(a) An application for a license under this chapter shall be made in writing, under oath, and in the form as the department may prescribe.

Attorney's Note

Under the Alabama Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
Violationup to 30 daysup to $200
For details, see Ala. Code § 13A-5-7

Terms Used In Alabama Code 5-25-5

  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Fiscal year: The fiscal year is the accounting period for the government. For the federal government, this begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends; for example, fiscal year 2006 begins on October 1, 2005 and ends on September 30, 2006.
  • following: means next after. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • Mortgage: The written agreement pledging property to a creditor as collateral for a loan.
  • Mortgage loan: A loan made by a lender to a borrower for the financing of real property. Source: OCC
  • Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
  • Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
  • person: includes a corporation as well as a natural person. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • preceding: means next before. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • writing: includes typewriting and printing on paper. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
(b) The application shall include all of the following:

(1) The legal name, business address, and telephone number of the applicant and, if the applicant is a partnership, association, corporation, or other group of individuals, however organized, the legal name, residence, and business address of every principal, together with the resume of the applicant and of every principal of the applicant.
(2) The name under which the applicant will conduct business in the state.
(3) The complete address of the applicant’s initial registered office and any other locations at which the applicant will engage in any business activity covered by this chapter.
(4) Any other data, financial statements, and pertinent information as the department may require with respect to the applicant, its directors, principals, trustees, officers, members, or agents.
(5) Evidence that at least one principal or executive officer has at least two years of experience in the mortgage industry. This experience shall have been within the previous four years from the date of application. Evidence should include the principal’s resume and contact numbers for the company for which the individual worked or is currently working. Each principal or executive officer that originates mortgage loans shall also obtain a mortgage loan originator’s license under the Alabama Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing Act.
(c) The applications shall be filed together with the following:

(1) A nonrefundable fee of six hundred dollars ($600).
(2) A financial statement of the applicant, prepared within 90 days of the filing of the application and covering the most recent fiscal year preceding the date of application, which demonstrates that the applicant has a bona fide and verifiable tangible net worth capital of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000). A consolidated Securities and Exchange Commission Annual Report Form 10-K shall meet the requirements of this chapter for the licensee if it shows a net worth or stockholder’s equity of the licensee in an amount of at least twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000). The department may require the applicant or licensee to obtain a surety bond in lieu of the net worth requirement in order to fulfill the requirements of the Alabama Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing Act. The amount of the surety bond will be determined by the department. The surety bond will be in favor of the State of Alabama for the use, benefit, and indemnity of any person who suffers damage or loss as a result of the company’s breach of contract or of any obligation arising therefrom or any violation of the law.
(3) A set of fingerprints from any local law enforcement agency for the following:

a. All persons acting as a sole proprietorship.
b. All partners in a partnership.
c. All principals of a corporation.
(d) The department may require applicants to apply through the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry. In order to carry out this requirement, the supervisor is authorized to participate in the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry. For this purpose, the supervisor may establish by rule or order requirements as necessary, including, but not limited to, the following:

(1) Background checks that include any of the following:

a. Criminal history through fingerprint or other database.
b. Civil or administrative records.
c. Credit history.
d. Any other information deemed necessary by the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry.
(2) The payment of fees to apply for or renew licenses through the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry.