Criminal Background Check

Step 1: Am I required to complete a Criminal Background Check to be federally registered through NMLS?

Any individual who meets the definition of a mortgage loan originator and must be registered on NMLS is required to have a Federal Criminal Background Check (CBC) processed with the FBI.

In addition to initial registration, an individual will also need a new CBC when making an employment change.

Step 2: Authorizing a Criminal Background Check Request

A CBC authorization must be completed prior to scheduling a fingerprint appointment. This authorization is processed through the MU4R filing on NMLS.

Step 3: Scheduling a fingerprint appointment via Fieldprint

Once an individual or employer has paid for the CBC request through NMLS, the MLO will be able to schedule a fingerprint appointment. Go to the Fieldprint Website to schedule the fingerprint appointment.

NMLS has developed the following options for submitting fingerprints:

1. Submit New Prints via fingerprinting vendor, Fieldprint.

NMLS has developed a nationwide network of approved live scan and paper card fingerprint sites, administered by NMLS’ fingerprinting vendor, Fieldprint. After providing necessary demographic information, authorizing and paying for the background check in NMLS, MLOs are directed to the Fieldprint scheduling site to schedule an appointment at one of over 700 live scan locations where fingerprints can be captured and submitted electronically. If none of these sites are geographically convenient to an MLO, a visit can be scheduled at one of more than 6,000 local police departments where fingerprints can be taken on cards provided to the MLO by Fieldprint and then mailed to Fieldprint for scanning and submission to NMLS.

Note: After authorizing a new CBC and selecting to submit new fingerprints, fingerprints must be taken within 180 days. If fingerprints are not submitted within 180 days, the background check window will expire and a new CBC will need to be authorized and fees paid.

2. Use existing fingerprints already on file with NMLS.

If an individual has held a state license or federal registration in the past year, it is possible that NMLS already has fingerprints on file and new prints do not need to be submitted. The election of Use Existing Prints can be made via the MU4R to conduct a CBC for the purpose of federal registration.

Note: The option to use existing prints will only be available if the fingerprint records on file are less than 3 years old. Due to FBI rules, individuals will need to provide new fingerprints when requesting a new CBC if previously submitted fingerprints are more than 3 years old.

3. Authorizing existing fingerprints via Fieldprint.

NMLS recognizes that some institutions may have existing systems for fingerprint collections and a volume that makes it worthwhile to establish a direct connection. Due to the technical and legal requirements necessary to facilitate such an alternative fingerprint submission process, NMLS can only offer this option under the conditions listed below. If, after reviewing these conditions, your institution is interested in using existing fingerprint files collected outside of the NMLS network, please contact Fieldprint at 1-877-614-4365. Conditions are as follows:

A. Execution of a legal agreement between the institution and Fieldprint

Approved by State Regulatory Registry LLC In order to protect the integrity of fingerprints collected and maintained by NMLS, SRR requires certain quality controls be in place as institutions collect fingerprints that mirror those in place in the NMLS network. To ensure the required controls are in place and the agreement is consistent across participating institutions, the standard agreement cannot be adjusted.

B. Adherence to the Interface Control document

Fieldprint has developed an interface control document for the submission of existing fingerprints to NMLS. This document regulates submission of fingerprints and helps ensure that submitted fingerprints are connected with the correct mortgage loan originator’s record in NMLS. Institutions interested in submitting existing fingerprints or using its vendor to collect fingerprints for submission to NMLS must abide with the technical and policy requirements outlined in this document to ensure a uniform standard of all fingerprints collected by NMLS.

C. Institution must have a minimum of 1,500 MLOs registered in NMLS

Due to the costs associated with establishing monitoring, and maintaining this alternative submission process, SRR believes that the alternative process is only effective for institutions with a high volume of prints to process. As such, institutions must have a minimum of 1,500 MLOs registered in NMLS in order to participate in this alternative process.

D. The Institution’s fingerprint acquisition vendor must be an FBI approved channeler

To ensure the institution’s selected vendor meets minimum information security and auditing requirements, the vendor providing fingerprint acquisition and management services to the institution must be an FBI approved channeler. List of FBI approved channelers

Note: All submissions must be completed through one connection. Institutions are responsible for the consolidation and management of prints from multiple livescan terminals.

Step 4: Viewing CBC Results

Fingerprints are automatically processed with results reported back to NMLS from the FBI, usually within 48 hours of submission. Some exceptions to this may occur if an individual has been sent to Name Check processing where results may not be returned from the FBI for up to 90 days.

CBC status can be viewed through Composite View from your individual account.

Fees

Refund Policy

Payments collected through the NMLS are non-refundable and non-transferable.

FBI Privacy Act Statement

FBI Privacy Act