Obtaining a Lien Release

The FDIC may be able to assist you in obtaining a lien release if the request is for a customer of a failed bank that was placed into FDIC receivership.

To determine if the FDIC might be able to assist with a lien release, verify the bank was acquired with government assistance:

Are you having trouble finding a lienholder?

If the bank failed within the last two years and another bank purchased or acquired the failed bank, you should contact the acquiring bank (see the Failed Bank List). If the lien is for a subsidiary of a failed bank, the FDIC may also be able to assist you. Please contact FDIC DRR Customer Service at 888-206-4662.

The FDIC cannot process lien releases for:

• Banks that merged without government assistance, unless the successor bank failed (see BankFind)
• Banks that were acquired without government assistance, unless the successor bank failed (see BankFind)
• Banks that closed voluntarily and liquidated their assets or closed without government assistance (see BankFind)
• Credit Unions (see NCUA)
• Mortgage and finance companies (see appropriate Secretary of State Office)

2 Compile Required Documents and Prepare Request for a Lien Release

Review the required documents based on the type of loan:

Home, Building, or Land: Required Documents for Obtaining a Lien Release

1. Recorded Mortgage or Deed of Trust A recorded copy of the mortgage or deed of trust document for which you are requesting a release. The copy must be legible and clearly show the recording information. This document can be obtained from the public records in the county where the property is located or from your title company or title attorney.
2. Recorded Assignments Recorded copies of all assignments in the chain of title leading to the FDIC receivership.
3. Title Search, Title Commitment, or Attorney's Title Opinion A copy of a recent (dated within the last six months) title search, title commitment issued by a title company, or an attorney's title opinion on the property for which you are requesting a release. Your title company or title attorney can usually provide you with this title document.
4. Proof of Payment Proof that the loan was paid in full, which can be in the form of a Lienholder’s promissory note stamped "PAID", a signed HUD-1 settlement statement, a copy of payoff check, or any other documentation evidencing payoff to the failed bank. The FDIC will not accept a copy of the borrower’s credit report as proof of payoff.

Assignment of a Real Estate Lien: Required Documentation for Obtaining an Assignment

Recorded Mortgage or Deed of Trust

1. Recorded Mortgage or Deed of Trust A recorded copy of the mortgage or deed of trust document for which you are requesting an assignment. The copy must be legible and clearly show the recording information. This document can be obtained from the public records in the county where the property is located or from your title company or title attorney.
2. Recorded Assignments Recorded copies of all assignments in the chain of title leading to the FDIC receivership.
3. Title Search, Title Commitment, or Attorney's Title Opinion A copy of a recent (dated within the last six months) Title Search, Title Commitment issued by a title company, or an attorney's title opinion on the property for which you are requesting an assignment that documents the missing assignment or transfer of the lien interest in the chain of title. Your title company or title attorney can usually provide you with this title document.
4. Note Endorsement or Purchase and Sale Contract Proof that the party to whom the assignment is being made is the subsequent owner of the lien. Documentation for the FDIC consideration may be a note endorsement or a loan purchase and sale contract.

Allonge: Required Documents for Obtaining an Allonge

1. Copy of Promissory Note A copy of the note, and any endorsements for which you are requesting an allonge. The copy must be legible and include all pages of the note.
2. Recorded Mortgage or Deed of Trust A recorded copy of the mortgage or deed of trust document for which you are requesting an allonge. The copy must be legible and clearly show the recording information. This document can be obtained from the public records in the county where the property is located or from your title company or title attorney.
3. Recorded Assignments Recorded copies of all assignments in the chain of title leading to the FDIC receivership.
4. Proof of Subsequent Owner of Promissory Note Proof that the party to whom the allonge may be issued to is the subsequent owner of the note. Documentation for FDIC consideration may be a recorded assignment from the failed institution to the subsequent owner or a loan purchase and sale contract.

Car or Truck: Required Documents for Obtaining a Lien Release

1. Title, Non-Negotiable Title, Vehicle Inquiry Report, or Title Report A copy of the title or non-negotiable title for the vehicle that you are requesting a release. The copy must be legible and clearly show:
   • Owner's Name
   • Lienholder's Name
   • Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
   • Title Number
   • Year
   • Make and Model

If the title or non-negotiable title has been lost or is unavailable, you must request and provide a printout from the state containing the title information. This printout is sometimes called a Vehicle Inquiry Report or Title Report. Depending on the state, you may have to contact the Department of Motor Vehicles, Department of Public Safety, or the local tax office for this printout (note: there may be a small fee).

A registration certificate is not the same as a Title Report and is unacceptable.

Boat: Required Documents for Obtaining a Lien Release

1. Title, Non-Negotiable Title, or Inquiry Report A copy of the Title or non-negotiable title for the craft which you are requesting a release. The copy must be legible and clearly show:
   • Owner's Name
   • Lienholder's Name
   • Identification Number
   • Title Number
   • Year
   • Make and Model

If the title or non-negotiable title has been lost or is unavailable, you must obtain and provide a printout from the state, sometimes called an inquiry report or title report. Depending on the state, you may have to go to the Department of Parks and Wildlife, Department of Motor Vehicles, Department of Public Safety, or the local tax office for this printout (note: there may be a small fee).

A registration certificate is not the same as a Title Report and is unacceptable.

If the boat is classified as an "Ocean Vessel”, you must obtain and provide a title report from the United States Coast Guard.

Mobile or Manufactured Home: Required Documents for Obtaining a Lien Release

1. Title, Non-Negotiable Title, or Inquiry Report A copy of the title or non-negotiable title for the mobile/manufactured home for which you are requesting a release. The copy must be legible and clearly show:
   • Owner's Name
   • Lienholder's Name
   • Label or Serial Number
   • Year
   • Make and Model
   • Weight and Size

If the title or non-negotiable title has been lost or is unavailable, you must request and provide a printout from the state containing the title information. This printout is sometimes called an inquiry report or title report. Depending on the state, you may have to go to the Department of Housing and Community Affairs, Department of Motor Vehicles, Department of Public Safety, or the local tax office for this printout (note: there may be a small fee).

A registration certificate is not the same as a Title Report and is unacceptable.

Aircraft: Required Documents for Obtaining a Lien Release

1. Title Report A copy of a title report from an aircraft title agency for the aircraft for which you are requesting a release. The copy must be legible and clearly show:
   • Debtor's Name
   • Secured Party or Lienholder's Name
   • FAA Registration Number
   • Aircraft Serial Number
   • Aircraft Manufacturer and Model
   • Date of the Security Conveyance
   • Date of the recording of the Security Conveyance
   • Conveyance Number

A registration certificate is not the same as a Title Report and is unacceptable.

Business Equipment and/or Other Chattel Property (UCC): Required Documents for Obtaining a Lien Release

1. UCC Financing Statement A copy of all filed UCC Financing Statements for the property for which you are requesting a release. The copy must be legible and clearly show:
   • Debtor's Name and Address
   • Name of the Secured Party
   • Filing Number for the UCC
   • Any subsequent Amendments and/or Continuations

If a copy of the filed UCC Financing Statement has been lost or is unavailable, you must obtain and provide a printout from the Secretary of State or county recorder’s office containing the information listed above.

Life Insurance: Required Documents for the FDIC Review of Obtaining a Lien Release

1. Collateral Assignment of Life Insurance A complete copy of the collateral assignment of life insurance for the policy for which you are requesting a release. The life insurance company that issued the policy should be able to provide this document. The copy must be legible and clearly show:
   • Name of the Insured Person
   • Date of Insurance Policy
   • Policy Number
   • Name of the Insurance Company that issued the policy
   • Address of the Insurance Company.
2. Proof of Payoff Proof that the loan was paid in full, which can be in the form of a lienholder’s promissory note stamped "PAID", a copy of payoff check, or any other documentation evidencing payoff to the failed bank. The FDIC will not accept a copy of the borrower’s credit report as proof of payoff.

3 Register/Mail request to FDIC DRR Customer Service and Records Research

You must register and submit your request and supporting documentation through the FDIC Information and Support Center. Access the FDIC Information and Support Center site and submit requests directly

Do not include your social security number in any correspondence.

Do not include a credit report as proof of payoff.

Requests are processed in the order they are received.

Allow 20 business days for FDIC's review and response once all required documentation is received.

Please note that documents provided by the FDIC are signed and notarized electronically.

Frequently Asked Questions

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What is a lien?

A lien is a claim or charge on property to ensure payment of a debt, obligation, or duty to the lender.

The lender is the institution that made the loan.

The lender will record the mortgage or deed of trust document in the public records with the appropriate agency in the county where the property is located. Once the loan is repaid, the lender should provide a recordable lien release document. It is very important to record the lien release document with the same recording official as the original mortgage or deed of trust (such as the County Clerk of Court or Register-Recorder of Deeds Office).

Why wasn’t the lien released by the bank when I paid it off years ago?

Since the FDIC was not the lender, the FDIC cannot answer that question. However, if your loan was with a failed bank or savings and loan, the FDIC may be able to assist you in obtaining a lien release.

Under what circumstance may the FDIC be able to help me obtain a lien release?

The FDIC may be able to assist in issuing a lien release in the following cases:

• If the lienholder is a bank or savings and loan that failed and has been placed into FDIC receivership.
• If the lienholder is an active or recently dissolved subsidiary of a failed bank or savings and loan.
• If the loan was paid off to the bank or savings and loan before the institution failed.
• If the loan was paid off to the FDIC after the bank or savings and loan failed.

If you have any questions regarding the FDIC’s ability to assist with a lien release, please contact FDIC DRR Customer Service at 888-206-4662 between the hours of 8am - 4pm Central Time, Monday through Friday (except federal holidays).

Why do I have to provide so much information? Don't you already have the records?

The FDIC is the receiver of the failed bank or savings and loan. The FDIC is not the actual lender and the failed bank records in our possession are limited. If there is an acquiring institution for a failed bank or savings and loan, in most cases, the records were transferred to the acquirer. The acquirer may have information that will assist you with obtaining a lien release.

What can I expect and when can I expect a response?

Once the request has been entered through the FDIC Information and Support Center, you will receive a screen notification of your assigned case number and an acknowledgment email containing the case number.

Because of the large volume of requests received by the FDIC, it typically takes up to 20 business days for the FDIC to review and respond to a request once the requestor has provided all required documentation. If the required document(s) are not provided and extensive research or legal review is needed, additional days may be added to our response time.

We cannot accept any requests by phone or email. All requests must come through the FDIC Information and Support Center link. Reaching out to other FDIC personnel will delay intake and review of your request.

You may contact FDIC DRR Customer Service to speak with a representative at 888-206-4662 between 8 am and 4 pm Central Time, Monday through Friday (except federal holidays).

If you do not have access to a computer, you may mail your request and all required documentation to:

FDIC, DRR Customer Service
600 North Pearl Street, Suite 700
Dallas, TX 75201.

Last Updated: June 24, 2024