PDFWAC 208-660-163
Mortgage brokers—Licensing.
(1) How do I apply for a mortgage broker license? Your application consists of an online filing through the NMLS and Washington specific requirements provided directly to DFI. You must pay an application fee through the NMLS.
(a) Appoint a designated broker. You must appoint a designated broker who meets the requirements of WAC 208-660-250.
(b) Submit an application. You must complete an online application through the NMLS.
(c) Pay the application and license fees. You will have to pay application fees to cover the costs of processing the application. You must also pay a separate annual license fee. See WAC 208-660-550 Department fees and costs.
(d) Prove your identity. You must provide information about the identity of owners, principals, officers, and the designated broker, including fingerprints.
(e) Provide a surety bond. Mortgage brokers must have a surety bond based upon the annual loan origination volume of the mortgage broker. See WAC 208-660-175 (1)(e).
(2) What information will the department consider when deciding whether to approve a mortgage broker license application? The department considers the financial responsibility, character, and general fitness of the applicant, principals, and the designated broker.
(3) Why does the department consider financial responsibility, character, and general fitness before issuing a mortgage broker license? One of the purposes of the act is to ensure that mortgage brokers and loan originators deal honestly and fairly with the public. Applicants, principals, and designated brokers who have demonstrated their financial responsibility, character, and general fitness to operate their businesses honestly, fairly, and efficiently are more likely to deal honestly and fairly with the public.
(4) What specific information will the department consider to determine if the mortgage broker business will be operated honestly, fairly, and in compliance with applicable law?
(a) Whether the applicant, licensee, or other person subject to the act has had any license, or any authorization to do business under any similar statute of this or any other state, denied, suspended, or restricted within the prior five years.
(b) Whether the applicant has ever had a license denied or revoked under this chapter or any similar state statute, including a license for insurance, securities, consumer lending, or escrow.
(c) Whether the applicant, licensee, or other person subject to the act has been convicted of, or pled guilty or nolo contendere to, in a domestic, foreign, or military court to:
(i) A gross misdemeanor involving dishonesty or financial misconduct within the prior seven years;
(ii) A felony within the prior seven years; or
(iii) A felony that involved an act of fraud, dishonesty, breach of trust, or money laundering at any time preceding the date of application.
(d) Whether the licensee or other person subject to the act is, or has been, subject to a cease and desist order or an injunction issued pursuant to the act, or the Consumer Protection Act, or has been found through an administrative, civil, or criminal proceeding to have violated the provisions of the act or rules, or the Consumer Protection Act, chapter 19.86 RCW.
(e) Whether the director has filed a statement of charges, or there is an outstanding order by the director to cease and desist against the licensee or other person subject to the act.
(f) Whether there is documented evidence of serious or significant complaints filed against the licensee, or other person subject to the act, and the licensee or other person subject to the act has been notified of the complaints and been given the opportunity to respond.
(g) Whether the licensee has allowed the licensed mortgage broker business to deteriorate into a condition that would result in denial of a new application for a license.
(h) Whether the licensee or other person subject to the act has failed to comply with an order, directive, subpoena, or requirement of the director or director's designee, or with an assurance of discontinuance entered into with the director or director's designee.
(i) Whether the licensee or other person subject to the act has interfered with an investigation, or disciplinary proceeding by willful misrepresentation of facts before the director or director's designee, or by the use of threats or harassment against a client, witness, employee of the licensee, or representative of the director for the purpose of preventing them from discovering evidence for, or providing evidence in, any disciplinary proceeding or other legal action.
(5) What will happen if my mortgage broker license application is incomplete? If your application is incomplete your file will be marked "pending-deficient" in the NMLS. The department will either identify each deficiency or respond that there are multiple deficiencies and ask you to contact the department. You are responsible for reviewing your record and responding to each issue.
(6) How do I withdraw my application for a mortgage broker license? You may request to withdraw the application through the NMLS.
(7) When will the department consider my mortgage broker license application abandoned? If you do not respond as directed by the department's request for information and within fifteen business days, your license application is considered abandoned and you forfeit all fees paid. Failure to provide the requested information will not affect new applications filed after the abandonment. You may reapply by submitting a new application package and new application fee.
(8) What are my rights if the director denies my license application, or denies, suspends, or revokes my mortgage broker license? The Administrative Procedure Act, chapter 34.05 RCW, governs the proceedings for license application denials, cease and desist orders, license suspension or revocation, the imposition of civil penalties or other remedies ordered by the department, and any appeals or reviews of those actions. See also WAC 208-660-009.
You have the right to request an administrative hearing. To request a hearing, you must notify the department within twenty days from the date of the director's notice to you that your license application has been denied, that you wish to have a hearing. See also WAC 208-660-009.
Upon denial of your mortgage broker license application, and provided the department finds no unlicensed activity, the department will return your surety bond, and refund any remaining portion of the license fee that exceeds the department's actual cost to investigate the license.
(9) May I advertise my business while I am waiting for my mortgage broker license application to be processed? No. It is a violation of the act for nonlicensed, nonexempt mortgage brokers or loan originators to hold themselves out as mortgage brokers or loan originators in Washington.
(10) May I originate Washington residential mortgage loans while waiting for my mortgage broker license application to be processed? No. You may not originate loans prior to receiving your mortgage broker license.
(11) How do I change information on my mortgage broker license? You must file a license amendment application through the NMLS. See also WAC 208-660-400.
(12) When does a mortgage broker license expire? The mortgage broker license expires annually. The expiration date is shown on the license. If the license is an interim license, it may expire in less than one year.
(13) When may the department issue interim mortgage broker licenses? To prevent an undue delay, the director may issue interim mortgage broker licenses, including branch office licenses, with a fixed expiration date. The license applicant must have substantially met the initial licensing requirements, as determined by the director, to receive an interim license.
One example of having substantially met the initial licensing requirements is: Submitting a complete application, paying all application fees, and the department having received and reviewed the result of the applicant's background check.
(14) How do I renew my mortgage broker license?
(a) Before the license expiration date you must:
(i) Complete a renewal request through the NMLS.
(ii) Show evidence that your designated broker completed the required annual continuing education.
(iii) Pay the annual license assessment fee.
(b) The renewed license is valid for the term listed on the license or until surrendered, suspended, or revoked.
(15) If I let my mortgage broker license expire must I apply to get a new license? If you complete all the requirements for renewal on or before the last day of February each year, you may renew an expired license. However, if you renew your license after the expiration, in addition to paying the annual assessment on your license, you must pay an additional fifty percent of your annual assessment. See subsection (14) of this section for the license renewal requirements.
During this two-month period, your license is expired and you must not conduct any business under the act that requires a license until your license has been renewed.
If you fail to comply with the renewal request requirements by the last day of February each year, you must apply for a new license.
(16) May I still conduct my mortgage broker business if my mortgage broker license has expired? No. If your mortgage broker license expires, you must not conduct any business under the act that requires a license until you renew your license.
(17) What should I do if I wish to close my mortgage broker business? You may surrender the mortgage broker license by submitting a surrender request through the NMLS and submitting a completed departmental closure form. Surrendering your license does not change your civil or criminal liability, or your liability for any administrative actions arising from any acts or omissions occurring before you surrender your license. Contact the Washington department of revenue to find out how to handle any unclaimed funds in your trust account.
(18) May I transfer, sell, trade, assign, loan, share, or give my mortgage broker license to another person or company? No. A mortgage broker license authorizes only the person named on the license to conduct the business at the location listed on the license. See also WAC 208-660-155(2).
[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.320.040 and 19.146.225. WSR 19-21-142, § 208-660-163, filed 10/22/19, effective 11/24/19. Statutory Authority: Chapter 43.320 RCW, RCW 19.146.223. WSR 16-08-027, § 208-660-163, filed 3/30/16, effective 4/30/16; WSR 12-18-048, § 208-660-163, filed 8/29/12, effective 11/1/12. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.320.040, 19.146.223, and 2009 c 528. WSR 09-24-091, § 208-660-163, filed 12/1/09, effective 1/1/10. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.320.040, 19.144.070, 2008 c 109. WSR 09-01-156, § 208-660-163, filed 12/23/08, effective 1/23/09. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.320.040, 19.146.223. WSR 08-05-126, § 208-660-163, filed 2/20/08, effective 3/22/08. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.320.040, 19.146.223, 2006 c 19. WSR 06-23-137, § 208-660-163, filed 11/21/06, effective 1/1/07.]