Mortgage Lender Bond

#1: Determine Your Requirements

Research your bond requirements by selecting your state from the list below.

Some states will require you to obtain separate mortgage lender bonds for the company and the individual originators within the company, while others may only require a bond for the company which covers all employed originators. If you want to operate in multiple states, you must obtain separate mortgage lender bonds in each state that requires them.

If you need help determining your bond requirements, please contact a bond professional. In addition to a bond, most states will require mortgage lenders to pass a written qualified test, complete pre-licensure education courses and obtain Errors and Omissions (E&O) Insurance.

To determine the pre-licensure education requirements you must meet, you’ll need to visit the NMLS website where you will find the pre-licensure education FAQ’s and the approved course provider list.

#2: Get Approved for Your Bond

Your next step is to apply for your mortgage lender bond and get instantly approved.

#3: Sign and Submit Your Bond to the State

Once you receive your mortgage lender bond from your bond agency, you’ll have to:

• Sign your bond
• Make a copy for your records
• Send the signed bond to the state (along with any other important paperwork provided by the state or bond agency)

After you send your signed mortgage lender bond to the state and meet all other NMLS requirements, the state will ship your license to you. Obtaining your license can take anywhere from one to three weeks, depending on the specific state.

Pricing is a percentage of the bond amount required of you, which is based on personal credit. Read our guide to learn more about how your bond costs are determined, or use our bond premium calculator tool to get an instant ball park estimate.

Our company can get you bonded nationwide, as we can approve you for the larger bond limits needed to do so. Also, if you currently have bonds with collateral requirements, we can likely help you get them approved without it to free up your funds.

You need a bond to protect your clients. If you don’t follow the provisions of your bond, your clients can make claims against it which you’re responsible to pay. For example, if you charge a client undisclosed additional fees on their mortgage loan, a claim can be made.

You must pay bond claims in full which can be as large as the full bond amount (including legal costs). The indemnity agreement you must sign to obtain your mortgage lender bond is a legal contract that pledges your corporate and personal assets in the event of claims.

Watch our video for an explanation of how bond claims work. Unfortunately, most bond agents won’t take the time to explain how claims can put you at risk and how to avoid them; if this happens when working with a bond you should reconsider doing business with them.

Your bond agent should be your first line of defense against bond claims. In order to avoid bond claims, ensure you operate your business professionally, while following the rules of your bond.

Remember, you’re responsible to pay for claims on your bond. Find out how our company can save you money on claims. If you need help understanding exactly what your bond guarantees you will and will not do, please contact a bond professional.

It’s possible to obtain mortgage lender bonds with credit issues, but not all bond agencies will approve you. Personal credit is the primary item that is considered when you apply for a bond.

Things like unpaid collections or tax liens on your credit report are a negative reflection of how you handle your finances, and can prevent you from getting your mortgage lender bond if you partner with the wrong bond agency. Unfortunately, even if you get approved for your mortgage lender bond with credit issues, your costs will likely increase. Try our free bond premium tool to get an instant estimate.

Your bond protects your clients first and foremost. However, your mortgage lender bond benefits you too, as the surety bond alternatives have several disadvantages.