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Mortgage licensing / South Carolina

South Carolina Branch Mortgage Lender/Servicer

branch licence · NMLS SCBFILENDERSERV_B · BFI - CFD

Any office of the mortgage lender that is separate and distinct from the mortgage lender/servicer’s principle office. Fees collected through NMLS are NOT REFUNDABLE.

Requirements (6)

  1. Step 1

    DISTANCE REQUIREMENT: If an originator lives more than 75 miles from a licensed physical branch location, the residence may be licensed as a branch office. That branch office will be subject to examination and therefore shall retain all records pursuant to § 37-22-210 (C)(1). Branch and originator licenses must be displayed for public viewing. In addition, all required posting by the federal and state levels must be properly displayed. The licensed Mortgage Lender/Servicer must acknowledge responsibility for and ensure that branch office complies with all federal and state privacy and identity protection.

  2. Step 2

    DESIGNATED BRANCH MANAGER FORM: The attached PDF document below must be signed and properly executed by a control person of the company and the branch manager. Upload in NMLS to the Document Upload Section of MU3. The document will not be accepted via mail or email. Click to download Designated Branch Manager Form

    Submitted via: NMLS

  3. Step 3

    OTHER TRADE NAMES: A Mortgage Lender / Servicer License is required before a company can apply for an Other Trade Name License. If a company will be operating in South Carolina under a name other than its legal name, a Mortgage Lender / Servicer Other Trade Name license will be required. This license must be applied for under the same NMLS unique identifier as the Mortgage Lender Servicer license. Each Other Trade Name license will cost an additional $1,100.00 including the NMLS processing fee. **Branch Other Trade Name applications must be submitted in the same manner and order as the company’s Other Trade Name license. Each Branch Other Trade Name license will cost an additional $170 including the NMLS processing fee.**

  4. Step 4

    COMMERCIAL BRANCH LOCATION: Upload a completed copy of the following documents via Document Upload Section of MU3. The document will not be accepted via mail or email. • Upload an agreement or written acknowledgment from the licensed lender’s home office, showing control and responsibility, of the activity performed at the commercial branch location. • Upload a copy of lease and/or sublease that has been executed by an officer of the applicant. Click to download Control and Responsibility Agreement.

    Submitted via: NMLS

  5. Step 5

    RESIDENTIAL BRANCH LOCATION: Upload in NMLS to the Document Upload Section of MU3. The document will not be accepted via mail or email. • Upload an agreement or written acknowledgment from the licensed lender’s home office, showing control and responsibility, of the activity performed at the residential branch location. • Upload official business hours. Click to download Control and Responsibility Agreement.

    Submitted via: NMLS

  6. Step 6

    The applicant / licensee is fully responsible for all of the requirements of the license within 120-day for which they are applying. The jurisdiction specific requirements contained herein are for guidance only to facilitate application through NMLS. Should you have any questions, please consult legal counsel.

General information

Important Information All new branch applications must be submitted after the company's initial application submission. Each branch location desiring to conduct business under this license authority must be separately authorized and will require a branch application through NMLS. A branch location is defined as an office of the licensee acting as a Mortgage Lender/Servicer that is separate and distinct from the licensee’s principal office. Who is required to have this license? Any office of the mortgage lender that is separate and distinct from the mortgage lender/servicer’s principle office. Who does not need this license? • An employee of a licensee whose responsibilities are limited to clerical or support duties for the employer and who does not solicit borrowers, accept applications, or negotiate the terms of loans on behalf of the employer. • A depository institution or a subsidiary that is wholly owned and controlled by the depository institution and regulated by a federal banking agency or an institution regulated by the Farm Credit Administration. • An officer, registered loan originator or employee of an exempt person acting in the scope of employment for the exempt person. • An individual who offers or negotiates terms of a mortgage loan secured by a dwelling that served as the person's residence. • An employee whose employment as a processor or underwriter is undertaken pursuant to the direction and supervision of a licensee or exempt person except when the processor or underwriter is working as an independent contractor. • An attorney who negotiates the terms of a residential mortgage loan on behalf of a client as an ancillary matter to the attorney's representation of the client, unless the attorney is compensated by a mortgage lender, a mortgage broker, or other mortgage loan originator or by an agent of the mortgage lender, mortgage broker, or other mortgage loan originator. • An attorney who works for a mortgage lender, pursuant to a contract, for loss mitigation efforts or third party independent contractor who is HUD-certified, Neighborworks-certified, or similarly certified, who works for a mortgage lender, pursuant to a contract, for loss mitigation efforts. • A manufactured home retailer and its employees if performing only clerical or support duties in connection with the sale or lease of a manufactured home and the manufactured home retailer and its employees receive no compensation or other gain from a mortgage lender or a mortgage broker for the performance of the clerical or support duties. Pre-requisites for license applications? • Each mortgage loan branch office must have a branch manager who is licensed as a mortgage loan originator. • A branch manager may only be designated to one (1) branch location. • The Managing Principal (QI) may also serve as a branch manager of one of the licensee’s branch offices if they are licensed as a mortgage loan originator in South Carolina.

Other South Carolina mortgage licenses

Sourced from the NMLS/CSBS state licensing record, last updated March 16, 2026. Requirements change — confirm against the state agency before filing. Not legal advice.

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