Texas Business License Bond Requirements by Agency (2026)
There is no single Texas business license bond. The agency that licenses you sets the amount — TxDMV, SOS, TDI, SML, TDB, TABC, plus city permit bonds.
Texas Mortgage Broker Bond
$25K to $200K Texas mortgage bond,
$25K to $200K Texas mortgage bond,
uploaded to NMLS same day.
The Texas Department of Savings & Mortgage Lending (SML) bond required of every residential mortgage loan company. Amount scales with prior-year volume under Finance Code §156.208. Premium typically 1–3% annually on standard credit.
- Uploaded directly to NMLS
- New licensees and renewals
- Bad-credit programs available
What it is
The SML bond required of every Texas mortgage company.
The Texas mortgage broker bond is a surety bond required by the Texas Department of Savings and Mortgage Lending (SML) as a condition of licensing residential mortgage loan companies (RMLCs), residential mortgage loan servicers, and mortgage bankers under Texas Finance Code Chapters 156 and 157. It protects consumers from licensee fraud, misrepresentation, and violations of Texas mortgage regulations.
The bond amount is not flat — it scales with the prior year's Texas mortgage loan servicing volume. Smaller originators carry a $25,000 bond. Large servicers handling billions in Texas loans can carry $200,000 bonds. SML sets the bracket at each annual renewal based on the licensee's NMLS Mortgage Call Report.
The bond is filed through NMLS (Nationwide Multistate Licensing System) — we upload the executed bond directly to your NMLS record, and SML sees it the same day.
Bond amount by volume tier
What amount SML will require at renewal.
Finance Code §156.208 sets four tiers based on prior-year Texas mortgage loan servicing volume.
| Prior-year TX servicing volume | Bond amount | Typical premium (standard credit) |
|---|---|---|
| Under $500 million New licensees default here | $25,000 | $250–$750 |
| $500M – $1 billion | $50,000 | $500–$1,500 |
| $1 billion – $5 billion | $100,000 | $1,000–$3,000 |
| Over $5 billion | $200,000 | $2,000–$6,000 |
Mortgage banker bond (Chapter 157) amounts differ — call us if you hold a mortgage banker license rather than an RMLC license.
How to get bonded
Four steps, uploaded to NMLS same day.
- 01
Submit application
Business legal name, NMLS ID, license type (RMLC, RMLS, mortgage banker), prior-year Texas volume (if renewing). Soft credit pull on personal guarantors.
- 02
Receive quote & sign
Exact premium, electronic application, indemnity agreement from business owners. Typical turnaround: same hour.
- 03
Pay & bond issues
Credit card or ACH. Bond executed and sealed same day.
- 04
NMLS upload
We upload the bond directly to your NMLS record. SML sees it the same business day and posts to your license. No waiting for mail.
Legal requirements
Texas statute, issuing agency, bond forms.
Statute
Texas Finance Code §156.208 (residential mortgage loan companies) and §157.013 (mortgage bankers). Both require a surety bond as a condition of licensing and annual renewal.
Issuing agency
Texas Department of Savings and Mortgage Lending (SML). Licensing processed through NMLS (Nationwide Multistate Licensing System).
Bond amount
$25,000 minimum for licensees servicing under $500M. Scales to $200,000 for servicers over $5B. Adjusted annually based on NMLS Mortgage Call Report data.
Term
1 year, renewing with the NMLS license cycle. Licensees should hold continuous coverage — a lapse triggers SML license action.
Who can claim
Texas consumers harmed by violation of Chapter 156 or 157 — unauthorized fees, misrepresentation, mishandled funds, failure to deliver loan documents — and SML itself for unpaid fines and administrative penalties.
Why Surety Bond Houston
NMLS uploads and SML renewals, done right.
Same-day NMLS upload
Bond executes, we upload directly to your NMLS record. SML posts it to your license the same business day. No mail, no fax.
Volume-tier renewals handled
When your prior-year volume pushes you into a higher tier, we adjust the bond amount and rate automatically at renewal — no surprises.
Every credit tier
Preferred markets for established companies with clean credit. Specialty programs for new licensees, bad credit, or past regulatory issues.
Related Texas bonds
Other financial-services bonds we write.
FAQ
Mortgage broker bond questions we answer weekly.
How much is the Texas mortgage broker bond?
The bond amount is based on the prior year's Texas mortgage loan servicing volume. Under $500 million serviced: $25,000 bond. $500 million to $1 billion: $50,000. $1 billion to $5 billion: $100,000. Over $5 billion: $200,000. New licensees start at the $25,000 minimum and adjust at annual renewal.
How much does the Texas mortgage broker bond cost?
Premium is typically 1–3% of the bond amount annually for strong credit. On a $25,000 bond, that's $250–$750 per year. On a $50,000 bond, $500–$1,500. Credit under 620 runs 3–7% and we have specialty markets for hard-to-place applicants. New brokers with no history typically fall in the standard tier regardless of credit.
Who regulates mortgage brokers in Texas?
The Texas Department of Savings and Mortgage Lending (SML, also called TXSML or the "Texas Department of Savings and Mortgage Lending") oversees residential mortgage loan companies, residential mortgage loan originators (RMLOs), and mortgage bankers. Licensing is managed through NMLS (Nationwide Multistate Licensing System), and SML receives the surety bond as part of the annual renewal process.
Is the mortgage broker bond the same as the RMLO (originator) bond?
The residential mortgage loan company (RMLC) holds the company-level bond. Individual residential mortgage loan originators (RMLOs) working under the company do not typically hold individual Texas bonds — the company bond covers them. Mortgage bankers hold a separate, higher bond under Finance Code Chapter 157. Tell us your license type and we will identify the correct bond.
How does the bond amount increase based on loan volume?
SML uses Texas Finance Code §156.208 tiers. Bond grows as prior-year Texas loan servicing volume grows: $0–$500M = $25K bond, $500M–$1B = $50K bond, $1B–$5B = $100K bond, $5B+ = $200K bond. At renewal, SML reviews your NMLS Mortgage Call Report and assigns the bracket for the coming year.
Can I get a Texas mortgage broker bond with bad credit?
Yes. Standard markets prefer 680+ credit, but we have specialty programs for credit under 620, past bankruptcies, and tax liens. Premium is higher — typically 3–7% — but the bond is writable for almost any legitimate applicant with a clean regulatory record.
What happens if a claim is filed against the mortgage broker bond?
A borrower harmed by a licensee's fraud, misrepresentation, or violation of Texas Finance Code Chapter 156 can file a claim with SML or directly with the surety. If the claim is valid, the surety pays the claimant up to the bond penalty and collects from the broker. Common claims involve undisclosed fees, rate misrepresentation, or failure to return customer documents.
How fast is the bond issued?
Same-day for standard credit. We upload the bond directly to NMLS within hours of payment. SML sees it on your license record the same business day.
Ready when you are
Get your Texas mortgage broker bond today.
Same-day NMLS upload. Every volume tier, every credit profile. No runaround.