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State Collection Agency Licensing Board Open Session Meeting Minutes May 2026 - Financial Regulation

June 9, 2026; 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. (virtual)

In Attendance

Members

Tony Salazar (Commissioner and Board Chairman); Sandra Holland; Shawn Kennedy; Tracy Rezvani

Staff and Counsel (Office of Financial Regulation)

Kat Hyland, Chair Alternate (Deputy Commissioner of Financial Services & Consumer Protection and Board Chair Alternate); Ayanna Daugherty (Senior Analyst and Board Administrator); Clifford Charland (Assistant Commissioner of Financial Services Licensing and Supervision); Dana Allen (Assistant Commissioner of Enforcement); Arlene Williams (Director of Licensing); Monyette Johnson (Assistant Director of Licensing); Meredith Merchant (Operations Director); Stacy Lewis (Financial Examiner); Kenneth Krach (Advice Counsel)

Public Attendees

Susan Wilson

Agenda

Call to Order

Mr. Tony Salazar, Commissioner and Chair called the meeting to order at 2:07 p.m. and a quorum was established.

Acknowledgements

Mr. Salazar stated that the notice of the June 9, 2026 meeting was: (i) posted on the Dept. of Labor/Board website on May 26, 2026; and (ii) published in the Maryland Register on May 15, 2026. Additionally, Mr. Salazar stated the agenda for the June 9, 2026, meeting was posted on the Dept. of Labor/Board website on June 1, 2026.

Approval of Minutes

Mr. Salazar noted the minutes for the May 12, 2026 Board meeting had previously been circulated for review and asked for questions or comments. On. Mr. Kennedy’s motion, with a second from Ms. Rezvani, the Board unanimously approved the May 12, 2026, minutes.

Recognition of Public Members and Comments

There was one member of the public present, Susan Wilson, who said she was sitting in on the SCALB meeting.

Licensing Unit Report

Ms. Monyette Johnson provided the Licensing Unit Report.

Pending Applications:

Ms. Johnson advised the Board that the Licensing Unit had reviewed eight (8) pending applications with all the supporting materials and determined that these applicants met the requirements for licensure.  Accordingly, Ms. Johnson recommended that the Board grant a collection agency license to the following entities:

  1. Debt Pursuit Group LLC (NMLS ID 2728011)
  2. Thrive Financial Inc. (NMLS ID 2738784)
  3. Account Resolution Team Inc. (NMLS ID 2780400)
  4. NFSOM LLC (NMLS ID 2494867)
  5. Zyra Financial LLC (NMLS ID 2763234)
  6. Submittable Holdings Inc. (NMLS ID 2549083)
  7. Black Tree Property Management LLC (NMLS ID 2828477)
  8. Made Card LLC (NMLS ID 2797213)

On Mr. Kennedy’s motion, with a second from Ms. Holland’s, the Board voted unanimously to issue a license to the eight recommended applicants.

Surrender Licenses:

There were two (2) collection agency licenses who surrendered in the past 30 days.

  1. Passwaters Towing & Recovery (NMLS ID 1696741)
  2. U.S. Committee for Refugees & Immigrants (NMLS ID 1680332)

Changes in Control:

Ms. Johnson reported that there were six (6) changes in control approvals in the past 30 days.

  1. Marlette Servicing LLC (NMLS ID 1849345)                                        
  2. Paramount Capital Group, LLC (1114719)                                           
  3. Frost – Arnett, LLC (1124656)                                                             
  4. Paramount Capital Group, LLC (1114719)
  5. Nationwide Capital Services, LLC (NMLSID 1698675)                          
  6. Meridian Servicing, LLC (2298942)                                                     

The total number of Collection Agency licenses as of June 1, 2026, is 1025.

Consumer Response Unit Report

Ms. Lewis advised the Board that the Consumer Services Unit circulated its current report for Fiscal Year 2026 showing that as of 5/31/2026, 168 complaints have been received, 109 are open and 59 were closed.

Enforcement Unit Report

Ms. Allen advised the Board that there are fifteen (15) current/on-going collection agency cases in a pre-charge status.

Legislative Update

Mr. Salazar advised the Board that OFR is continuing to work on the implementation of the approved bills based on their timelines.

Federal Activities

Medical Debt Bill Implementation

There were no new updates to report.

CFPB

There was no new updates to report.

FTC

There were no new updates to report.

NACARA Update

Ms. Lewis advised the Board that the NACARA recently held a training on Debt Collection Statutes for the state regulators. This year’s NACARA conference will be held on October 20th-22nd, 2026, and will be a virtual conference.

MD Licensing Workgroup Update

Mr. Salazar advised the Board with an update on the MD Licensing Workgroup. He mentioned that the last meeting was held last Friday, June 5, 2026. In reference to recommendations pertaining to SCALB, the Workgroup is recommending to biforcate the authority of SCALB, expand the pool requirements for people to serve as a member of the Board, and revise the penalty provisions. The final report is being drafted and the Workgroup officially ends on June 30, 2026.

Additional Comments

There were no additional comments.

Adjournment

Mr. Salazar informed the Board that the next regular meeting is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, virtually, via video conference call. On an unanimously approved motion, the meeting adjourned at 2:20 p.m.