The New York Department of Financial Services (DFS) announced last week that it is migrating the administration of its non-mortgage related licenses to the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS), joining more than 60 other state financial services regulatory agencies that already administer their non-mortgage licenses via the NMLS.  Effective July 1, new applicants for a money transmitter license will be able to apply via the NMLS, and existing licensees will be able to transition their licenses to the NMLS.  DFS has indicated that ultimately it will manage all non-depository licenses via the NMLS.

The announcement also expressed support for Vision 2020, the Conference of State Bank Supervisors’ recently launched initiative to modernize state regulation for non-banks.

It is no secret that the DFS is not reluctant to launch its own initiatives if it believes that there is a gap in regulation, examination or oversight – their cybersecurity regulations – so the DFS embracing the NMLS is a positive for the industry as it relates to uniformity of the licensing application process.