Iowa Money Transmitter License Overview

Who Controls the Iowa Money Service License

The Iowa Division of Banking issues a Money Service license to entities involved in the business of currency exchange or money transmission. Currency exchange means receipt of compensation from the exchange of money of one government for money of another government. Money Transmission means any of the following: selling payment instruments to one or more persons or issuing payment instruments which are sold to one or more persons; or conducting the business of receiving money or monetary value for transmission; or conducting the business of receiving money for obligors for the purpose of paying obligors’ bills, invoices, or accounts.

Activities Authorized by the Iowa Money Service License

This license authorizes the following activities:

• Electronic money transmitting
• Issuing traveler’s checks
• Selling traveler’s checks
• Issuing money orders
• Selling money orders
• Bill paying
• Issuing and/or selling drafts
• Issuing prepaid access/stored value
• Selling prepaid access/stored value
• Foreign currency dealing or exchanging

Iowa Money Service License Net Worth and Surety Bond

To acquire a Money Service License in Iowa, you need a minimum tangible net worth of $100,000. You shall also be required to submit a surety bond of $300,000 or a premium in the amount of $7,500.

Iowa Money Transmitter License Cost

The PDF below summarizes the costs associated with acquiring a Money Service License in the state of Iowa. The process will take approximately three months.

Steps to Obtain a Money Transmitter License in Iowa

—

This page was last updated on May 31, 2023.

–