical cost: Often free through the automated system; a fee may apply with a live agent
Posting speed: Same day
Calling the servicing number printed on your monthly statement lets you authorize a payment by phone, usually through an automated system. Many servicers waive the fee for automated calls and charge for agent-assisted expedited payments, so choose the automated path when you can. Confirm the fee before authorizing.
Pros
- Works when the online portal is down or you are locked out
- Immediate verbal confirmation number
- Available even without an enrolled online account
Cons
- Agent-assisted payments may carry a convenience fee
- Hold times spike at month-end
- Weakest paper trail of any electronic method
Who This Is Best For
Borrowers who realize on the fifteenth that the grace period ends today. It is a bad routine habit — fees and hold times add up.
4. Bill Pay From Your Own Bank — Best for Consolidated Finances
Best for: Borrowers who run every bill through one bank
Typical cost: Free at most banks
Posting speed: 3–5 business days
Your own bank's bill-pay service sends either an electronic payment or, more often for mortgages, a paper check cut and mailed on your behalf. It is free and convenient, but the float is real: schedule it at least five business days before the due date. Always include the loan number in the account field.
Pros
- Free at most banks and centralized with your other bills
- Creates a clear record on your bank statement
Cons
- Paper-check delivery adds several days of float
- The servicer never controls the send date, so troubleshooting is slower
- Payments can misapply if the loan number is wrong or outdated after a servicing transfer
Who This Is Best For
Organized borrowers who schedule payments a week ahead. Avoid it in any month where timing is tight.
5. Mail a Check — Slowest, but Still Accepted
Best for: Borrowers who prefer paper records
Typical cost: Postage
Posting speed: 5–10 days, depending on mail
Mailing a check to the payment address on your statement still works, and for some borrowers the physical record is worth the delay. Write the loan number on the memo line, and if you want extra dollars applied to principal, say so in writing — otherwise most servicers apply overpayment to next month's payment instead.
Pros
- No portal, no enrollment, no technology required
- Cancelled checks are strong proof of payment
Cons
- Slowest posting and highest risk of a late fee
- Mail loss puts the burden of proof on you
- Payment address changes after a servicing transfer are easy to miss
Who This Is Best For
Borrowers who mail on the first for a payment due on the first of the following month. Anyone paying close to the due date should use an electronic method.
6. In-Branch Payment — Best for Existing Citizens Bank Customers
Best for: Borrowers who already bank at a Citizens branch
Typical cost: Free
Posting speed: Same or next business day
If your servicer is a bank with retail branches, you can often pay at a teller window. This is the least common method, and availability varies by branch and by whether the loan is serviced in-house or through a subservicer. Call ahead before driving over.
Pros
- Immediate receipt in hand
- Useful for large one-time principal payments
Cons
- Only available where the servicer has branches near you
- Not all branches are set up to take mortgage payments
- Requires a trip
Who This Is Best For
Existing branch customers making an unusually large payment who want a same-day receipt.
Quick Comparison
| Method | Typical Cost | Posting Speed | Proof of Payment | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Automatic ACH draft | Free | Same day | Statement record | Everyone, by default |
| One-time online payment | Free | Same day before cutoff | Confirmation number | Control and extra principal |
| Phone payment | Free to modest fee | Same day | Verbal confirmation | Last-minute saves |
| Bank bill pay | Free | 3–5 business days | Bank statement | Consolidated bill paying |
| Mailed check | Postage | 5–10 days | Cancelled check | Paper-record preference |
| In-branch | Free | Same or next day | Teller receipt | Existing branch customers |
How to Log In and Find Your Loan
Franklin American borrowers whose loans moved to Citizens access the loan through Citizens' online banking, using the loan number shown on the servicing statement rather than the original Franklin American loan number, which may have been reassigned during transfer. If you cannot locate the account, three checks resolve most cases:
- Read your most recent statement. The servicer's name, payment address, and phone number on that statement are current; anything you remember from years ago may not be.
- Look for a transfer notice. Under Regulation X, your old servicer must notify you at least 15 days before a servicing transfer, and the new servicer within 15 days after. Payments sent to the old servicer within 60 days of a transfer cannot be treated as late.
- Check the MERS Servicer Identification System. It is free and identifies the current servicer of record from your property address and Social Security number.
For background on the lender itself, see our Citizens (Franklin American) mortgage lender overview.
How to Get a Payoff Quote
A payoff quote is not the same as your principal balance. It includes accrued interest through a specific "good through" date, plus any recording, statement, or per-diem charges. Request it in writing or through the portal, and specify the date you expect to close.
Federal rules require a servicer to provide an accurate payoff statement within a reasonable time — generally no more than seven business days after a written request. Order the quote early if you are selling or refinancing, and confirm the per-diem so you know what happens if closing slips a week. If a refinance is the reason you need the number, our step-by-step refinance guide walks through the sequence, and our comparison of the best mortgage refinance lenders of 2026 covers who to shop. Borrowers weighing whether to pull equity instead of paying off should read cash-out refinance vs. HELOC.
How We Researched This
This guide is based on federal mortgage servicing rules — Regulation X transfer-notice requirements, Regulation Z payoff-statement timing, and CFPB guidance on payment application — combined with standard servicer disclosure practice. We deliberately do not publish servicer phone numbers or payment addresses, because both change after servicing transfers and an outdated number is worse than no number. Your monthly statement is the authoritative source for both.
Last updated: September 2026. We review this guide semiannually and after any major servicing-rule change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Franklin American Mortgage still in business?
No, not under that name. Citizens Financial Group acquired Franklin American Mortgage Company in 2018, and the loans and servicing operations were folded into Citizens. Existing borrowers now interact with Citizens or with whichever servicer has since acquired the servicing rights.
Where do I make a Franklin American mortgage payment now?
Through the servicer named on your current monthly statement — for most former Franklin American borrowers, that is Citizens. Do not send payments to a legacy Franklin American address you have on file from before the transfer.
What happens if I paid the wrong servicer after a transfer?
Under Regulation X, a payment sent to the prior servicer within 60 days of the transfer date cannot be treated as late or reported as late to credit bureaus. Keep proof of the payment and contact the new servicer immediately.
How long is the mortgage grace period before a late fee?
Most mortgage notes allow a 15-day grace period after the due date before a late fee applies. The exact number is written in your note. Separately, credit bureaus are not notified until a payment is 30 days past due.
How do I make an extra principal payment?
Designate it explicitly. In an online portal there is usually a separate "additional principal" field; by check, write "principal only" and the loan number on the memo line. Undesignated overpayments are commonly applied to the next month's payment instead of the balance.
How long does a payoff quote stay valid?
Only through the "good through" date printed on it, because interest accrues daily. If closing is delayed past that date, request an updated quote rather than adding the per-diem yourself.
Does paying my mortgage online cost anything?
Standard ACH payments from a checking account are free at nearly every major servicer. Fees, when they exist, usually attach to agent-assisted phone payments, debit card payments, or same-day expedited processing.
Can I still refinance a loan that was originated by Franklin American?
Yes. Who originated the loan has no bearing on your ability to refinance. You are free to refinance with any lender, and shopping at least three is the standard advice — origination fees and rates vary meaningfully between lenders on identical credit profiles.
How do I find out who services my mortgage right now?
Check your latest statement first. If you have no statement, the free MERS Servicer Identification System will identify the current servicer from your property address, and your original closing documents list the originator.
Will a servicing transfer change my interest rate or payment?
No. A transfer of servicing rights does not change the terms of your loan — rate, balance, and maturity stay the same. Your payment amount can still change for unrelated reasons, most commonly an escrow analysis after a property tax or insurance premium increase.
Important Disclosures
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice. RateRoots is not affiliated with Citizens Financial Group or Franklin American Mortgage Company. Servicing arrangements, payment channels, fees, and contact information change without notice; always verify against your current monthly mortgage statement and loan documents. Rates, terms, and availability vary by lender and by state. Consult a licensed mortgage professional before making decisions about your loan.
Reviewed by the RateRoots editorial team. Our mortgage guidance is grounded in federal servicing regulation and lender disclosure documents, not in lender marketing material.
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