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Money Transmitter Division
The Money Transmitter Division of DFI licenses and regulates money transmitters and issuers of payment instruments (money orders) and travelers checks.
The Department is a member of the Money Transmitter Regulators Association (MTRA).
Information for Applicants for New Money Transmitter or Acquisition of Control of Money Transmitter
Prospective applicants for new transmitters of money abroad pursuant to Financial Code section 1802.2 and acquisitions of control pursuant to Financial Code section 1804 should thoroughly familiarize themselves with the relevant sections of the Financial Code and California Code of Regulations, forms and instructions for submitting an application before attempting to prepare an application. Please refer to the Money Transmitters or Acquisition of Control of Money Transmitter Forms.
Once the prospective applicant for a new money transmitter license or acquisition of control has become thoroughly familiar with the laws and regulations that govern this activity, the next step is to arrange for a pre-filing meeting with the Money Transmitter Division staff. The prospective applicant should contact Mr. Julio Prada at (415) 263-8540 or by email at jprada@dfi.ca.gov to arrange for an appointment. The successful applicant will be able to demonstrate a working knowledge of the laws and regulations that govern money transmitters and be ready to present a proposed business plan. Meetings are conducted in person at the San Francisco Office. All prospective applicants for a new money transmitter must have a pre-filing meeting with the Money Transmitter Division staff before filing an application; for acquisition of control applicants, this step is highly recommended, especially if the applicants are not known to the Money Transmitter Division staff.
Completed applications for new transmitters of money abroad along with the non-refundable fee of five thousand dollars ($5,000) should be addressed to Mr. Patrick Carroll, Strategic Support Manager, Department of Financial Institutions, 111 Pine Street, #1100 San Francisco, CA 94111-5613. Contact him at (415) 263-8559 or by email at pcarroll@dfi.ca.gov. IMPORTANT: Please note that applications submitted by applicants who have not first arranged for a pre-filing meeting will not be accepted for filing.
Completed applications for acquisition of control should also be submitted to Mr. Carroll at the above address along with the non-refundable fee of three thousand five hundred dollars ($3,500).
The supervisory and regulatory staff of the Money Transmitters
Division may be reached at the following address:
How To Reach Us
Department of Financial Institutions
111 Pine Street, Suite 1100
San Francisco, CA 94111-5613
Phone: (415) 263-8540
Fax: (415) 288-8853
E-mail: Julio Prada, jprada@dfi.ca.gov
- Directory of Issuers of Payment Instruments
- Directory of Issuers of Travelers Checks
- Directory of Money Transmitters
- Division 1.2 Management Certification (Word)
- Frequently Asked Questions (Adobe PDF)
- Schedule of Non Affiliates for Management Certificate Form (Excel)
- Federal Laws and Requirements Applicable to Money Transmitters
- Financial Code Reference
- Money Transmitters Forms
- Money Transmitters Receipts
- Payment Instruments Forms
- Regulatory and Industry Links
- Travelers Check Forms
Other Important Links
Other Resources
- Complaint Regarding Unlicensed Transmitters of Money Abroad Form (Adobe PDF)
- Frequently Asked Questions for Money Service Businesses (Adobe PDF)
- Sending Money to Foreign Countries Brochure (Adobe PDF)
- Sending Money to Foreign Countries (Korean) (Adobe PDF)
- Cómo enviar dinero a países extranjeros - Información para el consumidor (Adobe PDF)