She works for the bank, not you.

Sushipup1 - it actually depends if the OP's "mortgage lender" is a mortgage broker, or is an officer of the lending bank. If a mortgage broker, then she can just go to any number of mortgage banks to get a better rate for her customer. If an officer of the bank, she will do what the bank policy says regarding the mortgage rate.

It also depends on the OP's own credit rating. The bank lending rate might have dropped, but your credit rating might prevent the bank from giving you the lower rate if they think you are higher risk. If your lender says you cannot get the lower rate, ask specifically why. BTW, I would not have worded my email to the mortgage broker/bank officer by asking if the rates had dropped, since you already know they have. I would have said "the rates are lower and I want my new mortgage to reflect the lower rate."

Thanks for the clarification.

Now I'm being told the rate is locked. I haven't signed anything yet except for the first round when it was at 4.??%

Is this your first loan?

When you completed the original paperwork there was likely an item which indicated the rate was locked. It protects you if rates go up and it protects the bank if rates go down. It is a contract between you and the bank.

The alternative would have been to sign papers that the rate was "floating", in which case the rate could go up or down between signing and closing.

Many loans nowadays are rate locked so there are no surprises for either side. You do not get to negotiate lower because you signed something that said the rate was locked. That's how it works. You can try asking, but the bank can easily tell you "fine, go elsewhere", and now you have to reapply somewhere else OR they can tell you that a new application is required. If you had a floating-rate application and the rates had gone up significantly, you would be on the hook for the new, higher rate.

Mortgage rate lock explained

Mortgage rate lock vs. float

Can I or should I unlock a mortgage rate

You don't get cake without calories.

I have not signed anything that says the rate is locked and no the rate is not floating. There are 2 emails from her staff that I have not opened up yet nor signed. I imagine that is the "lock in" documents. Something called a "wet signature" and another referring to loan documents on their portal.

" I have not signed anything that says the rate is locked and no the rate is not floating. "

Either the rate is locked or the rate is floating. One or the other. Locked and it does not change, floating and it does.

I’ve been talking to lenders about a mortgage recently. I suggest you read a few articles that you can find online about questions to ask the lender. Some lenders will offer you what appears to be a good rate but charge an exorbitant origination fee and will add on a bunch of other charges. Two different lenders quoted us a 3.25 interest rate on a new home 30 year conventional mortgage with 0 points last week....but one had a $7500 origination fee plus other fees (a $800 appraisal fee), and the other had $1000 in fees plus a $400 appraisal fee. The first lender guaranteed the rate for 60 days after lock, the second guaranteed the rate for 90 days. If your current bank is playing games with you and you haven’t signed any contract, maybe it is time to look for a lender that will not do that.

You can be locked without signing anything. You may also be able to tell them you're going with another lender. Let her know you got a better offer and see what they say. They can't force you to follow through with the mortgage.