9-2201. Mortgage business; definitions. As used in this act:

(a) "Bona fide office" means an applicant's or licensee's principal place of business which meets all of the following requirements:

(1) The office is located in this state;

(2) the office is not located in a personal residence;

(3) the office has regular hours of operation;

(4) the office is accessible to the public;

(5) the office is leased or owned by the licensee and serves as an office for the transaction of the licensee's mortgage business;

(6) the office is separate from any office of another registrant; and

(7) all of the licensee's books, records and documents are accessible through that office.

(b) "Branch office" means a place of business, other than a principal place of business, where mortgage business is conducted, and which is licensed as required by this act.

(c) "Commissioner" means the Kansas state bank commissioner.

(d) "License" means a license issued by the commissioner to engage in mortgage business as a mortgage company.

(e) "Licensee" means a person who is licensed by the commissioner as a mortgage company.

(f) "Loan originator" means an individual:

(1) Who engages in mortgage business on behalf of a single mortgage company;

(2) whose conduct of mortgage business is the responsibility of the licensee;

(3) who takes a residential mortgage loan application or offers or negotiates terms of a residential mortgage loan for compensation or gain or in the expectation of compensation or gain; and

(4) whose job responsibilities include contact with borrowers during the loan origination process, which can include soliciting, negotiating, acquiring, arranging or making mortgage loans for others, obtaining personal or financial information, assisting with the preparation of loan applications or other documents, quoting loan rates or terms, or providing required disclosures. It does not include any individual engaged solely as a loan processor or underwriter.

(g) "Loan processor or underwriter" means an individual who performs clerical or support duties as an employee at the direction and subject to the supervision and instruction of a person registered or exempt from registration under this act.

(1) For purposes of this subsection, the term "clerical or support duties" may include subsequent to the receipt of an application:

(A) The receipt, collection, distribution and analysis of information common for the processing or underwriting of a residential mortgage loan; and

(B) communicating with a consumer to obtain the information necessary for the processing or underwriting of a loan, to the extent that such communication does not include offering or negotiating loan rates or terms or counseling consumers about residential mortgage loan rates or terms.

(2) An individual engaging solely in loan processor or underwriter activities shall not represent to the public, through advertising or other means of communicating or providing information including the use of business cards, stationery, brochures, signs, rate lists or other promotional items, that such individual can or will perform any of the activities of a loan originator.

(h) "Nationwide mortgage licensing system and registry" means a mortgage licensing system developed and maintained by the conference of state bank supervisors and the American association of residential mortgage regulators for the licensing and registration of licensed mortgage loan originators.

(i) "Mortgage business" means engaging in, or holding out to the public as willing to engage in, for compensation or gain, or in the expectation of compensation or gain, directly or indirectly, the business of making, originating, servicing, soliciting, placing, negotiating, acquiring, selling, or arranging for others, or offering to solicit, place, negotiate, acquire, sell or arrange for others, mortgage loans in the primary market.

(j) "Mortgage company" means a person engaged in mortgage business from a principal place of business or branch office, which has been licensed as required by this act.

(k) "Mortgage loan" means a loan or agreement to extend credit made to a natural person which is secured by a first or second mortgage, deed of trust, contract for deed or other similar instrument or document representing a security interest or lien upon any lot intended for residential purposes or a one-to-four family dwelling as defined in section 103(v) of the truth in lending act, 15 U.S.C. § 1602(v), located in this state, occupied or intended to be occupied for residential purposes by the owner, including the renewal or refinancing of any such loan.

(l) "Person" means any individual, sole proprietorship, corporation, partnership, trust, association, joint venture, pool syndicate, unincorporated organization or other form of entity, however organized.

(m) "Primary market" means the market wherein mortgage loans are originated between a lender and a borrower, whether or not through a mortgage broker or other means.

(n) "Principal place of business" means a licensed place of business where mortgage business is conducted, which has been designated by a licensee as the primary headquarters from which all mortgage business and administrative activities are managed and directed.

(o) "Promotional items" means pens, pencils, hats and other such novelty items.

(p) "Registrant" means any individual who holds a valid registration to conduct mortgage business in this state as a loan originator.

(q) "Unique identifier" means a number or other identifier assigned by protocols established by the nationwide mortgage licensing system and registry.

History: L. 1996, ch. 175, § 1; L. 1999, ch. 45, § 1; L. 2001, ch. 88, § 2; L. 2001, ch. 166, § 1; L. 2009, ch. 29, § 4; July 1.