Electronic Surety Bonds (ESB) in NMLS
Electronic Surety Bonds are managed in NMLS so that surety bond requirements and records can be tracked and maintained by authorized surety companies and surety bond producers as part of the System of Record for state licensing.
This section provides a high-level orientation to how surety bond producers manage NMLS access for their organization, including account creation, user roles, and ongoing role administration.
NMLS Account Creation for Surety Bond Producers
Establishing an NMLS account for a surety bond producer involves completing and submitting the online Surety Bond Producer Account Request Form, including contact information, administrator assignments, and required documentation.
Roles and Responsibilities with NMLS Electronic Surety Bonds
Surety companies and surety bond producers each have specific responsibilities and user roles in NMLS that define how they manage Electronic Surety Bond (ESB) activities. This topic explains those responsibilities and summarizes the system roles available to each entity type.
NMLS User Roles for Surety Bond Producers
This topic describes the NMLS user roles available to surety bond producers, including the responsibilities of Account Administrators, Organization Users, and Representatives.
Managing User Roles for Surety Bond Producers
Account Administrators maintain Organization Users’ roles to ensure access aligns with job responsibilities. This task explains how to review, update, and revoke role assignments in NMLS for surety bond producers.
Surety bond producers use NMLS to manage associations with surety companies. These associations define the producer’s authority to create and execute Electronic Surety Bonds (ESBs) on behalf of the surety company and maintain representative relationships required for bond execution.
Purpose of Associations in NMLS Electronic Surety Bonds
Associations in NMLS establish the formal relationship between a surety company and a surety bond producer, authorizing the producer to create and execute Electronic Surety Bonds (ESBs) on behalf of the surety company.
Accepting an Association Request (Surety Bond Producer Perspective)
Surety bond producers use NMLS to review and act on association requests initiated by surety companies. This task explains how to approve, reject, or request corrections for association requests.
Removing or Revising Associations
Surety companies and surety bond producers can revise or remove existing associations in NMLS when business relationships, execution authority, or authorized states and representatives change.
Handling Errors with Associations
During association creation, revision, or XML batch upload, validation or processing errors may occur. This topic lists common error messages, explains why they appear, and describes how surety companies and surety bond producers can resolve them.
Surety bond producers access Electronic Surety Bond (ESB) functions and related reporting through key areas of the NMLS interface, including the Home tab, Dashboard, Tasks tab, and Composite View.
Surety bond producers use NMLS to create, manage, and maintain Electronic Surety Bonds (ESBs) in coordination with surety companies and licensees. This section describes the producer’s responsibilities and available tools for managing bonds electronically within NMLS.
Converting Paper Bonds to Electronic Surety Bonds (ESBs)
Surety companies and surety bond producers can convert paper-issued bonds into Electronic Surety Bonds (ESBs) in NMLS so that existing obligations appear in the regulator’s electronic bond inventory.
Riders and Endorsements for Electronic Surety Bonds (ESBs)
Riders and endorsements modify existing Electronic Surety Bonds (ESBs) in NMLS. They are used to update, extend, or clarify bond terms without replacing the original bond.
Canceling, Returning, or Voiding an Electronic Surety Bond (ESB)
Surety companies and surety bond producers can cancel, return, or void Electronic Surety Bonds (ESBs) in NMLS when a bond is no longer valid, requires correction, or must be withdrawn from regulatory consideration.
Changing the Broker of Record for an Electronic Surety Bond (ESB)
The Broker of Record (BOR) change process in NMLS allows a bond to be transferred from one surety bond producer to another while maintaining its active status and association with the surety company and regulator.
Special Cases for Electronic Surety Bonds (ESBs) in NMLS
Overview of exceptions to the standard ESB workflow in NMLS, including returned bonds, bond form version upgrades, and Revised Form Bond requirements. Applies to both Surety Companies and Surety Bond Producers.
Editing Pending Electronic Surety Bonds (ESBs)
Describes how a Surety Company or Surety Bond Producer can edit a bond in a pending or returned status before resubmitting it for execution in NMLS.
Attesting to Surety Entity Information During the Annual Renewals Period
Explains how a Surety Company or other surety entity completes the annual NMLS attestation confirming that its organization information is accurate during the renewals period from November 1 through December 31.
Handling Regulator Returns for Electronic Surety Bonds (ESBs)
Explains how Surety Companies and Surety Bond Producers review, correct, and resubmit a bond that a regulator has returned to surety in NMLS.
Reusing Electronic Surety Bond (ESB) Numbers in NMLS
Explains when and how a previously used bond number can be reused in NMLS after a returned bond has been voided.
Introduces the error and warning messages that may occur during electronic surety bond (ESB) activities in NMLS and describes where to find related resolutions.
Bond Signature Errors
Lists and explains system error messages that may appear when Surety Companies or Surety Bond Producers attempt to sign an electronic surety bond (ESB) in NMLS, along with their reasons and resolutions.
State Licensee Warning Messages
Lists and explains system warning messages that may appear when a state licensee manages or signs an electronic surety bond (ESB) in NMLS.
Resolutions for Common ESB Errors and Warnings
Provides corrective actions for common electronic surety bond (ESB) error and warning messages encountered by Surety Companies, Surety Bond Producers, and State Licensees in NMLS.
Introduces reporting and notification tools that allow Surety Bond Producers to monitor electronic surety bond (ESB) activity, reconcile data with internal systems, and stay informed about NMLS events.
Surety Bond Producer Transaction Reports
Describes the Surety Bond Transaction Report available to Surety Bond Producers in NMLS, including the filter criteria, event types, and field definitions contained in the report.
Reconciling ESB Data with Internal Systems
Explains how Surety Companies can use NMLS reports and data exports to align electronic surety bond (ESB) information with their internal policy, accounting, or compliance systems.
Surety Entity Notifications and Subscriptions
Lists automated NMLS notifications and email alerts distributed to Surety Companies, Surety Bond Producers, Principals, and designated individuals when electronic surety bond (ESB) events occur.
Create a New Bond
How to use the Surety Bond Management screen in NMLS as a surety bond company to create bonds for licensees.
The purpose of this document is to categorize, classify and describe the terminology that is referenced throughout the Electronic Surety Bond Tracking in NMLS.
ESB Entity Notifications
A brief summary of each type of notification you may receive as a Surety Company, Surety Bond Producer, or Principal.
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