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Prepare for Renewal of Your Maryland License or Registration - Financial Regulation

October 20, 2026

The Office of Financial Regulation (OFR) reminds all licensees and registrants that the renewal period for licenses and registrations begins November 1, 2026, and ends December 31, 2026

Important Dates

December 17, 2026: Licensees must submit their renewal requests by December 17, 2026, to take advantage of the safe harbor provided by Md. Code Ann., State Government Article (SG) §10-226(b). Under that section, a licensee who applies for a renewal by December 17th can continue doing business after December 31 (when their license was set to expire) while they await a response to their renewal application. Licensees who submit renewal requests between December 18th and December 31st, 2026, are not covered by the extension provided under SG §10-226(b). These licensees must stop doing business in Maryland after December 31, 2026, if their renewal has not been approved by that date. They may resume business only after the Commissioner approves the renewal.

December 31, 2026: The last day to submit a renewal request is December 31, 2026. If you do not submit a renewal request by December 31st, your license will expire and you will need to apply and be approved for a new license before you can resume conducting Maryland business. (NOTE: Mortgage lenders who fail to submit a renewal request by December 31st have until January 30, 2027, to request reinstatement of the license, but may not conduct business until the reinstatement is approved.)

General Reminders

Review and satisfy the NMLS Renewal Checklist. All licensees should review the Maryland NMLS renewal checklist for their license category prior to submitting a renewal application. All requirements noted in the checklist must be satisfied before the renewal application can be approved.

A licensee must be in good standing with the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) to renew their license. OFR will review SDAT’s online records to confirm that licensees are in good standing. If SDAT’s records do not reflect that a renewal applicant is in good standing at the time of review, the licensee must provide the OFR proof of Maryland good standing before the Commissioner can approve the renewal application.

Review your NMLS record now for any deficiencies. You must satisfy any deficiencies before your renewal can be approved. Review and address any deficiencies now to help ensure that your renewal is processed promptly.

OFR no longer issues paper licenses. Each licensee’s NMLS record now functions as their license. If NMLS displays a Maryland license in an approved status, that license is valid and active.

Ensure that your branch license list is up to date. Maryland no longer requires separate licenses for each branch office. Licensees must upload a list of all locations where the licensee conducts business in Maryland, excluding the principal executive office. This location list must be uploaded in the “Additional Requirements” section in NMLS and include the address of each location and any trade name used there. Mortgage lender licensees must also include the name and NMLS ID of the branch manager for any location having a branch manager. The location list must be updated through the NMLS whenever a location or trade name is added, changed, or closed/terminated. (NOTE: Virtual currency kiosks are registered using the NMLS branch licensing function.)

Review your surety bond amount if your license requires a surety bond. Verify that your coverage is adequate. NMLS new application checklists provide details on bond requirements.

Some auto-renewals are available. The following Maryland license types have auto-renewal features within NMLS:

  • Collection Agency License
  • Consumer Loan License
  • Credit Services Business License
  • Debt Settlement Services Provider Registration
  • Installment Loan License
  • Money Transmitter License
  • Sales Finance License
  • Check Casher License/Registration

To activate the auto-renewal process, a licensee must submit a renewal request through NMLS and clear all outstanding license items listed in NMLS.

Important Information for Mortgage Lenders

Maryland requires certain “covered employees” of a mortgage lender to annually complete continuing education requirements. The definition of a covered employee and the applicable continuing education requirements are listed on OFR’s website. Continuing education must be completed before a license may be renewed.

Contact

For questions about renewal of licenses and registrations, please contact Arlene F. Williams, Director of Licensing, by phone at 443-615-3061 or by email at [email protected].