How to Use NMLS Consumer Access to Look Up State Licenses

The Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS) is the central platform through which most US states issue money transmitter licenses, mortgage licenses, and other financial services licenses. Its public-facing portal, NMLS Consumer Access, allows anyone — consumers, businesses, regulators, and compliance professionals — to verify whether a company or individual holds a valid state license.

If you're trying to verify a fintech partner's license status, check your own company's license records, conduct due diligence on a potential counterparty, or understand your compliance obligations across states, NMLS Consumer Access is the starting point. This guide walks through how to use it.

What Is NMLS Consumer Access?

NMLS Consumer Access (found at nmlsconsumeraccess.org) is the public registry of NMLS-licensed companies and individuals. It covers a broad range of financial services licenses including money transmitters, mortgage companies, mortgage loan originators, and other regulated entities.

The database does not cover every type of financial license in every state — some states use separate systems — but for money transmitter licenses filed through NMLS, Consumer Access is the authoritative source. It shows current license status, historical license actions, regulatory actions (like enforcement orders or license denials), and basic company information.

This is different from the FinCEN MSB Registrant Search, which covers federal money services business (MSB) registrations — a separate federal registration requirement. Many fintechs need both: FinCEN MSB registration at the federal level and state MTLs through NMLS.

What Can You Find on NMLS Consumer Access?

A search on NMLS Consumer Access can return:

• Company license status — Whether a company holds an active license in each state, the type of license, and the date of issuance
• Individual license status — Whether a licensed individual (such as a mortgage loan originator) is currently licensed and in which states
• Regulatory actions — Disclosed enforcement orders, suspensions, revocations, or other regulatory actions against a licensee
• License history — Prior license statuses and state-by-state coverage history
• Contact information — Business address and other basic identifying information for licensed companies

How to Search NMLS Consumer Access: Step by Step

Step 1: Navigate to NMLS Consumer Access

Go to www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org. The site is maintained by the Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS), which administers NMLS on behalf of participating state regulators.

Step 2: Choose Your Search Type

NMLS Consumer Access offers several search options on the homepage:

• Company/Individual Name — Search by the legal name or trade name of a company or individual
• NMLS ID — The fastest and most precise search method; every NMLS-licensed entity has a unique numeric NMLS ID
• License Number — Search by the state-issued license number if you have it
• ZIP Code / Location — Search for licensed entities near a geographic area

For most fintech due diligence purposes, searching by company name or NMLS ID is the most efficient approach.

Step 3: Enter Your Search Terms

Enter the company name, NMLS ID, or other identifier in the search bar. If searching by name, use the exact legal name or a close variant — partial name searches are supported but may return many results. Narrow by state or license type using the available filters.

Step 4: Review the Search Results

Results will display matching companies or individuals with their NMLS ID, primary business address, and license types. Click on a specific result to view the full license profile.

Step 5: Review the License Profile

The license profile page shows all licenses held by the company across states, including license type, issuing state, status (active, suspended, expired, etc.), and any disclosed regulatory actions. Look specifically for:

• Whether the company holds a money transmitter license in the states relevant to you
• Whether any licenses are expired, suspended, or in "pending" status
• Whether there are any disclosed regulatory actions or enforcement orders

Understanding License Status Terms

Using NMLS Consumer Access for Compliance Due Diligence

NMLS Consumer Access is an essential tool for several compliance use cases:

Third-party risk management

Before engaging a fintech partner, payment processor, or correspondent that is supposed to hold state money transmitter licenses, verify their license status directly on NMLS Consumer Access. A company claiming to be licensed in 47 states can be verified in minutes. See our guide on third-party risk management for fintechs.

Monitoring your own license portfolio

NMLS Consumer Access shows your company's own license status as seen by the public. Review it periodically to confirm that all your active licenses are correctly reflected and that no unexpected status changes have occurred.

Competitor and market research

You can look up any licensed company to understand their geographic licensing footprint — useful for competitive research and understanding which states competitors are or are not licensed in.

What NMLS Consumer Access Does NOT Show

NMLS Consumer Access has important limitations. It does not show:

• FinCEN MSB registrations (use the FinCEN MSB Registrant Search for that)
• State licenses filed outside NMLS (some states maintain separate systems for certain license types)
• Non-public regulatory actions that haven't been formally disclosed through NMLS
• Detailed financial information about the licensee

NMLS vs. FinCEN: Understanding the Two Registries

Fintechs often confuse NMLS Consumer Access and the FinCEN MSB Registrant Search, but they cover different things. NMLS Consumer Access covers state licenses — money transmitter licenses, mortgage licenses, and other state-issued financial services licenses. The FinCEN MSB Registrant Search covers federal MSB registrations. Many money transmitters are required to maintain both, and both registries serve different verification purposes.

See our guide on how to use the FinCEN MSB Registrant Search and our overview of MSB registration requirements for fintechs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is NMLS Consumer Access free to use?

Yes. NMLS Consumer Access is a free public resource maintained by CSBS. Anyone can search for company or individual license records at no cost.

How often is NMLS Consumer Access updated?

NMLS Consumer Access reflects data from state regulators and is generally updated regularly, but there can be short lags between a state action and its appearance in the public database. For the most current status, you can also contact the state regulator directly.

What is an NMLS ID and how do I find mine?

Your NMLS ID is the unique numeric identifier assigned to your company when you register on NMLS. It appears in all correspondence with state regulators and on your license documents. You can also find it by searching for your own company name on NMLS Consumer Access. See our guide on what is NMLS for more on how the system works.

Can I use NMLS Consumer Access to verify that a company is licensed in a specific state?

Yes. The company profile on Consumer Access shows license status by state and license type. You can confirm whether a company holds an active money transmitter license in a specific state and whether there are any disclosed regulatory issues.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or compliance advice. NMLS Consumer Access is a public resource maintained by CSBS. Always verify current license status directly with the relevant state regulator for critical compliance decisions.

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