# Texas licensing laws Authoritative summary of licensing requirements in Texas across regulated verticals: bond amounts, fee schedules, application timelines, renewal cadence, and the issuing regulator. ## Texas Debt Collection Laws & Regulations Comprehensive guide to debt collection licensing requirements, regulations, and filing obligations in Texas. Learn about licensing fees, bond requirements, key statutes, and regulatory bodies governing third-party debt collectors in Texas. **Direct answer:** Yes, Texas requires a debt collection license issued by Texas Secretary of State. - **Regulator:** Texas Secretary of State - **License required:** yes - **Bond:** $10,000 - **Renewal cadence:** every 12 months - **Official source:** https://www.tx.gov ### Fee schedule | Fee | Amount | | --- | --- | | Bond Filing | $25 | | Registration Fee | $100 | ### Application process To obtain a debt collection license in Texas, applicants generally need to submit a completed application to the Texas Secretary of State, provide a surety bond of $10,000, pass background checks for all control persons, and meet net worth or financial requirements. The application review typically takes 30-90 days. ### Renewal Debt collection licenses in Texas generally require annual renewal. Renewal generally involves submission of a renewal application, payment of renewal fees, updated surety bond confirmation, and any required annual reports. Late renewals may incur additional penalties. ### Key statutes - **Texas Finance Code - Debt Collection** (Tex. Fin. Code § 392.001), Third-party debt collection regulation ### Additional notes Third-party debt collectors operating in Texas are also generally expected to comply with the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). Texas may impose additional requirements beyond federal standards, including restrictions on communication methods, required disclosures, and limitations on fees that may be collected. ## Texas Lending Laws & Licensing Requirements Guide to consumer and commercial lending licensing in Texas. Covers which loan products trigger a license, the state regulator, surety bond and net worth expectations, key statutes, and the application path for lenders operating in Texas. **Direct answer:** Texas lending licensing depends on the specific activity; verify with Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC). - **Regulator:** Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) - **License required:** varies - **Bond:** Bond amount set by regulator (confirm with state) - **Renewal cadence:** every 12 months - **Official source:** https://www.tx.gov ### Application process Lenders in Texas are generally licensed based on the loan product, the interest rate, the loan amount, and whether the borrower is a consumer or a business. Consumer lenders commonly apply to the Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) for a consumer finance, small loan, installment loan, or supervised lender license, often through the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS) where the state participates. Applications typically require a surety bond, financial statements, a minimum net worth, background checks for control persons, and disclosure of the lending products and rates offered. Commercial lending may be lighter touch, though a growing number of states require a license or specific disclosures for business-purpose financing. Confirm the exact license type and requirements with the regulator before lending. ### Renewal Lending licenses in Texas generally renew on an annual cycle. Renewal commonly requires updated financial statements, confirmation of the surety bond, payment of renewal fees, and any required annual reports. States that use NMLS typically run renewal in the November to December window. Confirm the renewal cadence and fees with the regulator. ### Key statutes - **Truth in Lending Act (Federal)** (15 U.S.C. § 1601), Federal disclosure framework for consumer credit, implemented through Regulation Z. - **Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Federal)** (15 U.S.C. § 1691), Federal prohibition on discrimination in credit transactions, implemented through Regulation B. - **Texas consumer lending and finance statutes** (TX Code), State statutes governing consumer lending, license categories, and rate authority in Texas; confirm the exact citation with the regulator. ### Additional notes License type in Texas depends on the loan product, the rate charged, and the loan amount, so the same lender may need different licenses for different products. Lenders are also expected to comply with federal requirements including the Truth in Lending Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau oversight. This is a seeded baseline; confirm the specific license type, bond amount, fees, and statute citations with the Texas regulator before relying on it. ## Texas Money Transmitter Laws & Licensing Complete guide to money transmitter licensing in Texas. Covers application requirements, surety bond amounts, net worth minimums, FinCEN registration, and key statutes governing money transmission in Texas. **Direct answer:** Yes, Texas requires a money transmitter license issued by Texas Department of Banking. - **Regulator:** Texas Department of Banking - **License required:** yes - **Bond:** $300,000 - **Minimum net worth:** $300,000 - **Renewal cadence:** every 12 months - **Official source:** https://www.tx.gov ### Fee schedule | Fee | Amount | | --- | --- | | Annual Renewal | $300-$1,000 | | Application Fee | $500-$1,500 | | Investigation Fee | $1,000-$5,000 | | FinCEN Registration | $0 | ### Application process To obtain a money transmitter license in Texas, applicants generally need to submit a completed application to the Texas Department of Banking, provide a surety bond of $300,000, demonstrate minimum net worth of $300,000, provide audited financial statements, implement a comprehensive BSA/AML filings program, and pass background checks for all control persons. Many states now accept applications through NMLS. The application process typically takes 3-12 months depending on the state and complexity of the applicant's business model. ### Renewal Money transmitter licenses in Texas generally require annual renewal. Renewal typically requires submission of audited financial statements, updated surety bond, quarterly or annual transaction reports, BSA/AML filing documentation, and payment of renewal fees. Some states require call report filings on a quarterly basis throughout the year. ### Key statutes - **Texas Money Transmitter Act** (TX Code), State-specific money transmission regulation - **Bank Secrecy Act (Federal)** (31 U.S.C. § 5311), Federal BSA/AML requirements for money services businesses ### Additional notes Money transmitters operating in Texas are also generally expected to register with FinCEN as a money services business (MSB) and implement a comprehensive BSA/AML filings program. This includes appointing a filings officer, developing written policies and procedures, conducting employee training, filing Currency Transaction Reports (CTRs), and submitting Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs). Texas may have specific requirements for cryptocurrency and virtual currency businesses. ## Texas Mortgage Laws & Licensing Requirements Complete guide to mortgage licensing requirements in Texas. Covers MLO licensing through NMLS, lender and servicer licensing, bond requirements, and key statutes governing mortgage origination and servicing in Texas. **Direct answer:** Yes, Texas requires a mortgage license issued by Texas SML (Savings and Mortgage Lending). - **Regulator:** Texas SML (Savings and Mortgage Lending) - **License required:** yes - **Bond:** $50,000 - **Renewal cadence:** every 12 months - **Official source:** https://www.tx.gov ### Fee schedule | Fee | Amount | | --- | --- | | NMLS Processing | $100 | | MLO Annual Renewal | $100-$300 | | Annual Company Renewal | $300-$800 | | MLO License Application | $200-$400 | | Company License Application | $500-$1,000 | ### Application process Mortgage companies generally apply through the NMLS (Nationwide Multistate Licensing System) for Texas mortgage licensing. Requirements include a completed MU1 form, surety bond, audited financial statements, business plan, background checks (FBI criminal and credit) for all control persons, and net worth requirements. Individual MLOs are generally required to complete pre-licensing education (20 hours minimum including 3 hours of federal law, 3 hours of ethics, 2 hours of non-traditional lending, plus Texas-specific hours), pass the SAFE MLO test, and submit an MU4 form through NMLS. ### Renewal Mortgage licenses in Texas are renewed annually through NMLS. Company renewals require updated financial statements, bond confirmation, and payment of renewal fees. MLOs are generally required to complete continuing education (8 hours minimum annually, including Texas-specific requirements) and pay renewal fees through NMLS. The renewal period typically runs November 1 through December 31. ### Key statutes - **SAFE Act (Federal)** (12 U.S.C. § 5101), Federal framework for MLO licensing through NMLS - **Texas Mortgage Lending Act** (TX Code), State-specific mortgage lending and servicing regulation in Texas ### Additional notes All mortgage companies and MLOs operating in Texas are generally required to be registered through NMLS. Texas participates in the CSBS multi-state licensing process. Additional requirements may include maintaining a physical office, appointing a qualified individual, and filings with both state and federal regulations including TILA, RESPA, and the Dodd-Frank Act.