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DFPI · California Financing Law · Fin. Code 22112

California Finance Lender (CFL) Bond

Applying for a California Financing Law (CFL) license with the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI)? The license requires a surety bond. We shop multiple Treasury-listed surety carriers, so if one carrier cannot write it, we can take it to another. Free quote, no obligation, and you pay only when your bond is issued.

Rules as of Sep 30, 2026

Prefer to talk? Call 1-844-810-2663

Free quote. Pay only when your bond is issued.

Last updated: General California finance lender bond information — confirm current requirements with the licensing authority.
Eric Drummond, Licensed Surety Producer
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Eric Drummond, Licensed Surety Producer
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Quick answer
California Financing Law licensees must maintain a surety bond payable to the DFPI Commissioner. The minimum is $25,000, and lenders that make or arrange residential mortgage loans are bonded by prior-year volume. One bond covers multiple licensed locations.
  • Who requires it: Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI), under Fin. Code 22112 and 10 CCR 1437.
  • Amount: $25,000 minimum (Fin. Code 22112(a)). Residential mortgage lenders and brokers: $25,000, $50,000, $100,000 or $200,000 by prior-year loan volume. File the bond within 10 days of execution.
  • Timing: Same-day submission; most quotes within one business day.
Get a California finance lender bond quote

What is a California finance lender bond?

  • It is a surety bond that a California Financing Law licensee must maintain under Fin. Code 22112.
  • The bond is payable to the DFPI Commissioner and must be issued by an insurer authorized to do business in California.
  • The law says the bond is used to recover expenses, fines and fees levied by the commissioner, and losses or damages borrowers or consumers suffer because a licensee did not follow the law.
  • It is a guarantee that you will follow the law, not insurance for you. If a claim is paid, you repay the surety.

Who needs a CFL bond?

  • Every licensee under the California Financing Law.
  • One bond is enough if you have multiple licensed locations (Fin. Code 22112(a)).
  • If you make or arrange residential mortgage loans and employ mortgage loan originators, a higher amount may apply (see the table).

Bond amount

WhoBond amountSource
Licensee that does not make residential mortgage loans and employs no mortgage loan originators$25,000Fin. Code 22112(a); 10 CCR 1437(a)
Mortgage lender or broker, prior-year residential mortgage loans up to $1,000,000$25,00010 CCR 1437(b)
Over $1,000,000 up to $50,000,000$50,00010 CCR 1437(b)
Over $50,000,000 up to $500,000,000$100,00010 CCR 1437(b)
Over $500,000,000$200,00010 CCR 1437(b)

Your required amount depends on your license and lending activity. Confirm it with DFPI.

Sources: Fin. Code 22112 and 10 CCR 1437 (rules as of Sep 30, 2026).

What does it cost?

You pay a premium, not the full bond amount. The premium is typically a small percentage of the bond amount per year; the carrier sets the final price. It depends on your credit, financials and experience, and costs are estimates only.

How to get your bond

  1. Fill out the short quote form.
  2. We submit your complete application the same day and shop multiple Treasury-listed surety carriers.
  3. You review the quote.
  4. You pay when your bond is issued.
  5. File the bond with DFPI. The original bond, including any riders or endorsements, must be filed with the commissioner within 10 days of execution (Fin. Code 22112(a)). DFPI processes CFL surety bonds through NMLS (10 CCR 1437(c)).

Bad credit or a denial elsewhere?

We work with carriers that write challenged credit; the carrier decides. Apply and we will tell you what we can do.

Related: California mortgage broker bond, California surety bonds, specialty bonds.

Frequently asked questions

What is a CFL bond?

A surety bond California Financing Law licensees must maintain under Fin. Code 22112, payable to the DFPI Commissioner.

How much is the California finance lender bond?

The minimum is $25,000 (Fin. Code 22112(a)). Licensees that make or arrange residential mortgage loans are bonded by prior-year volume, from $25,000 to $200,000 (10 CCR 1437). Confirm your amount with DFPI.

How much does the bond cost?

The premium is typically a small percentage of the bond amount per year; the carrier sets the final price. Any figure is an estimate.

When do I pay?

Only when your bond is issued.

When must the bond be filed?

The law says within 10 days of execution. Follow DFPI’s current filing instructions.

Can I get a bond with poor credit?

We work with carriers that write challenged credit; the carrier decides. Start a quote.

Does the bond protect me?

No. The bond is a guarantee to the commissioner and to borrowers or consumers harmed by noncompliance. If a claim is paid, you must repay the surety.

Is this the same as a mortgage broker bond?

Not necessarily. See our California mortgage broker bond page for that license.

Get your California Finance Lender bond quote

We shop multiple Treasury-listed surety carriers. If one can't write your bond, we can take it to another.

Get my quote

Prefer to talk? Call 1-844-810-2663

Free quote. Pay only when your bond is issued.

Sources (rules as of Sep 30, 2026)

Rules as of Sep 30, 2026. Always confirm current requirements with DFPI. Costs are estimates.

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