Cal. Codes » Financial Code / DIVISION 20. CALIFORNIA RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE LENDING ACT / CHAPTER 4. Financial Condition, Transaction and Bond Requirements
California Codes

Cal. Financial Code § 50204 (2026)

Financial Condition, Transaction and Bond Requirements

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A licensee may not do any of the following:

(a)Disburse the mortgage loan proceeds in a form other than direct deposit to the borrower’s or borrower’s designee’s account, wire, bank or certified check, ACH funds transfer, or attorney’s check drawn on a trust account. An entity may apply to the commissioner for a waiver of the requirements of this subdivision by demonstrating, in a letter application, that it has adopted or will adopt another method of disbursement of loan proceeds that will satisfy the purposes of this subdivision.

(b)Fail to disburse funds in accordance with a commitment to make a mortgage loan that is accepted by the applicant.

(c)Accept fees at closing that are not disclosed to the borrower on the federal HUD-1 Settlement Statement.

(d)Commit an act in violation of Section 2941 of the Civil Code.

(e)Obtain or induce an agreement or other instrument in which blanks are left to be filled in after execution.

(f)Intentionally delay closing of a mortgage loan for the sole purpose of increasing interest, costs, fees, or charges payable by the borrower.

(g)Engage in fraudulent home mortgage underwriting practices.

(h)Make payment of any kind, whether directly or indirectly, to an in-house or fee appraiser of a government or private money lending agency, with which an application for a home mortgage has been filed, for the purpose of influencing the independent judgment of the appraiser with respect to the value of real estate that is to be covered by the home mortgage.

(i)Engage in any acts in violation of Section 17200 or 17500 of the Business and Professions Code.

(j)Knowingly misrepresent, circumvent, or conceal, through subterfuge or device, any material aspect or information regarding a transaction to which it is a party.

(k)Do an act, whether of the same or a different character than specified in this section, that constitutes fraud or dishonest dealings.

(l)Sell more than eight loans in a calendar year made under the authority of this license to a person who is not an institutional investor.

(m)Commit an act in violation of Section 1695.13 of the Civil Code.

(n)Make or service a loan that is not a residential mortgage loan under the authority of the license.

(o)Commit an act in violation of Section 2948.5 of the Civil Code. Evidence of compliance with Section 2948.5 of the Civil Code may be evidenced by (1) a certification executed by the licensee, at no cost to the borrower, pursuant to Section 2015.5 of the Code of Civil Procedure, or (2) other evidence in the loan file acceptable to the commissioner.

(p)Make or broker a loan that is offered by, negotiated by, or applied for through a mortgage loan originator who is not licensed in this state through the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry, unless the mortgage loan originator is exempt from licensure.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 8 cases, 1999–2015 · leading case: Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v. Boutris, 265 F. Supp. 2d 1162 (E.D. Cal. 2003).
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Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v. Boutris, 265 F. Supp. 2d 1162 (E.D. Cal. 2003). · cites it 8× “5; Cal. Fin. Code § 50204 (o). California Civil Code § 2948.”
Wells Fargo Bank N.A. v. Boutris, 419 F.3d 949 (9th Cir. 2005). · cites it 3× “Cal. Fin. Code § 50204 (o); see Wells Fargo II, 265 F.”
Washington Mut. Bank, Fa v. Superior Court, 95 Cal. App. 4th 606 (Cal. Ct. App. 2002). “” (Fin. Code, § 50204, subd. (o).) * Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, Division Eight, assigned by the Chief Justice pursuant to article VI, section 6 of the California Constitution.”
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v. Boutris, 252 F. Supp. 2d 1065 (E.D. Cal. 2003). · cites it 2× “) This required audit was to identify; all loans where per diem interest was charged by WFHMI in violation of California Financial Code § 50204(o), those consumers entitled to a refund, and instances of understating finance charges in violation of the Truth in Lending Act and…”
Quicken Loans, Inc. v. Wood, 449 F.3d 944 (9th Cir. 2006). “Cal. Fin. Code § 50204 (o) (2000) (amended 2003 to prohibit violating a similar provision located at Cal.”
Untitled California Attorney Gen. Opinion, No. 99-307 (Cal. Att'y Gen. Dec. 22, 1999). · cites it 2× “Code, § 50129), and expressly prohibits them from engaging in other activities (Fin. Code, § 50204, subd. (i)). One prohibition is that a licensee may not “[e]ngage in any acts in violation of Section 17200 or 17500 of the Business and Professions Code.”
Mannarino v. Bank of Am., No. B243803 (Cal. Ct. App. July 31, 2013). “) The fourteenth and fifteenth causes of action allege violations of Financial Code sections 50204 and 4973 and are precluded by the one-year limitations period of Code of Civil Procedure section 340, subdivision (a).”
McMullen v. Bazan, No. B255747 (Cal. Ct. App. Jan. 21, 2015). “He alleges causes of action for (1) fraudulent home mortgage underwriting practices (Fin. Code, § 50204); (2) civil conspiracy; (3) breach of implied warranty of quiet enjoyment; (4) fraud; (5) abuse of process; and 3 (6) intentional infliction of emotional distress.”
Cal. Financial Code § 50204(1): 1 case
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v. Boutris, 265 F. Supp. 2d 1162 (E.D. Cal. 2003). “5; Cal. Fin. Code § 50204 (o). California Civil Code § 2948.”
Cal. Financial Code § 50204(i)(j): 1 case
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v. Boutris, 252 F. Supp. 2d 1065 (E.D. Cal. 2003). “) This required audit was to identify; all loans where per diem interest was charged by WFHMI in violation of California Financial Code § 50204(o), those consumers entitled to a refund, and instances of understating finance charges in violation of the Truth in Lending Act and…”
Cal. Financial Code § 50204(o): 3 cases
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v. Boutris, 265 F. Supp. 2d 1162 (E.D. Cal. 2003). “5; Cal. Fin. Code § 50204 (o). California Civil Code § 2948.”
Wells Fargo Bank N.A. v. Boutris, 419 F.3d 949 (9th Cir. 2005). “Cal. Fin. Code § 50204 (o); see Wells Fargo II, 265 F.”
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v. Boutris, 252 F. Supp. 2d 1065 (E.D. Cal. 2003). “) This required audit was to identify; all loans where per diem interest was charged by WFHMI in violation of California Financial Code § 50204(o), those consumers entitled to a refund, and instances of understating finance charges in violation of the Truth in Lending Act and…”
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