1. (a) In this article, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the following words have the meanings indicated.
2. (b) “Address” means post office address, including, if applicable, street and number, municipal area or county, state, and, if outside of the United States, country.

3. (c) “Any state” means:

   1. (1) Any state, possession, or territory of the United States;
   2. (2) The District of Columbia; or
   3. (3) The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
4. (d) “Banking institution” means an institution that is incorporated under the laws of this State as a State bank, trust company, or savings bank.
5. (e) “Charter” has the meaning stated in § 1-101 of the Corporations and Associations Article.
6. (f) “Commercial bank” means an institution that is incorporated under the laws of this State as a State bank or trust company.
7. (g) “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of Financial Regulation in the Maryland Department of Labor.
8. (h) “County” means a county of this State and, unless otherwise indicated, Baltimore City.
9. (i) “Credit union” means a credit union that is incorporated under the laws of this State as a credit union.
10. (j) “Financial institution” means any financial institution of the type supervised under this article, whether or not State-chartered.

11. (k)

    1. (1) “Foreign bank” means any financial institution or other institution that engages in banking activities that are usual in connection with the business of banking in the nations in which the institution is organized or operates.
    2. (2) “Foreign bank” does not include a bank organized under the laws of any state or a national banking association that has its headquarters in any state.
12. (l) “Includes” or “including” means includes or including by way of illustration and not by way of limitation.
13. (m) “Mail” means to deposit in the United States mail, postage prepaid.
14. (n) “Mortgage” includes a deed of trust that secures a debt or the performance of an obligation.
15. (o) “Municipal area” means a municipal corporation or an unincorporated city, town, or village.
16. (p) “National banking association” means an institution that is incorporated under federal law as a bank.
17. (q) “Nationwide Multistate Licensing System ” or “NMLS” means a multistate uniform licensing system developed and maintained by the Conference of State Bank Supervisors, or by a subsidiary or an affiliate of the Conference of State Bank Supervisors, that may be used for the licensing and registration of persons required to be licensed or registered under this article or the Commercial Law Article.
18. (r) “Other-state bank” means a bank chartered and primarily regulated by another state.
19. (s) “Other-state credit union” means a credit union chartered and primarily regulated by another state.
20. (t) “Person” means an individual, receiver, trustee, guardian, personal representative, fiduciary, or representative of any kind and any partnership, firm, association, corporation, or other entity.

21. (u) “Political subdivision” means:

    1. (1) A county or municipal corporation of this State; and
    2. (2) Unless the context requires otherwise, a special taxing district of this State.
22. (v) “Real property” includes any interest in real property.
23. (w) “Regulated entity” means a person who is licensed or chartered by the Office of Financial Regulation.

24. (x)

    1. (1) “Third-party service provider” means a person who performs activities relating to financial services on behalf of a regulated entity for that regulated entity's customers.

    2. (2) “Third-party service provider” includes a person who provides:

       1. (i) Data processing services;

       2. (ii) Activities that support financial services, including:

          1. 1. Lending;
          2. 2. Funds transfer;
          3. 3. Fiduciary activities;
          4. 4. Trading activities; and
          5. 5. Deposit taking;

       3. (iii) Internet-related services, including:

          1. 1. Web services and electronic bill payments;
          2. 2. Mobile applications;
          3. 3. System and software development and maintenance; and
          4. 4. Security monitoring; or
       4. (iv) Any other similar activity the Commissioner designates by regulation as related to financial services.

    3. (3) “Third-party service provider” does not include:

       1. (i) A provider of an interactive computer service or a general audience Internet or communications platform, except to the extent that the service or platform is specially designed or adapted for financial services and activities related to financial services; or
       2. (ii) Any person that controls, or is under common control with, an entity licensed by the Commissioner unless the person performs for the licensed entity any of the activities described in paragraph (2) of this subsection.
25. (y) “Uniformed services” has the meaning stated in § 9-901 of the State Government Article.

Added by Acts 1980, c. 33, § 2, eff. July 1, 1980. Amended by Acts 1988, c. 662; Acts 1995, c. 213, § 2, eff. Sept. 29, 1995; Acts 1996, c. 326, §§ 1, 2, eff. July 1, 1996; Acts 1998, c. 689, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 1998; Acts 2012, c. 324, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2012; Acts 2012, c. 325, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2012; Acts 2014, c. 306, § 1, eff. June 1, 2014; Acts 2015, c. 95, § 1, eff. June 1, 2015; Acts 2016, c. 478, § 1, eff. July 1, 2016; Acts 2017, c. 253, § 1, eff. July 1, 2017; Acts 2018, c. 480, § 2, eff. Oct. 1, 2018; Acts 2019, c. 8, § 5; Acts 2019, c. 92, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2019; Acts 2021, c. 426, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2021; Acts 2023, c. 28, § 1, eff. July 1, 2023; Acts 2023, c. 29, § 1, eff. July 1, 2023; Acts 2023, c. 456, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2023; Acts 2024, c. 422, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2024; Acts 2025, c. 5, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2025; Acts 2025, c. 6, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2025; Acts 2025, c. 117, § 1, eff. July 1, 2025; Acts 2025, c. 118, § 1, eff. April 22, 2025; Acts 2025, c. 119, § 1, eff. April 22, 2025; Acts 2026, c. 153, § 1, eff. April 14, 2026.