Consumer Credit Reporting Agencies - Financial Regulation
A Credit Reporting Agency is any business which, for monetary fees, dues, or on a cooperative nonprofit basis, regularly engages in whole or in part in the practice of assembling or evaluating consumer credit information or other information on consumers for the purpose of furnishing consumer reports to third parties.
Application Documents
- NMLS Application Information (effective 11/1/2020)
- Helpful Hints - Electronic Licensing - Not for use after 10/31/2020
- Business Registration Form (Word) - Not for use after 10/31/2020
- Update Licensing Contact Information (Word) - Not for use after 10/31/2020
- Print a Copy of Your License
Featured Information
Effective November 1, 2020, all registered consumer reporting agencies must transfer their registrations to the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS). New registrations, as well as updates to existing registration information, must also be submitted through NMLS beginning on that date. For more information, see this advisory .
Regulation implementing the statutory surety bond requirement are now in effect. Your required surety bond is based upon the number of consumer reports you assembled, evaluated, or sold during the prior 12 months as a percentage of the population of Maryland as published by the US Census Bureau. For surety bond calculation purposes, the Commissioner utilizes the published population of Maryland as of the most recently completed census; currently that is 5,773,794, as per the 2010 census. Bonds must be provided in the form of an NMLS Electronic Surety Bond (ESB). Information on ESBs is available on NMLS website.
Required: Information on Business Activities
Laws and Rules
Applicants and licensees are expected to be knowledgeable about and in compliance with the Consumer Credit Reporting Agencies law, and any other applicable State or Federal statutes and regulations. Maryland rules and regulations can be found by accessing the Annotated Code of Maryland and Rules and Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR).
Note: To access the Maryland Code Annotated, from the link below, select the "Maryland Code" folder, then select the individual folders or links provided to delve into the volumes, chapters, and/or sections of the publication.
Maryland Code Annotated, Commercial Law § 14-1201 et seq. (Consumer Credit Reporting Agencies)
COMAR 09.03.07 Credit Reporting Agencies