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HomeFinancial CodeDiv. 1.2Ch. 5§ 2081 Licensee Financial Security Requirements

§ 2081 Licensee Financial Security Requirements

Financial Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 2081 Licensee Financial Security Requirements

Key Takeaways

  • •Companies that handle money transfers (like sending cash to family) must always have enough safe investments (like bonds) to cover all the money they owe to customers.
  • •If the company is in financial trouble, the government can make them set aside even more money or get extra protection to keep customer money safe.
  • •The money set aside is only for customers—if the company goes broke, creditors (people the company owes money to) can’t take it.
  • •The company must keep records proving they actually sent the money to the right person or gave it back to the customer.

Example

You use an app to send $100 to your cousin in another state. The app company must have at least $100 in safe investments (like government bonds) to cover your $100 until your cousin gets the money.

If the app company doesn’t have enough safe investments to cover everyone’s transfers, the government can step in and make them fix it. Your $100 is protected even if the company goes broke.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 2081 Licensee Financial Security Requirements

(a) A licensee shall at all times own eligible securities having an aggregate market value computed in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles of not less than the aggregate amount of all of its outstanding payment instruments and stored value obligations issued or sold in the United States and all outstanding money received for transmission in the United States. (b) If the commissioner finds that the financial condition of a licensee is impaired, or that the financial condition of a licensee is such that its business is being conducted in an unsafe and unsound manner, the commissioner, to protect the public interest, may issue an order, subject to the procedures set forth in Section 2148, doing one or both of the following: (1) Increasing the amount of eligible securities that the licensee must maintain. (2) Requiring the licensee to obtain, as security for the payment of outstanding money transmission obligations, additional security in the form of financial guarantees. (c) Eligible securities, even if commingled with other assets of the licensee, are deemed to be held in trust for the benefit of the purchasers and holders of the licensee’s outstanding payment instrument and stored value obligations, and all senders of outstanding money received for transmission, in the event of bankruptcy or receivership of the licensee, or in the event of an action by a creditor against the licensee who is not a beneficiary of this statutory trust. No eligible securities impressed with a trust pursuant to this subdivision shall be subject to attachment, levy of execution, or sequestration by order of any court, except for a beneficiary of this statutory trust. (d) All outstanding payment instruments and stored value issued or sold by a licensee or its agent, and all outstanding money received for transmission by a licensee or its agent, shall remain a liability of the licensee from the time money or monetary value is received by the licensee or its agent until the licensee receives confirmation that such money or monetary value was received by the beneficiary, or until the outstanding payment instrument or stored value obligation has been paid, or until the money is refunded to the customer. (e) A licensee shall maintain a record in the United States of proof of receipt by the beneficiary or refund to the customer of money received for transmission. (Added by Stats. 2011, Ch. 243, Sec. 4. (SB 664) Effective January 1, 2012.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

liabilitycommissionbenefitnetsecuritiesobligationlicensebankruptcy

Related Statutes

  • § 2082 Eligible Security Definition
  • § 2037 Licensee Security Deposit Requirements
  • § 50307.1 Mortgage Servicing Reports
  • § 50319 Escrow Insolvency Enforcement
  • § 1811 Foreign Bank Asset Requirements

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Financial Code. Section 2081.
View Official Source