Transitioning to NMLS
The California Department of Business Oversight (DBO) on January 15, 2016 will begin using the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System and Registry (NMLS) to manage money transmitter licenses. Through NMLS, your company will have the option to apply for, or amend, its license conveniently and safely online. This letter provides important information to help you prepare to use NMLS.
NMLS is a secure web-based system created by state regulators to help streamline the licensing process and improve supervision of state-regulated industries. Through NMLS, companies maintain a single record they use to apply for, maintain, renew or surrender licenses in one or more states.
On January 22, 2016, NMLS will host a “CA-DBO Money Transmitter License Transition to NMLS” webinar. DBO encourages all California money transmitter licensees to attend. This NMLS training is hosted on a Learning Management System (LMS). Follow the instructions below to register for the LMS and access information about the “CA-DBO Money Transmitter License Transition to NMLS” webinar.
1. Register for the LMS.
- Go to http://www.csbstraining.org/lms
- Click the “Register” link in the top right corner.
- Complete all fields – select “Industry – State Licensed” for User Type.
- A confirmation email is sent from LMSadmin@csbs.org – make sure to check your Junk folder.
- Click the link in the confirmation email. A new tab or window opens in your browser confirming your registration, allowing you to log in.
2. Enroll in the webinar course.
- Log in to the LMS with your user name and password.
- In the top left corner click Menu > Activate Course.
- Enter the code “CADBOTRANSITION” and click the “Add New Course” button.
- You will then be taken to the “My Courses” page, where the “CA-DBO Money Transmitter License Transition to NMLS” webinar will be available.
3. Access on the date of the webinar.*
- Log in to the LMS and select the course within 15 minutes prior of the start time to begin the session.
* If you cannot attend, a recording of the training will be available following the webinar. E-mail LMSadmin@csbs.org for assistance.
More information about NMLS can be found at the NMLS Resource Center.
Managing Your License on NMLS
Each money transmitter licensee that wants to manage its license on NMLS must create a company record in the system by completing several forms. Completed forms may be submitted electronically through NMLS to the DBO starting January 15, 2016.
NMLS is available for you to create and begin completing your record.
A copy of the DBO’s transition plan can be found at the NMLS Resource Center.
How to Access NMLS
Note: If your company already has a record in NMLS, you can skip this step.
To gain access to NMLS for the first time, you must complete a Company Account Request Form, and identify a Primary Account Administrator and Secondary Account Administrator. This form can be submitted electronically through the NMLS website in the Getting Started section. This form needs to be submitted only once per company, regardless of the number of NMLS-participating states in which it is licensed.
Within three days of completing and submitting the Company Account Request Form, the Primary Account Administrator will receive NMLS login information. The Primary Account Administrator for your company will have full rights to access the system, submit information to the DBO and other participating state regulators and set up other company users in the system. Instructions and tutorials on how to access and use the system are available at the NMLS Resource Center.
Forms to Complete
If you choose to manage your license through NMLS, you will need to submit the following forms to the DBO through NMLS.
Note: If you have submitted these forms to another state, you do not need to re-enter your company records into NMLS. You will need only to identify the appropriate license type in California and complete a few state-specific fields.
Company Application
- Submitted by licensed companies
- For more information, see the Submitting a Company (MU1) Form Quick Guide.
Biographical Statement and Consent Form
- Submitted by licensed companies for each Control Person (i.e., executive officer , board members, owners of 10% or more of the licensee)
- For more information, see the Submitting an Individual (MU2) Form Quick Guide.
You may begin completing these forms before January 15, 2016, but will not be able to submit them to the DBO until that date. See the Company (MU1) Form Filing Instructions if you are completing the Company (MU1) Form for the first time.
Fees
NMLS will charge an annual processing fee of $100 per company license. There is no separate processing fee for submitting a new application or transitioning an existing license to NMLS.
There are no other NMLS processing fees. These processing fees pay for NMLS system access 362 days per year, the ability to maintain, renew and run reports on your licenses, and access to NMLS Call Center support.
Uniform Authorized Agent Reporting (UAAR)
Along with the transition of money transmitters to NMLS, the DBO will use the NMLS Uniform Authorized Agent Reporting (UAAR) to monitor agent reporting requirements. Your company will be required to complete your agent upload in the system if it uses NMLS.
This functionality will replace the DBO’s current authorized agent/delegate location reporting process only for those companies that use NMLS. After your initial upload, your company will be required to report to the DBO, through NMLS, any changes to this information on a quarterly basis. There is an annual NMLS processing fee of 25 cents ($0.25) for each active authorized agent/delegate location, with no fee for companies that have fewer than 100 active agents. The fee is capped at $25,000.
The DBO recognizes that adopting this process, though more efficient in the long run, will present initial operational and technical challenges. With those challenges in mind, the State Regulatory Registry (SRR), the entity responsible for operating NMLS, offers a free online video tutorial to help address any policy or operational questions, and help walk your company through its initial upload of authorized agent/delegate information in NMLS.
Helpful Links
More information about the NMLS Uniform Authorized Agent/Delegate Reporting functionality can be found at the NMLS Resource Center.
NMLS Website
The NMLS Resource Center provides step-by-step instructions on how to access the system, guides on how to complete the forms, each state’s transition plans and requirements, tutorials, current and future participating agencies, system alerts, system processing fees and general background information. Training opportunities also are available in the News & Events section and on the NMLS home page.
If you have any questions, please contact Oscar Lumen at oscar.lumen@dbo.ca.gov ;415-263-8577 or Julio Prada at julio.prada@dbo.ca.gov; 415-263-8540.
Sincerely,
Jan Lynn Owen
Commissioner
Department of Business Oversight