Guide
What is an NMLS number?
The NMLS number is the license ID that follows a mortgage professional for their entire career. Here is what it is and why it matters to you.
What the number is
NMLS stands for the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System. It is the system that state regulators use to license mortgage companies and the individual loan officers who work for them. Each licensed person gets one unique NMLS number that stays with them even if they change companies or states.
Why it matters to a homebuyer
The number is the reliable way to confirm you are dealing with the right person. Names are common and companies change, but the NMLS number is unique. With it, you can pull up an officer's license status, the company they currently work under, the states they are licensed in, and any regulatory history.
Where to find it
Look on your loan estimate and closing disclosure, where it is required to appear. It is also on business cards, email signatures, and company websites. If you cannot find it, ask the officer directly.
Company numbers vs. individual numbers
Companies have their own NMLS numbers, separate from the individual officers who work there. When you verify a person, make sure you are looking at the individual record, and check that the company shown matches the company on your paperwork.
Frequently asked questions
Does every loan officer have an NMLS number?
Every licensed mortgage loan originator does. It is assigned when they are first licensed and does not change.
Is the NMLS number private?
No. License status, the NMLS number, and the company are public record so consumers can verify who they are working with.
What if two officers have the same name?
Use the NMLS number to tell them apart. It is unique to each licensed individual.
Homebuyer due diligence
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