Choosing an ethical lender can mean the difference of thousands of dollars for a home buyer. Loan.com, a new Internet resource aimed at providing consumers with information about ethical lenders nationwide, offers these five tips for finding a trustworthy loan provider.

Ask for referrals from friends, family members and colleagues. Real estate agents are also good referral sources, but some agents may want a loan to close quickly and may refer buyers to a lender that simply works fast.

Shop around. Call each referred lender to compare loan terms. Keep in mind that anything out of the ordinary, like an interest rate dramatically below what others are quoting, is a red flag. Check your lender's credibility with the Better Business Bureau or the Upfront Mortgage Brokers Association, upfrontmortgagebrokers.org.

Feds can help. These government agencies have jurisdiction over lenders and can help narrow the search:

Federal Reserve Board of Governors federalreserve.gov-oversees state-chartered banks.

FDIC fdic.org -supervises state- chartered banks not belonging to the Federal Reserve.

Office of the Controller of the Currency www.occ.treas.gov-has jurisdiction over banks with "National" or "N.A." in their names

National Credit Union Administration www.ncua.gov-oversees federally charted credit unions

Office of Thrift Supervision www.ots.treas.gov-watches over federal savings and loans, and federal savings banks

Bureau of Consumer Protection ftc.gov-covers other miscellaneous lenders

Use the Internet. Websites like Loan.com and RealEstateABC.com provide consumers with easy access to loan information and rates.

Test your lenders before signing on the dotted line. Get a good-faith estimate from multiple lenders, which lists the fees and costs you will have to pay when you close your loan.