Article archive
Every published article, newest first. Page 3 of 13.
LicensingLicensing Non-Performing Mortgage Loans: Triggers, Vendors, and State Pitfalls
Why default changes licensing exposure When a mortgage goes from current to delinquent, the work you do can shift - from servicing (collecting scheduled payments, escrow administration, statements) into collection (seeking repayment of a past-due debt). Many states regulate those two buckets differently. That means: The same team, using the same systems, may suddenly be performing regulated [...]
LicensingThe License to Collect: A Step-by-Step Guide to Agency Bonding
Unlock success! Discover exactly how do collection agencies become licensed and bonded. Navigate regulations and ensure compliance.
LicensingStay Ahead of the Game: A Proactive Approach to Regulatory Standards
Master proactive compliance management. Shift from reactive to strategic advantage, mitigate risks, and future-proof your business.
LicensingUnlocking Crypto Regulations: What Every Business Needs to Know About MTLs
Navigate the complex world of MTLmtl license crypto. This guide covers federal & state rules, application steps, and compliance for your crypto business.
ComplianceBeyond the Buzz: Navigating Regulations in Fintech Innovation
Navigate the complex world of regulatory compliance for fintech. Learn strategies to build a strong program & gain a competitive edge. Regulatory compliance for fintech has become the make-or-break factor that separates thriving financial technology companies from those that struggle or fail entirely. Here's what every fintech leader needs to know: Key Elements of Fintech [...]
LicensingLicensed to Collect: What You Need to Know About Agency Regulations
Do collection agencies have to be licensed? The answer is yes in most jurisdictions, but the rules vary dramatically depending on where you operate. In both Canada and the United States, collection agencies face a complex web of licensing requirements that can make or break a business. Quick Answer: Canada: All provinces require collection agencies [...]
Debt Collection & BuyingGeorgia's Debt Collection Rules: Unlicensed and Unbothered?
Do collection agencies have to be licensed in Georgia? The answer might surprise you: No, Georgia does not require collection agencies to obtain a state license. This makes Georgia an outlier in the debt collection industry, where most states have strict licensing requirements. Here's what you need to know: No state licensing required - Georgia [...]
LendingWhat Exactly is a Money Services Business? Your MSB Explained
Money services businesses are non-bank financial institutions providing essential services like money transfers, currency exchange, and check cashing. They serve millions of people worldwide, especially those without traditional bank access. Quick Definition: What: Non-bank entities offering financial services Services: Money transmission, currency exchange, check cashing, money orders, prepaid cards Regulation: Heavily regulated under anti-money laundering [...]
LicensingYour Crypto Journey: Securing the Right Licenses for Your Business
MSB license crypto requirements are critical for cryptocurrency businesses in North America. Here's what you need to know: Quick Answer for MSB License Crypto: Canada: Register as a Money Services Business (MSB) with FINTRAC - free registration, 2-6 months timeline. US: Register with FinCEN federally + obtain state Money Transmitter Licenses - complex, expensive, 6+ [...]
LicensingMasters of Regulation: What Regulatory Specialists Actually Do
Regulatory compliance specialists ensure organizations follow all applicable laws, regulations, and industry standards. They bridge complex regulatory requirements and daily business operations, helping companies avoid costly violations while maintaining operational efficiency. Key roles of regulatory compliance specialists: Monitor regulatory changes - Track updates from agencies like SEC, FDA, FINRA, and state regulators Develop internal policies [...]
LicensingCollection Agency Registration vs. Licensing: What's the Difference?
Need collection agency registration? Get expert guidance on the process, NMLS, state laws, and compliance to operate legally. Avoid fines.
ComplianceExpert Guidance: How Navigating Regulatory Requirements Can Transform Your Business
Transform your business with expert regulatory compliance consulting. Mitigate risks, ensure efficiency, & achieve strategic advantage.
LicensingDecoding the MSB License: What Every Money Services Business Needs to Know
An msb license is a regulatory requirement for businesses providing financial services like money transfers, currency exchange, or check cashing. Here's a quick overview: MSB License Quick Facts: Federal Registration: Required with FinCEN within 180 days of operations. State Licensing: Separate licenses needed in each state of operation. Qualifying Activities: Money transmission, currency exchange, [...]
LicensingScaling Smart: When and Why to Transition Away from Sponsor Bank Dependency
The fintech ecosystem has grown at a remarkable pace, reshaping how consumers and businesses move, store, and access money. From peer-to-peer payments and digital wallets to embedded finance platforms, the infrastructure powering these solutions is more complex - and more scrutinized - than ever before. For many early-stage fintechs, the path into regulated markets starts with a sponsor bank [...]
Press ReleasesAnnouncing Cornerstone's New Licensing Management Tool, Atlas
Cornerstone Licensing introduces Atlas, a modern, streamlined portal for faster, clearer licensing work.
LicensingLicensing Challenges for Non-Traditional Mortgage Products
The New Frontier in Mortgage Innovation Shared equity agreements, reverse mortgages, rent-to-own models, and novel securitization structures are reshaping the mortgage landscape. These products promise flexibility for consumers and new growth opportunities for fintechs and non-bank lenders - but they also test the limits of existing state licensing frameworks. In the past five years, regulators [...]
NewsletterAugust 2025
NEBRASKA COMBINES INSTALLMENT LOAN & SALES ACTS INTO SINGLE STATUTE Effective October 1, 2025, Nebraska will combine the Installment Loan Act and the Installment Sales Act into a single statute: the Nebraska Installment Loan and Sales Act. Importantly, the state is not merging license types - installment loan and installment sales licenses will remain separate, with no [...]
Debt Collection & BuyingCompliance Corner: What Regulators May Expect You To Know About the AI Tools You're Using in Your Collection Agency
AI keeps reshaping financial services, and collection agencies are adding AI tools to streamline operations, strengthen compliance, and improve consumer engagement. With that innovation comes responsibility and a growing need for clarity on legal, ethical, and regulatory questions. Emerging technology like AI is top of mind for state financial services regulators, who increasingly ask how licensees use these tools.
Debt Collection & BuyingBeyond the Collection License: When Debt Buyers Need Lender or Servicer Licenses
Why a Collection License Isn't Always Enough For decades, debt collection firms have assumed that once you have a collection agency license, you're cleared to operate. But the reality is more complicated. Regulators are increasingly looking at what kinds of debt you collect and how you collect it. Depending on your portfolio and practices, you [...]
Debt Collection & BuyingLicense-Ready from Day One: A Practical Guide for Debt Collection Startups
Launching a debt collection venture - whether a tech-driven fintech or a traditional call-center outfit - means entering one of the most highly regulated pockets of U.S. financial services. States watch collectors closely because the work touches consumers at a vulnerable moment. Before the first call or email goes out, a new entrant must lock down licenses, bonds, corporate [...]
NewsletterJuly 2025
NYC DEBT COLLECTION RULE DELAYED AGAIN The New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) has postponed the implementation of its amended debt collection rule, originally slated to take effect October 1, 2025. This marks the third delay, following strong advocacy from ACA International and other industry stakeholders, who raised concerns about misalignment [...]
LicensingBeyond Licensing: What States Expect from Non-Bank Lenders Post-Approval
Obtaining a consumer lending license is a major milestone for non-bank lenders - but it's only the beginning. Once licensed, lenders must meet a host of ongoing state-level obligations that require operational discipline and proactive planning. These obligations are not just bureaucratic checkboxes; they are essential to staying compliant, avoiding penalties, and building long-term credibility with regulators. [...]
LicensingLicensing Readiness for Lending Startups: Building Infrastructure Before Market Entry
For venture-backed and tech-enabled lending startups, licensing for lending startups isn't a box to check later - it's the foundation for everything that follows. Whether you're launching a BNPL product, installment loans, or a new personal lending platform, the ability to operate legally across the U.S. hinges on a deliberate, phased approach to licensing for lending startups [...]
LicensingWhen Is a State Consumer Lending License Required?
Understanding Licensing Triggers Across Products and Jurisdictions Navigating the U.S. regulatory landscape as a non-bank lender isn't simple. State licensing requirements vary widely and are often triggered by factors that go beyond just issuing a loan. Whether you're offering installment credit, point-of-sale financing, or operating a lending marketplace, knowing when and why you need to [...]