Licensing exemptions

Money Transmitters with a valid Oregon license do not have to be licensed as a check casher. However, licensed money transmitters are required to comply with the limits on fees charged, fee posting requirements, record keeping, and other requirements of the check cashing law. This exemption does not apply to any authorized delegates of licensed money transmitters; these businesses must be licensed to cash checks. (ORS 697.502)

Banks do not have to be licensed as check cashing businesses and are not subject to the fee limits or record-keeping requirements. (706.008)

Credit unions do not have to be licensed as check-cashing businesses (706.008) but are subject to the check-cashing fee limits of ORS 697.520.

A business that primarily sells retail goods or services does not have to get a check-cashing license if they do not intentionally present the location as a check-cashing business, and when check-cashing transactions account for less than 3% of their total retail transactions. (NOTE: Unlicensed retailers that cash checks incidental to or independent of a retail sale or service may not charge more than $2 or 2% of the face value of the check).