2019-08-16
Added · Updated
Sortis Financial, Inc. is required to pay a $500 civil penalty to the State of Connecticut for failing to file a change of address with the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System and Registry at least thirty days prior to the move and for not providing a corresponding surety bond endorsement. The order resolves allegations that the mortgage lender and consumer collection agency violated Connecticut statutes regarding address notification and bond updates. Sortis Financial waives its right to a hearing or judicial review and agrees to update internal controls to ensure future compliance with address change filing requirements.
IN THE MATTER OF: * * SORTIS FINANCIAL, INC. * CONSENT ORDER NMLS # 3761 * * (“Sortis Financial”) * *
WHEREAS, the Banking Commissioner (“Commissioner”) is charged with the administration of Part I of Chapter 668, Sections 36a-485 to 36a-534b, inclusive, of the Connecticut General Statutes, “Mortgage Lenders, Correspondent Lenders, Brokers and Loan Originators”, and Part XII of Chapter 669, Sections 36a-800 to 36a-814, inclusive, of the Connecticut General Statutes, “Consumer Collection Agencies”, and Sections 36a-809-6 to 36a-809-17, inclusive, of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies; WHEREAS, Sortis Financial is a Delaware corporation that is currently licensed as a mortgage lender under Part I of Chapter 668, Sections 36a-485 et seq., of the Connecticut General Statutes, and as a consumer collection agency under Part XII of Chapter 669, Sections 36a-800 et seq., of the Connecticut General Statutes; WHEREAS, Section 36a-490(b)(2) of the Connecticut General Statutes requires that a mortgage lender licensee file with the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System and Registry (“NMLS”) a change of the address of its main office at least thirty (30) calendar days prior to such change, and provide directly to the Commissioner a bond rider or endorsement, or addendum, as applicable, to the surety bond on file with the Commissioner that reflects the address of the main office;
2 - WHEREAS, Section 36a-801(i) of the Connecticut General Statutes requires that a consumer collection agency licensee file with NMLS a change of address of the office specified on the most recent filing with the system at least thirty (30) calendar days prior to such change, and provide directly to the Commissioner a bond rider, endorsement, or addendum, as applicable to the surety bond on file with the Commissioner that reflects the new address; WHEREAS, Sortis Financial failed to file with NMLS a change of address of its main office, previously at 18451 North Dallas Parkway, Suite 100, Dallas, Texas, now located at 5445 Legacy Drive, Suite 410, Plano, Texas, at least thirty (30) calendar days prior to such change, and failed to provide a bond rider or endorsement, or addendum, as applicable, to the surety bond on file with the Commissioner; WHEREAS, the Commissioner believes that such allegation would support initiation of proceedings against Sortis Financial, which proceedings would constitute a “contested case” within the meaning of Section 4-166(4) of the Connecticut General Statutes. Section 4-177(c) of the Connecticut General Statutes and Section 36a-1-55(a) of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies provide that a contested case may be resolved by consent order, unless precluded by law; WHEREAS, Sortis Financial, through its execution of this Consent Order, voluntarily agrees to waive its procedural rights, including a right to a notice and an opportunity for a hearing as it pertains to the allegation set forth herein, voluntarily agrees to consent to the entry of the sanction imposed below and voluntarily waives its right to seek judicial review or otherwise challenge or contest the validity of this Consent Order; WHEREAS, Sortis Financial acknowledges that this Consent Order is a public record and is a reportable event for purposes of NMLS, as applicable; AND WHEREAS, Sortis Financial herein represents to the Commissioner that it has reviewed and updated its internal policies, procedures and controls to ensure that Sortis Financial will file any change it makes to its name or any address of any office specified on its most recent filing with NMLS at least thirty (30) calendar days prior to such change and, in connection with such change, Sortis Financial will
3 - provide directly to the Commissioner a bond rider or endorsement, or addendum, as applicable, to the surety bond on file with the Commissioner that reflects such change. CONSENT TO ENTRY OF SANCTION WHEREAS, Sortis Financial, through its execution of this Consent Order, consents to the Commissioner’s entry of a Consent Order imposing the following sanction: No later than the date this Consent Order is executed by Sortis Financial, it shall remit to the Department of Banking by wire transfer, cashier’s check, certified check or money order made payable to “Treasurer, State of Connecticut”, the sum of Five Hundred Dollars ($500) as a civil penalty. CONSENT ORDER NOW THEREFORE, the Commissioner enters the following: