Division of Consumer Services

The mission of the Division of Consumer Services is to protect consumers from illegal and fraudulent lending practices. The division accomplishes its mission through licensing, conducting examinations of the books and records of licensees, investigating consumer complaints, and enforcing selected state and federal statutes and rules relating to lending practices.

Learn more about the Division of Consumer Services.

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What's New

• Late Mortgage Broker & Loan Originator License Renewals - Opportunity To Reinstate License Expires February 28, 2009 New!
  In order to renew their license for 2009, Mortgage Brokers and Loan Originators were required to transition onto the NMLS by the October 31, 2008 deadline. Licensees who transitioned onto the NMLS late (between November 1, 2008, and December 31, 2008) will be able to use the NMLS renewal system, but cannot submit their renewal until their NMLS transition is approved and will incur a late charge.
  
  Since the NMLS transition period ended on December 31, 2008, any Mortgage Broker or Loan Originator that held a license in 2008 and failed to transition onto the NMLS before December 31, 2008, will be required to reapply in order to reinstate their expired license. Please note that the opportunity to reinstate any expired license ends on February 28, 2009.
  
  Renew Mortgage Broker License.
  Renew Loan Originator License.
• 2007 Payday Lending Report
  Statistics & trends for the payday lending industry View report (PDF)*.
• Mortgage Broker and Loan Originator Licenses Now Managed Through The NMLS
  DFI is now using the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System (NMLS) for all Consumer Loan, Mortgage Broker, and Loan Originator Licenses. The NMLS was developed by the Conference of State Bank Supervisors and the American Association of Residential Mortgage Regulators. Learn more about the NMLS.
• Reverse Mortgages
  License holders under both the Consumer Loan Act (CLA) and Mortgage Broker Practices Act (MBPA) can broker reverse mortgages to entities exempt from the CLA (nationally chartered entities). The lending entity must be exempt from the CLA due to RCW 31.04.125, a provision in the CLA that prohibits the compounding of interest on loans secured by real estate. Examples of exempt entities are Washington chartered banks, credit unions, their affiliates or subsidiaries and nationally chartered banks, credit unions, or their affiliates or subsidiaries
  
  Contact Cindy Fazio, 360-902-8800 if you have questions.
  
• More News And Updates... 
  -- Current Rulemaking Activity
  --- Sign Up To Receive E-Mail Updates From DFI's ListServs

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Who We License

The Division of Consumer Services licenses the following financial institutions:

Mortgage Brokers Loan Originators Escrow Agents & Officers Check Casher/Sellers

Consumer Loan Companies Money Transmitters & Currency Exchangers Tax Refund Anticipation Loan Facilitators

Enforcement: View administrative actions taken by the Division of Consumer Services

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For Consumers

• Verify A License
  Verify that you are working with an institution licensed by DFI.
• File A Complaint
  File a complaint against an institution licensed by the Division of Consumer Services.
• Free Foreclosure & Homeownership Counseling
  Free state sponsored counseling is available to Washington residents who are facing foreclosure, thinking of buying a home, or considering refinancing.
• Ameriquest Settlement Information
  Information for consumers regarding the Ameriquest settlement.

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Contact Us

Mailing Address:
Department of Financial Institutions
Consumer Services Division
PO Box 41200
Olympia, WA 98504-1200

Phone Numbers:
Main Telephone Line: (360) 902-8703
Toll Free: (877) RING DFI (746-4334)
TDD: (360) 664-8126

Email: dcs@dfi.wa.gov

Please also see our staff directory.

* This document is a PDF file, and you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view it. If you don't already have Acrobat Reader installed on your computer, you may download it for free from Adobe.

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