# Washington licensing laws Authoritative summary of licensing requirements in Washington across regulated verticals: bond amounts, fee schedules, application timelines, renewal cadence, and the issuing regulator. ## Washington Debt Collection Laws & Regulations Comprehensive guide to debt collection licensing requirements, regulations, and filing obligations in Washington. Learn about licensing fees, bond requirements, key statutes, and regulatory bodies governing third-party debt collectors in Washington. **Direct answer:** Yes, Washington requires a debt collection license issued by Washington DFI. - **Regulator:** Washington DFI - **License required:** yes - **Bond:** $20,000 - **Renewal cadence:** every 12 months - **Official source:** https://www.wa.gov ### Fee schedule | Fee | Amount | | --- | --- | | License Fee | $275 | | Annual Renewal | $275 | ### Application process To obtain a debt collection license in Washington, applicants generally need to submit a completed application to the Washington DFI, provide a surety bond of $20,000, 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 Washington 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 - **Washington Collection Agency Act** (RCW 19.16), Licensing and regulation of collection agencies ### Additional notes Third-party debt collectors operating in Washington are also generally expected to comply with the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). Washington may impose additional requirements beyond federal standards, including restrictions on communication methods, required disclosures, and limitations on fees that may be collected. ## Washington Lending Laws & Licensing Requirements Guide to consumer and commercial lending licensing in Washington. 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 Washington. **Direct answer:** Washington lending licensing depends on the specific activity; verify with Washington Department of Financial Institutions. - **Regulator:** Washington Department of Financial Institutions - **License required:** varies - **Bond:** Bond amount set by regulator (confirm with state) - **Renewal cadence:** every 12 months - **Official source:** https://www.wa.gov ### Application process Lenders in Washington 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 Washington Department of Financial Institutions 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 Washington 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. - **Washington consumer lending and finance statutes** (WA Code), State statutes governing consumer lending, license categories, and rate authority in Washington; confirm the exact citation with the regulator. ### Additional notes License type in Washington 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 Washington regulator before relying on it. ## Washington Money Transmitter Laws & Licensing Complete guide to money transmitter licensing in Washington. Covers application requirements, surety bond amounts, net worth minimums, FinCEN registration, and key statutes governing money transmission in Washington. **Direct answer:** Yes, Washington requires a money transmitter license issued by Washington DFI. - **Regulator:** Washington DFI - **License required:** yes - **Bond:** $10,000 - **Minimum net worth:** $100,000 - **Renewal cadence:** every 12 months - **Official source:** https://www.wa.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 Washington, applicants generally need to submit a completed application to the Washington DFI, provide a surety bond of $10,000-$550,000, demonstrate minimum net worth of $100,000, 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 Washington 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 - **Washington Money Transmitter Act** (WA 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 Washington 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). Washington may have specific requirements for cryptocurrency and virtual currency businesses. ## Washington Mortgage Laws & Licensing Requirements Complete guide to mortgage licensing requirements in Washington. Covers MLO licensing through NMLS, lender and servicer licensing, bond requirements, and key statutes governing mortgage origination and servicing in Washington. **Direct answer:** Yes, Washington requires a mortgage license issued by Washington DFI. - **Regulator:** Washington DFI - **License required:** yes - **Bond:** $10,000 - **Renewal cadence:** every 12 months - **Official source:** https://www.wa.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 Washington 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 Washington-specific hours), pass the SAFE MLO test, and submit an MU4 form through NMLS. ### Renewal Mortgage licenses in Washington 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 Washington-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 - **Washington Mortgage Lending Act** (WA Code), State-specific mortgage lending and servicing regulation in Washington ### Additional notes All mortgage companies and MLOs operating in Washington are generally required to be registered through NMLS. Washington 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.