Is eight hours of annual CE really the end of mortgage training? For state-licensed MLOs, the SAFE Act requires at least eight hours of approved continuing education each year for license renewal. But annual CE isn’t the only training consideration for mortgage companies. Regulation “Z” requires certain loan originator organizations to provide periodic training covering applicable federal and state law requirements. CFPB guidance explains that this training must be sufficient in its frequency, timing, duration …

Many mortgage loan originators (MLOs) assume cybersecurity is primarily the responsibility of the company’s IT department. In reality, MLOs are often the first line of defense—and sometimes the greatest point of vulnerability. Mortgage originators routinely handle highly sensitive nonpublic personal information (NPI), including: Tax returns, Pay stubs, Bank statements, Credit reports, Social Security numbers, Driver’s licenses, and Wire transfer information. Because MLOs communicate constantly through email, mobile devices, cloud platforms, CRMs, and third-party applications, they …