Summary


The rules set forth the policies of the Office of Financial Regulation with respect to processing license applications for persons who have been found guilty of, or who have pled guilty or nolo contendere to, certain crimes. The policies address applications for licensure as mortgage brokers, mortgage lenders, correspondent lenders, and mortgage brokerage businesses. The rules provide that a person who has been found guilty of, or who has pled guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony involving fraud, dishonesty, breach of trust or money laundering is not eligible for licensure as a mortgage broker. These crimes are classified as Class “A” crimes under the rules. A person who has been found guilty of, or who has pled guilty or nolo contendere to, certain other felonies constituting moral turpitude, including but not limited to specified serious violent crimes (e.g. murder, rape, armed robbery, etc.) is not eligible for licensure as a mortgage broker until 15 years have passed. These crimes are classified as Class “B” crimes. A person who has been found guilty of, or who has pled guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony constituting an act of moral turpitude that is not addressed under Class “A” or “B” crimes is not eligible for licensure as mortgage broker until seven years have elapsed. These crimes are classified as Class “C” crimes. A person who has been found guilty of, or who has pled guilty or nolo contendere to, a misdemeanor involving fraud, dishonest dealing or moral turpitude, is not eligible for licensure as a mortgage broker until five years have elapsed. These crimes are classified as Class “D” crimes. For applicants applying for licensure as a mortgage lender, correspondent lender, or mortgage brokerage business, the applicant is not eligible for licensure until 15 years have elapsed, if a “relevant person” of the applicant has been found guilty of, or has pled guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony involving fraud, dishonesty, breach of trust or money laundering or certain other specified crimes constituting moral turpitude (e.g. murder, rape, armed robbery, etc.) These crimes are classified as Class “A” crimes under the rules. For applicants seeking licensure as a mortgage lender, correspondent lender, or mortgage brokerage business, the applicant is not eligible for licensure until seven years have elapsed, if a “relevant person” of the applicant has been found guilty of, or has pled guilty or nolo contendere to, any felony constituting moral turpitude that is not addressed under Class A crimes. These crimes are classified as Class “B” crimes. For “relevant persons” of the applicant who have been found guilty of, or who have pled guilty or nolo contendere to, a misdemeanor involving fraud, dishonest dealing or moral turpitude, the applicant is not eligible for licensure as a mortgage broker business, correspondent lender or mortgage lender until five years have elapsed. These crimes are classified as Class “C” crimes. “Relevant persons” include each officer, director, control person, member, partner, or joint venturer of a mortgage brokerage business license applicant or of a mortgage lender of correspondent lender license applicant. The term also includes each ultimate equitable owner with a 10-percent or greater interest in the license applicant. The rules provide for mitigating and aggravating factors that may lengthen or shorten the time periods discussed above for applicants for licensure as a mortgage broker, mortgage brokerage business, mortgage lender or correspondent mortgage lender.