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Bond Management for Surety Bond Producers
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.
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.

Bond Management for Surety Bond Producers
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companies and surety bond producers can cancel, return, or void Electronic Surety Bonds (ESBs) in NMLS when a bond is no longer valid, requires correction, or must be withdrawn from regulatory consideration.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.

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.

About this task

Regulators can return a bond to the surety when information on the bond or its riders is incomplete or incorrect. Returned bonds appear in NMLS with a Returned to Surety status and include a regulator note describing the reason for return. Surety users can amend and resubmit the bond or, if necessary, void the bond and create a replacement.

Note: All riders associated with a returned bond are automatically voided by the system. Delivered riders are captured in the returned bond snapshot; pending riders are not.

Procedure

Log in to NMLS.
From the Home screen, click the Tasks tab.
Within the Tasks tab, click Surety Bond Management either in the top menu bar or in the main description panel.
Click Manage Bonds.
Use the filtering options to locate bonds with a Returned to Surety status. Click the Manage button next to the applicable bond.
The regulator’s note and the return reason appear on the Manage Bond page.
To view the returned bond details, click View Bond Status Transactions and then View Detail in the Returned to Surety by Regulator row.
Click Edit at the bottom of the page to amend the bond. Make the required corrections, then click Save & Proceed.
Select the attestation checkbox, then click Sign to send the corrected bond to the licensee for review and signature.
If the bond must be voided instead of amended, click Void Bond, enter a brief note, and complete the attestation.
Only Surety Company users can void a returned bond. The bond number becomes available for reuse after voiding.

Results

After the licensee signs the recreated bond and completes the Mark Ready process, NMLS redelivers the bond to the regulator for review.

Note: Returned, amended, and voided bonds appear in the Surety Bond Transaction Report for tracking and audit purposes.

Contact the NMLS Call Center with any questions: 1-855-665-7123
Monday - Friday from 9:00AM to 9:00PM ET
Available from all U.S. States and Territories.