Branch Licensing or Registration

Understand the purpose and process of licensing or registering branch locations through NMLS as part of the overall company licensing framework.

Branch licensing or registration ensures that a company’s branch offices are individually authorized to conduct licensed activities under the oversight of state regulators. Each branch location that engages in regulated financial services activity must have an approved license or registration tied to the Branch (MU3) Form in NMLS. Companies must first maintain a Company (MU1) filing before any branch filings can be submitted.

The Branch (MU3) Form collects branch-specific information, such as address, contact details, and business activities. A unique Branch (MU3) filing must be completed for each branch location, and only one branch record is permitted per physical address. Regulators monitor compliance with this requirement, and a branch’s authority to operate is reflected in NMLS Consumer Access.

Submitting a Branch (MU3) filing may involve the following:

  • Creating a new branch record and associating business activities with the branch.
  • Selecting the state(s) in which the branch will conduct activities and requesting the appropriate license(s) or registration(s).
  • Completing all required branch information, including identification of the branch manager. An Individual (MU2) Form is automatically created for the branch manager and must be attested by that individual in NMLS.
  • Mailing jurisdiction-specific checklists and supporting documentation to state agencies within required timelines, as identified on the State Licensing Checklist Compiler.

A Branch (MU3) Form is not only used for new applications but also for maintaining, amending, renewing, withdrawing, or surrendering a branch license. Companies may also use it to update branch manager information. Regulators do not consider a filing complete until all required documentation submitted outside NMLS is received.

For authoritative definitions and policy requirements related to branch licensing, see the NMLS Policy Guide.