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Money Transmission Licensing

Money Transmitter License Cost

Every state prices its money transmitter license differently: application fees commonly run $500 to $10,000, surety bonds run from $10,000 in Washington and Wyoming to $500,000 in New York, and California scales bonds up to $7 million. Use the estimator below to price your exact footprint, then let us run the filings.

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Reviewed by Cornerstone Staff28 years of financial services state licensing experienceLast verified August 6, 2026

Money Transmission Licensing

How much does a money transmitter license cost?

A money transmitter license typically costs $500 to $10,000 in application and licensing fees per state, plus a surety bond that ranges from $10,000 in the lightest states (Idaho, Washington, Wyoming) to $500,000 in Kentucky, Michigan, and New York, with California setting bonds between $250,000 and $7,000,000 based on your volume. Most states also require minimum net worth of at least $100,000, and in the states that have adopted the Money Transmission Modernization Act that $100,000 is only the floor: the requirement is the greater of $100,000 or a sliding scale of your total assets (3 percent of the first $100 million, 2 percent from $100 million to $1 billion, and 0.5 percent above $1 billion), so a larger balance sheet owes far more than the minimum. Three jurisdictions (Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Puerto Rico) license transmitters without a bond, and Montana requires no state license at all. Combined state bond minimums for a full nationwide program total $6,430,000, which is why nationwide licensing budgets frequently pass seven figures even though you post bonds through a surety rather than in cash. The table below gives the bond, the net worth requirement, and the regulator for all 52 jurisdictions.

What Is the Cheapest State to Get a Money Transmitter License?
By bond requirement, Idaho, Washington, and Wyoming are the lightest at $10,000, and Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Puerto Rico require no bond at all. Total cost still depends on each state's application fee and net worth requirement, and the license you need is set by where your customers live, not by which state is cheapest to file in.
Do I Pay the Full Surety Bond Amount in Cash?
No. A surety company issues the bond and you pay an annual premium, which is a fraction of the bond amount priced on your financial strength. The bond total matters because it drives your premium and because the surety underwrites your net worth before issuing, but it is not cash you park with the state.

Money transmitter licensing by the numbers

US jurisdictions require a money transmitter license
51 of 52 US jurisdictions require a money transmitter license Source: state regulator statutes compiled in our state-law index, verified August 2026. Money transmitter license state laws
statutory surety bond range across licensing states
$10,000 to $1,000,000 statutory surety bond range across licensing states Source: state regulator statutes compiled in our state-law index, verified August 2026. Money transmitter license state laws

Cost by state

How much does a money transmitter license cost per state?

Money transmitter licensing is priced per state, and 51 of the 52 US jurisdictions license it, so a nationwide program pays the same three costs (an application fee, a surety bond, and a minimum net worth showing) 51 times over.

Surety bonds are the widest spread: $10,000 in Idaho, Washington, and Wyoming at the low end, $500,000 in Kentucky, Michigan, and New York at the high end of the fixed-figure states, and no bond at all in Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Puerto Rico.

California is the largest single exposure in the country because its bond is set on volume rather than by statute, reaching $7,000,000.

Added together, the minimum bonds for a full nationwide footprint come to $6,430,000, before any of the California, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Virginia bonds scales above its floor.

Application fees are not published per state as a verified figure and commonly run $500 to $10,000 each.

Montana has no state money transmitter license, though FinCEN registration still applies there.

Application and licensing fees are not published as a verified per-state figure in our dataset, so this table carries no fee column. Across the states that license money transmitters they commonly run $500 to $10,000 per state, and several states add investigation, fingerprint and NMLS processing fees on top. Treat that as a planning range, not as any one state's fee.

A bond figure is a bond amount, not cash you hand the state. A surety issues the bond and you pay an annual premium priced on your financials, so the table shows exposure rather than outlay.

In California, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Virginia the bond is a formula or a regulator-set range rather than one number, so the figure shown is the floor and the ceiling, not a single amount you can budget from.

28 of the 51 licensing jurisdictions set net worth on the Money Transmission Modernization Act sliding scale, where the stated figure is only a floor and a larger balance sheet owes more.

We have no verified published net worth figure for New York, Puerto Rico, and Wyoming. Those cells say so rather than carrying another state's number.

Every money transmitter also registers with FinCEN as a money services business. That federal registration is free, is required in every state including the one with no state license, and never substitutes for a state license.

Money transmitter surety bond and net worth requirement by state, with the licensing regulator for each jurisdiction
State Surety bond Net worth requirement Regulator
Alabama $100,000 $25,000 Alabama Securities Commission
Alaska $25,000 plus $5,000 per location $25,000 Alaska Division of Banking and Securities
Arizona $25,000 greater of $100,000 or a sliding scale of total assets (3% of the first $100 million, 2% to $1 billion, 0.5% above) Arizona Department of Financial Institutions
Arkansas $100,000 greater of $100,000 or a sliding scale of total assets (3% of the first $100 million, 2% to $1 billion, 0.5% above) Arkansas Securities Department
California $250,000 to $7,000,000 for receiving money for transmission, set by the DFPI on financial condition and volume greater of $100,000 or a sliding scale of total assets (3% of the first $100 million, 2% to $1 billion, 0.5% above) California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI)
Colorado $250,000 greater of $100,000 or a sliding scale of total assets (3% of the first $100 million, 2% to $1 billion, 0.5% above) Colorado Division of Banking
Connecticut $300,000 $100,000 for checks, drafts and money orders, rising to $500,000 or $1,000,000 by instrument type Connecticut Department of Banking
Delaware $25,000 $100,000 Delaware Office of the State Bank Commissioner
District of Columbia $50,000 $100,000 plus $50,000 per additional location, capped at $500,000 District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking
Florida $50,000 $100,000 plus $10,000 per additional location, capped at $2,000,000 Florida Office of Financial Regulation
Georgia $250,000 minimum, with additional coverage capped at $2,000,000 greater of $100,000 or a sliding scale of total assets (3% of the first $100 million, 2% to $1 billion, 0.5% above) Georgia Department of Banking and Finance
Hawaii $100,000 greater of $100,000 or a sliding scale of total assets (3% of the first $100 million, 2% to $1 billion, 0.5% above) Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (Division of Financial Institutions)
Idaho $10,000 $50,000 Idaho Department of Finance
Illinois greater of $100,000 or 100% of average daily money transmission liability in Illinois, capped at $2,000,000 greater of $100,000 or a sliding scale of total assets (3% of the first $100 million, 2% to $1 billion, 0.5% above) Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Division of Financial Institutions
Indiana $300,000 greater of $100,000 or a sliding scale of total assets (3% of the first $100 million, 2% to $1 billion, 0.5% above) Indiana Department of Financial Institutions
Iowa $100,000 greater of $100,000 or a sliding scale of total assets (3% of the first $100 million, 2% to $1 billion, 0.5% above) Iowa Division of Banking
Kansas $200,000 greater of $100,000 or a sliding scale of total assets (3% of the first $100 million, 2% to $1 billion, 0.5% above) Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner
Kentucky $500,000 $500,000 Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions
Louisiana $25,000 (virtual currency business activity license: $100,000) $100,000 Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions
Maine $100,000 greater of $100,000 or a sliding scale of total assets (3% of the first $100 million, 2% to $1 billion, 0.5% above) Maine Office of Consumer Credit (Bureau of Consumer Protection)
Maryland $150,000 $150,000 plus $10,000 per location, capped at $500,000 Maryland Office of Financial Regulation
Massachusetts greater of $100,000 or 100% of average daily money transmission liability in Massachusetts, capped at $500,000 greater of $100,000 or a sliding scale of total assets (3% of the first $100 million, 2% to $1 billion, 0.5% above) Massachusetts Division of Banks
Michigan $500,000 $100,000, plus $25,000 per location or delegate up to $1,000,000 Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services
Minnesota $100,000 greater of $100,000 or a sliding scale of total assets (3% of the first $100 million, 2% to $1 billion, 0.5% above) Minnesota Department of Commerce
Mississippi $25,000 greater of $100,000 or a sliding scale of total assets (3% of the first $100 million, 2% to $1 billion, 0.5% above) Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance
Missouri No surety bond required greater of $100,000 or a sliding scale of total assets (3% of the first $100 million, 2% to $1 billion, 0.5% above) Missouri Division of Finance
Montana No state money transmitter license No state money transmitter license No state money transmitter regulator
Nebraska $100,000 greater of $100,000 or a sliding scale of total assets (3% of the first $100 million, 2% to $1 billion, 0.5% above) Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance
Nevada $100,000 greater of $100,000 or a sliding scale of total assets (3% of the first $100 million, 2% to $1 billion, 0.5% above) Nevada Financial Institutions Division
New Hampshire $100,000 greater of $100,000 or a sliding scale of total assets (3% of the first $100 million, 2% to $1 billion, 0.5% above) New Hampshire Banking Department
New Jersey $100,000 $100,000 plus $25,000 per location or delegate, capped at $1,000,000 New Jersey Department of Banking & Insurance
New Mexico $300,000 $100,000 for one to four locations, more above four New Mexico Financial Institutions Division
New York $500,000 Not published as a verified figure; confirm the current requirement with the regulator New York State Department of Financial Services
North Carolina $150,000 $250,000 North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks
North Dakota $100,000 greater of $100,000 or a sliding scale of total assets (3% of the first $100 million, 2% to $1 billion, 0.5% above) North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions
Ohio $300,000 $500,000 Ohio Division of Financial Institutions
Oklahoma $50,000 $275,000 for one to fifty locations, $500,000 above fifty Oklahoma State Banking Department
Oregon $25,000 $100,000 plus $25,000 per additional location or delegate Oregon Division of Financial Regulation
Pennsylvania No surety bond required $500,000 tangible net worth Pennsylvania Department of Banking & Securities
Puerto Rico No surety bond required Not published as a verified figure; confirm the current requirement with the regulator Puerto Rico Office of the Commissioner of Financial Institutions
Rhode Island $50,000 greater of $100,000 or a sliding scale of total assets (3% of the first $100 million, 2% to $1 billion, 0.5% above) Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation
South Carolina $100,000 greater of $100,000 or a sliding scale of total assets (3% of the first $100 million, 2% to $1 billion, 0.5% above) South Carolina Attorney General
South Dakota $100,000 greater of $100,000 or a sliding scale of total assets (3% of the first $100 million, 2% to $1 billion, 0.5% above) South Dakota Division of Banking
Tennessee $50,000 greater of $100,000 or a sliding scale of total assets (3% of the first $100 million, 2% to $1 billion, 0.5% above) Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions
Texas $100,000 greater of $100,000 or a sliding scale of total assets (3% of the first $100 million, 2% to $1 billion, 0.5% above) Texas Department of Banking
Utah $50,000 $1,000,000 Utah Department of Financial Institutions
Vermont $100,000 greater of $100,000 or a sliding scale of total assets (3% of the first $100 million, 2% to $1 billion, 0.5% above) Vermont Department of Financial Regulation
Virginia greater of $100,000 or 100% of average daily money transmission liability in Virginia, capped at $1,000,000 greater of $100,000 or 3% of total assets up to $100 million, then $3 million plus 2% above $100 million Virginia State Corporation Commission, Bureau of Financial Institutions
Washington $10,000 set by rule, between $10,000 and $3,000,000 Washington Department of Financial Institutions
West Virginia $100,000 greater of $100,000 or a sliding scale of total assets (3% of the first $100 million, 2% to $1 billion, 0.5% above) West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions
Wisconsin $100,000 greater of $100,000 or a sliding scale of total assets (3% of the first $100 million, 2% to $1 billion, 0.5% above) Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions
Wyoming $10,000 Not published as a verified figure; confirm the current requirement with the regulator Wyoming Division of Banking

Cost estimator

Estimate your bond and fee exposure by state

Pick the states where your customers live and see the minimum surety bonds those states require, plus honest planning ranges for fees and net worth.

Select the states where your customers are located

Pick one or more states above to see the surety bond minimums and typical fee ranges for that footprint.

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What You Will Actually Pay, State by State

Money transmitter license cost has three moving parts that reset in every state: the application fee, the surety bond, and the minimum net worth the state sets. Because licensing follows where your customers live, a company serving a national market pays these costs many times over. This page breaks down the real state bond figures, the honest fee and net worth ranges, and what a nationwide program adds up to, so you can budget before you file.

What Drives Money Transmitter License Cost?

Four cost categories repeat in nearly every state, and each one is sized differently by each regulator. Budgeting a licensing program means pricing all four for every state in your footprint.

Application and licensing fees

State application fees commonly run from $500 to $10,000 per state, and several states add investigation, fingerprint, and NMLS processing fees on top of the base fee.

Surety bonds

Bonds are the largest line item on paper, from $10,000 to $500,000 per state, and up to $7 million in California. You do not post the bond amount in cash: a surety issues the bond and you pay an annual premium priced on your financials.

Net worth and permissible investments

Minimum net worth requirements range from about $100,000 to more than $1 million depending on the state and your transaction volume, and many states also require permissible investments held against outstanding obligations.

Program and filing work

The BSA and AML program, business plan, audited financials, and IT security documentation take real budget to produce, and every license carries renewal fees and reporting after approval.

Which States Have the Highest and Lowest Bond Requirements?

Surety bond minimums are the widest cost spread in money transmission. These figures come from our state-by-state licensing database, the same data behind the estimator on this page.

California: $250,000 to $7 million

The Department of Financial Protection and Innovation sets each licensee's bond within this range based on financial condition and transmission volume, making California the single largest bond exposure in the country.

New York, Kentucky, Michigan: $500,000

These three states set the highest fixed bond minimums. New York pairs its bond with one of the longest review processes of any state.

Connecticut, Indiana, New Mexico, Ohio: $300,000

A second tier of states sets fixed bonds at $300,000, with Colorado and Georgia close behind at $250,000.

Washington, Wyoming, Idaho: $10,000

The lightest bond states. Alaska starts at $25,000 plus $5,000 per location, and Arizona, Delaware, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oregon, and Virginia sit at $25,000.

No bond at all: Missouri, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico

These three jurisdictions license money transmitters without a surety bond requirement. Montana goes further: it has no state money transmitter license, though FinCEN registration and federal BSA obligations still apply.

Formula states: California, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Virginia

Five states set the bond by formula or by regulator discretion rather than by a flat figure, so the published number is a floor and a ceiling. Illinois and Virginia run to the greater of $100,000 or 100 percent of average daily money transmission liability in the state, capped at $2,000,000 and $1,000,000 respectively; Massachusetts uses the same formula capped at $500,000.

What Does Nationwide Money Transmitter Licensing Cost in Total?

Adding up the state bond minimums in our licensing database, a full nationwide footprint carries $6,430,000 in combined minimum bond obligations across the 51 licensing jurisdictions, before California, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, or Virginia scales its bond above its floor. At $500 to $10,000 in application fees per state, filing fees alone span roughly $25,500 to $510,000.

The cash cost is lower than the bond total because sureties charge an annual premium rather than holding the face amount, but underwriters price that premium on your net worth and financials, which is one more reason the net worth requirements matter. Add the BSA and AML program build, audited financial statements, and legal review, and nationwide programs frequently pass seven figures in total cost. Most companies phase their rollout instead: license the states with the fastest reviews and biggest markets first, and let early revenue fund the long-tail states.

What About an International Money Transmitter License or Payment License?

There is no separate international money transmitter license in the United States. A company moving money across borders for US customers needs the same state money transmitter licenses as a domestic transmitter, plus FinCEN registration as a money services business. The same answer applies to the phrase payment license: the US has no single federal payment license, so what a payments company actually obtains is the stack of state money transmitter licenses that covers where its customers live.

Foreign companies entering the US market face the same state-by-state map, and several states add requirements for foreign-owned applicants, such as US-based agents or additional financial documentation. We run these programs regularly, and the sequencing matters: FinCEN registration is quick and free, while the state licenses are the long pole.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Pages

Money Transmitter License Who Needs a Money Transmitter License Money Transmitter License Timeline MSB Registration How To Start A Money Transmitter Business

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Money transmitter regulations by state

Money transmitter regulations by state

We are refreshing our state-by-state summaries for money transmitter. Browse the states we have published below.

  • Alabama
    Regulator: Alabama Securities Commission
    License: yes
    Bond: Not less than $100,000, or the average daily outstanding money-received-for-transmission obligations in Alabama plus 50% of average daily outstanding payment-instrument and stored-value obligations in Alabama, whichever is greater; commission may raise to a maximum of $5,000,000
    Open Alabama guide Official regulator site
  • Alaska
    Regulator: Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development, Division of Banking and Securities
    License: yes
    Bond: $25,000 plus $5,000 for each location, not exceeding a total addition of $125,000 (base + additions); department may raise to a maximum of $500,000 based on financial condition
    Open Alaska guide Official regulator site
  • Arizona
    Regulator: Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions
    License: yes
    Bond: Greater of $25,000 or 100% of the licensee's average daily money transmission liability in Arizona (most recent three-month period), up to a maximum of $500,000; $25,000 if tangible net worth exceeds 10% of total assets
    Open Arizona guide Official regulator site
  • Arkansas
    Regulator: Arkansas Securities Department
    License: yes
    Bond: Greater of $100,000 or 100% of the licensee's average daily money transmission liability in Arkansas (most recent three-month period), up to a maximum of $500,000; $100,000 if tangible net worth exceeds 10% of total assets
    Open Arkansas guide Official regulator site
  • California
    Regulator: California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI)
    License: yes
    Bond: $250,000 to $7,000,000 for receiving money for transmission; selling or issuing payment instruments or stored value carries a separate $500,000 to $2,000,000 bond, and the two are cumulative
    Open California guide Official regulator site
  • Colorado
    Regulator: Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, Division of Banking
    License: yes
    Bond: Greater of $250,000 or 100% of the licensee's average daily money transmission liability in Colorado (most recent three-month period), up to a maximum of $1,000,000
    Open Colorado guide Official regulator site
  • Connecticut
    Regulator: Connecticut Department of Banking
    License: yes
    Bond: Non-virtual-currency transmitters: not less than $300,000 (avg weekly transmissions < $300,000), $500,000 ($300,000-$500,000), or $1,000,000 (> $500,000); virtual-currency transmitters: amount set by the commissioner
    Open Connecticut guide Official regulator site
  • Delaware
    Regulator: Delaware Office of the State Bank Commissioner
    License: yes
    Bond: $25,000, plus $5,000 for each location in excess of one, not to exceed $250,000 total
    Open Delaware guide Official regulator site
  • District of Columbia
    Regulator: District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking
    License: yes
    Bond: $50,000, increased by $10,000 per additional location, not to exceed $250,000 total
    Open District of Columbia guide Official regulator site
  • Florida
    Regulator: Florida Office of Financial Regulation
    License: yes
    Bond: Amount specified by rule, but not less than $50,000 and not exceeding $2,000,000 (rule allows for financial condition, number of locations, and anticipated volume)
    Open Florida guide Official regulator site
  • Georgia
    Regulator: Georgia Department of Banking and Finance
    License: yes
    Bond: $250,000 minimum; the Department may require additional coverage, capped at $2,000,000
    Open Georgia guide Official regulator site
  • Hawaii
    Regulator: Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Division of Financial Institutions
    License: yes
    Bond: $100,000 for the initial 12 months of licensure; commissioner may increase up to a maximum of $500,000 based on impaired financial condition
    Open Hawaii guide Official regulator site
  • Idaho
    Regulator: Idaho Department of Finance
    License: yes
    Bond: $10,000, increased by $5,000 per additional location/authorized representative, up to a maximum of $500,000
    Open Idaho guide Official regulator site
  • Illinois
    Regulator: Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Division of Financial Institutions
    License: yes
    Bond: Greater of $100,000 or 100% of average daily money transmission liability in Illinois for the most recently completed quarter, capped at $2,000,000
    Open Illinois guide Official regulator site
  • Indiana
    Regulator: Indiana Department of Financial Institutions
    License: yes
    Bond: Greater of $300,000 or the licensee's average daily money transmission liability in Indiana for the most recent calendar quarter, capped at $500,000
    Open Indiana guide Official regulator site
  • Iowa
    Regulator: Iowa Division of Banking
    License: yes
    Bond: Greater of $100,000 or 100% of the licensee's average daily money transmission liability in Iowa for the most recent 3-month period, capped at $500,000
    Open Iowa guide Official regulator site
  • Kansas
    Regulator: Office of the State Bank Commissioner
    License: yes
    Bond: Greater of $200,000 or 100% of the licensee's average daily money transmission liability in Kansas for the most recent 3-month period, capped at $1,000,000 (or $200,000 if tangible net worth exceeds 10% of total assets)
    Open Kansas guide Official regulator site
  • Kentucky
    Regulator: Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions
    License: yes
    Bond: At least $500,000; commissioner may increase up to a maximum of $5,000,000 based on financial condition, net worth, or transaction volume
    Open Kentucky guide Official regulator site
  • Louisiana
    Regulator: Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions
    License: yes
    Bond: Minimum $100,000, up to a maximum of $500,000, or a higher amount deemed appropriate by the Commissioner up to a maximum of $1,000,000
    Open Louisiana guide Official regulator site
  • Maine
    Regulator: Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection
    License: yes
    Bond: $100,000
    Open Maine guide Official regulator site
  • Maryland
    Regulator: Office of the Commissioner of Financial Regulation
    License: yes
    Bond: Greater of $150,000 or 100% of the applicant's average daily money transmission liability in the State for the most recent quarter, capped at $2,000,000
    Open Maryland guide Official regulator site
  • Massachusetts
    Regulator: Massachusetts Division of Banks
    License: yes
    Bond: Greater of $100,000 or 100% of average daily money transmission liability in Massachusetts over the most recently completed three months, capped at $500,000
    Open Massachusetts guide Official regulator site
  • Michigan
    Regulator: Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS)
    License: yes
    Bond: $500,000 for the first location, plus $10,000 for each additional location and authorized delegate, up to a maximum of $1,500,000
    Open Michigan guide Official regulator site
  • Minnesota
    Regulator: Minnesota Department of Commerce
    License: yes
    Bond: Greater of $100,000 or 100% of the licensee's average daily money transmission liability in Minnesota (most recent 3-month period), capped at $500,000
    Open Minnesota guide Official regulator site
  • Mississippi
    Regulator: Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance
    License: yes
    Bond: Greater of $100,000 or 100% of the licensee's average daily money transmission liability in Mississippi (most recent 3-month period), capped at $500,000 (commissioner may raise up to $1,000,000)
    Open Mississippi guide Official regulator site
  • Missouri
    Regulator: Missouri Division of Finance
    License: yes
    Bond: Greater of $100,000 or 100% of the licensee's average daily money transmission liability in Missouri (most recent 3-month period), capped at $500,000
    Open Missouri guide Official regulator site
  • Montana
    Regulator: Montana Division of Banking
    License: no
    Bond: Not required (no state license needed)
    Open Montana guide Official regulator site
  • Nebraska
    Regulator: Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance
    License: yes
    Bond: Greater of $100,000 or 100% of the licensee's average daily money transmission liability in Nebraska (most recent 3-month period), capped at $500,000
    Open Nebraska guide Official regulator site
  • Nevada
    Regulator: State of Nevada Department of Business and Industry, Financial Institutions Division
    License: yes
    Bond: Greater of $100,000 or 100% of average daily money transmission liability in Nevada (most recently completed quarter), capped at $500,000
    Open Nevada guide Official regulator site
  • New Hampshire
    Regulator: New Hampshire Banking Department
    License: yes
    Bond: Greater of $100,000 or 100% of the licensee's average daily money transmission liability in New Hampshire (most recent 3-month period), capped at $500,000
    Open New Hampshire guide Official regulator site
  • New Jersey
    Regulator: New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance
    License: yes
    Bond: Amount set by the Commissioner by regulation, not less than $100,000 and not more than $1,000,000 (money transmitter). Foreign money transmitters use a volume-based schedule starting at $25,000.
    Open New Jersey guide Official regulator site
  • New Mexico
    Regulator: New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department, Financial Institutions Division
    License: yes
    Bond: Greater of $300,000 or 1% of the licensee's total yearly dollar volume of money transmission business in New Mexico (or projected first-year volume), up to a maximum of $2,000,000
    Open New Mexico guide Official regulator site
  • New York
    Regulator: New York State Department of Financial Services
    License: yes
    Bond: Set by the Superintendent of Financial Services for each licensee; New York Banking Law Article 13-B fixes no dollar amount, so confirm the required bond with DFS before relying on a figure
    Open New York guide Official regulator site
  • North Carolina
    Regulator: North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks
    License: yes
    Bond: $150,000 base (transmission volume in NC up to $1,000,000); increases with NC transmission volume (e.g., $175,000, $200,000, and higher tiers)
    Open North Carolina guide Official regulator site
  • North Dakota
    Regulator: North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions
    License: yes
    Bond: Greater of $100,000 or 100% of the licensee's average daily money transmission liability in North Dakota (most recent 3-month period), capped at $500,000
    Open North Dakota guide Official regulator site
  • Ohio
    Regulator: Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Financial Institutions
    License: yes
    Bond: Security device (surety bond or permitted alternative) of not less than $300,000, up to a maximum of $2,000,000 as the Superintendent finds appropriate
    Open Ohio guide Official regulator site
  • Oklahoma
    Regulator: Oklahoma State Banking Department
    License: yes
    Bond: $50,000 plus $10,000 per authorized-delegate location, not exceeding a total of $500,000
    Open Oklahoma guide Official regulator site
  • Oregon
    Regulator: Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services, Division of Financial Regulation
    License: yes
    Bond: $25,000, increased by $5,000 per additional location/authorized delegate (amount otherwise set by rule/Director)
    Open Oregon guide Official regulator site
  • Pennsylvania
    Regulator: Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities
    License: yes
    Bond: Bond in the penal sum of $1,000,000 (department may require additional bond based on average daily outstanding transmission balance)
    Open Pennsylvania guide Official regulator site
  • Puerto Rico
    Regulator: Puerto Rico Office of the Commissioner of Financial Institutions (OCIF)
    License: yes
    Bond: $500,000 for a single office, increased by $10,000 per additional office or authorized agent (Commissioner may require a higher bond based on business volume/financial condition)
    Open Puerto Rico guide Official regulator site
  • Rhode Island
    Regulator: Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation, Division of Banking
    License: yes
    Bond: $50,000 (currency transmission licensees); department may accept an alternative security form if a surety bond is not commercially available at reasonable cost
    Open Rhode Island guide Official regulator site
  • South Carolina
    Regulator: South Carolina Attorney General (Commissioner under the South Carolina Uniform Money Services Act)
    License: yes
    Bond: Greater of $100,000 or 100% of average daily money transmission liability in South Carolina (most recent 3 months), capped at $500,000; alternatively $100,000 if tangible net worth exceeds 10% of total assets
    Open South Carolina guide Official regulator site
  • South Dakota
    Regulator: South Dakota Division of Banking
    License: yes
    Bond: Greater of $100,000 or 100% of average daily money transmission liability in South Dakota (most recent 3 months), capped at $500,000; alternatively $100,000 if tangible net worth exceeds 10% of total assets
    Open South Dakota guide Official regulator site
  • Tennessee
    Regulator: Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions
    License: yes
    Bond: Greater of $50,000 or 100% of average daily money transmission liability in Tennessee (most recent calendar quarter), capped at $800,000
    Open Tennessee guide Official regulator site
  • Texas
    Regulator: Texas Department of Banking
    License: yes
    Bond: Greater of $100,000 or 100% of average daily money transmission liability in Texas (most recent 3 months), capped at $500,000; alternatively $100,000 if tangible net worth exceeds 10% of total assets
    Open Texas guide Official regulator site
  • Utah
    Regulator: Utah Department of Financial Institutions
    License: yes
    Bond: Flat minimum surety bond of $50,000
    Open Utah guide Official regulator site
  • Vermont
    Regulator: Vermont Department of Financial Regulation
    License: yes
    Bond: Greater of $100,000 or 100% of average daily money transmission liability in Vermont (most recent 3 months), capped at $2,000,000
    Open Vermont guide Official regulator site
  • Virginia
    Regulator: Virginia State Corporation Commission, Bureau of Financial Institutions
    License: yes
    Bond: Greater of $100,000 or 100% of average daily money transmission liability in Virginia for the most recent quarter, capped at $1,000,000; a flat $100,000 where tangible net worth exceeds 10% of total assets
    Open Virginia guide Official regulator site
  • Washington
    Regulator: Washington State Department of Financial Institutions
    License: yes
    Bond: Surety bond based on prior year's money transmission and payment instrument dollar volume; minimum $10,000, not to exceed $550,000
    Open Washington guide Official regulator site
  • West Virginia
    Regulator: West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions
    License: yes
    Bond: $300,000 for money transmission; $100,000 for check or money-order sale or currency exchange; increased by 1% of annual West Virginia volume over $10 million, capped at $1,000,000
    Open West Virginia guide Official regulator site
  • Wisconsin
    Regulator: Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions
    License: yes
    Bond: Greater of $100,000 or 100% of average daily money transmission liability in Wisconsin (most recent 3 months), capped at $500,000
    Open Wisconsin guide Official regulator site
  • Wyoming
    Regulator: Wyoming Division of Banking
    License: yes
    Bond: $10,000 or 2.5 times outstanding payment instruments, whichever is greater, not to exceed $500,000
    Open Wyoming guide Official regulator site

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