Who requires it
Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking
License & permit · District of Columbia
District of Columbia Money Transmitter Bond
Money transmitters licensed by the District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking must post a bond or other approved security of at least fifty thousand dollars. The amount rises by ten thousand dollars for each additional District location or authorized delegate and caps at two hundred fifty thousand dollars.
Common bond amount
$50,000–$250,000
$50,000 plus $10,000 for each extra location or delegate, up to $250,000.
How you file
Surety bond, letter of credit, or other approved security, often filed in NMLS
Renewal
Keep it active while licensed. After you stop, keep it in place for 5 years unless the Commissioner allows an earlier reduction.
Who requires it
Applicants and licensees under the District’s Money Transmitters Act that sell payment instruments or transmit money in the District. The security protects people with claims against the licensee.
How much is required
D.C. Code § 26-1007 sets a fifty-thousand-dollar base. Add ten thousand dollars for each additional location or authorized delegate. The statute caps the total at two hundred fifty thousand dollars. A surety bond, irrevocable letter of credit, or other security the Commissioner accepts may satisfy the requirement; approved cash or securities deposits may replace some or all of the amount.
How to get and file it
Calculate the statutory amount from District locations and delegates, then arrange an electronic surety bond or other accepted security through NMLS with a surety authorized in the District. Align the bond term with the December 31 license year guidance in DISB’s non-depository instructions. Keep the security in place while licensed. After you stop money-transmission operations, it generally stays in place for five years—the Commissioner may reduce it sooner if outstanding District payment instruments decline. Update the amount when locations or delegates change.
Cost note
Fifty thousand to two hundred fifty thousand dollars is the required bond amount, not the premium you pay. See bond amount vs premium. Bond amount vs premium →
Requirement checklist
- Base amount
- $50,000
- Additional locations / delegates
- +$10,000 each
- Maximum
- $250,000
- Alternatives
- Irrevocable letter of credit or other approved security; cash or securities may cover some or all of the amount
Official sources
Related resources
Frequently asked questions
Is the amount based on transmission volume?
No. The amount follows the number of District locations and authorized delegates, up to $250,000—not a dollar-volume chart.
Can I use a letter of credit?
Yes. The statute expressly allows an irrevocable letter of credit or another similar security device acceptable to the Commissioner in place of a surety bond.
Related District of Columbia bond guides
Mortgage Broker / Lender Bond
$12,500–$50,000
Mortgage lenders, mortgage brokers, and dual-authority licensees in the District of Columbia file a surety bond with each original and renewal application. Amounts run from $12,500 to $50,000 based on District loan volume. Firms with four or more offices may use a $200,000 bond that lists every office, if the Commissioner approves.
Notary Public Bond
$2,000
Most District of Columbia notaries must file a two-thousand-dollar surety bond covering the five-year commission before performing notarial acts. The Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications supplies the only accepted bond form with the appointment notice.
Surety basics (not repeated here)
Universal surety concepts explained once—linked here instead of repeated on every state or bond page.
Continue with a District of Columbia application
District of Columbia will be preselected. Choose your bond type in the application—we confirm the correct product against your agency form before anything is issued.
Last verified 2026-08-11. This guide is based on verified educational content and official sources.
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