(A) A person may not act as a mortgage broker in this State without first being licensed with the administrator. A person, required to be licensed pursuant to this chapter, may not do business without a license under any name or title, or circulate or use advertising, including electronic means, or make a representation or give information to any person, which indicates or reasonably implies activity within the scope of this chapter unless that person has a license.

(B) It is unlawful for a person to employ, to compensate, or to appoint as its agent a loan originator unless the loan originator is licensed pursuant to this chapter. The license of a loan originator is not effective during any period when that person is not employed by a mortgage broker licensed pursuant to this chapter. When a loan originator ceases to be employed by a licensed mortgage broker, the loan originator and the mortgage broker by whom that person was employed shall notify promptly the administrator in writing. The mortgage broker’s notice must include a statement of the specific reason or reasons for the termination of the loan originator’s employment. The reason for termination is confidential information and must not be released to the public. A loan originator must not be employed simultaneously by more than one mortgage broker. If a licensed loan originator changes employment, a new license must be issued and a fee of twenty-five dollars must be paid for issuance of the new license.

Terms Used In South Carolina Code 40-58-30

  • Administrator: means the Administrator of the Department of Consumer Affairs (department) or the administrator's designees. See South Carolina Code 40-58-20
  • Advertising: means a commercial message in a medium that promotes, either directly or indirectly, a mortgage loan transaction. See South Carolina Code 40-58-20
  • Exempt person: means :

    (a) 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;

    (b) 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. See South Carolina Code 40-58-20
  • Loan originator: means a natural person who, in exchange for compensation or gain or in the expectation of compensation or gain as an employee of a licensed mortgage lender, solicits, negotiates, accepts, or offers to accept applications for mortgage loans, including electronic applications, or includes direct contact with, or informing mortgage loan applicants of, the rates, terms, disclosures, and other aspects of the mortgage loan. See South Carolina Code 40-58-20
  • Mortgage: The written agreement pledging property to a creditor as collateral for a loan.
  • Mortgage broker: means a person who acts as a mortgage broker, as that term is defined in item (1). See South Carolina Code 40-58-20
  • Person: means a natural person, partnership, limited liability company, limited partnership, corporation, association, or other group engaged in joint business activities, however organized. See South Carolina Code 40-58-20

(C) Notwithstanding subsection (A) of this section, the provisions of this chapter do not apply to an exempt person.

(D) Independent contractors, including processors and underwriters, must be separately licensed.

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