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If you had a loan at a failed bank which you paid off and the bank’s lien on your property was not released, we may be able to help. More information on lien releases
1
Confirm FDIC has the authority to assist with a lien release
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 FDIC might be able to assist with a lien release, verify the bank was acquired with government assistance:
If the bank failed within the last two years and another bank purchased 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, contact FDIC DRR Customer Service at 888-206-4662.
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)
Register/Mail request to FDIC DRR Customer Service and Records Research
You must register and submit your request and supporting documentation through the Community Portal. Access the Community Portal site and submit requests directly at https://ask.fdic.gov/fdicinformationandsupportcenter/s/
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 processing once all information has been provided.
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 any and all assignments that reflect the chain of title leading to the FDIC Receivership.
3. Title Search, Title Commitment, or Attorney's Title Opinion
A copy of a recent Title Search or Title Commitment or Attorney's Title Opinion on the property for which you are requesting a release. This is especially helpful in cases where the Mortgage documents are of poor quality or difficult to
read. Your Title Company or Title Attorney can usually provide you with this document.
4. Proof of Payment
Proof that the loan was paid in full. Proof of Payoff may include such things as a copy of a "PAID" Note, a Settlement Statement, copies of payment checks, or any other documentation that would indicate payment. This should
greatly reduce the amount of research time and expedite our handling of your request.
The FDIC will not accept a copy of the borrower’s credit report as proof of payoff.
Assignment of a Real Estate Lien: Required Documents for Obtaining an Assignment
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 any subsequent assignments that reflect the chain of title leading to the FDIC receivership.
3. Title Search, Title Commitment, or Attorney's Title Opinion
A copy of a recent Title Search, Title Commitment or Attorney's Title Opinion on the property for which you are requesting an assignment that documents the break in the chain of title. This is especially helpful in cases where the Mortgage
documents are of poor quality or difficult to read. Your Title Company or Title Attorney can usually provide you with this document.
4. Note Endorsement or Purchase and Sale Contract
Proof that the party to whom the assignment is being made is the subsequent holder of the lien. Proof can be in the form of a Note Endorsement or Purchase and Sale Contract.
Car or Truck: Required Documents for Obtaining a Lien Release
1. Title or Non-Negotiable Title or Vehicle Inquiry Report, Title Report or a TWIX (Texas only)
A copy of the Title or Non-Negotiable Title for the vehicle that you are requesting to be released. The copy must be legible and clearly show:
Owner's Name
Lien holder'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 will have to request a printout from the State containing the title information, and provide it to us. This printout is sometimes called a Vehicle
Inquiry Report, Title Report or a TWIX (Texas only). Depending on the State in which you live, you may have to go to the Department of Motor Vehicles, Department of Public Safety, or the local Tax Office for this printout and there
may be a small fee for it.
Please note that a registration certificate is not the same as a title report and is not acceptable.
2. Proof of Payoff
Proof that the loan was paid in full. Proof of Payoff may include such things as a copy of a "PAID" Note, copies of payment checks, or any other documentation that would indicate payment. This should greatly reduce the
amount of research time and expedite our handling of your request.
The FDIC will not accept a copy of the borrower's credit report as proof of payoff.
Boat: Required Documents for Obtaining a Lien Release
1. Title or Non-Negotiable Title or Inquiry Report
A copy of the Title or Non-Negotiable Title for the craft that you are requesting to be released. The copy must be legible and clearly show:
Owner's Name
Lien holder's Name
Identification Number
Title Number
Year
Make and Model
If the Title or Non-Negotiable Title has been lost or is unavailable, you will have to request a printout from the State containing the title information, and provide it to us. This printout is sometimes called an Inquiry
Report or Title Report. Depending on the State in which you live, 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 and
there may be a small fee for it.
Please note that a registration certificate is not the same as a title report and is not acceptable.
If the boat is classified as an "Ocean Vessel" you will have to obtain a title report from the Coast Guard and provide it to us.
2. Proof of Payoff
Proof that the loan was paid in full. Proof of Payoff may include such things as a copy of a "PAID" Note, copies of payment checks, or any other documentation that would indicate payment. This should greatly reduce the
amount of research time and expedite our handling of your request.
The FDIC will not accept a copy of the borrower’s credit report as proof of payoff.
Mobile or Manufactured Home: Required Documents for Obtaining a Lien Release
1. Title or Non-Negotiable Title or Inquiry Report
A copy of the Title or Non-Negotiable Title for the Mobile Home that you are requesting to be released. The copy must be legible and clearly show:
Owner's Name
Lien holder'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 will have to request a printout from the State containing the title information, and provide it to us. This printout is sometimes called an Inquiry
Report or Title Report. Depending on the State in which you live, 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
and there may be a small fee for it.
Please note that a registration certificate is not the same as a title report and is not acceptable.
2. Proof of Payoff
Proof that the loan was paid in full. Proof of Payoff may include such things as a copy of a "PAID" Note, copies of payment checks, or any other documentation that would indicate payment. This should greatly reduce the
amount of research time and expedite our handling of your request.
The FDIC will not accept a copy of the borrower’s credit report as proof of payoff.
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 that you are requesting to be released. The copy must be legible and clearly show:
Debtor's Name
Secured Party or Lien holder'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
Please note that a registration certificate is not the same as a title report and is not acceptable.
2. Proof of Payoff
Proof that the loan was paid in full. Proof of Payoff may include such things as a copy of a "PAID" Note, copies of payment checks, or anything else that would indicate payment. This should greatly reduce the amount of
research time and expedite our handling of your request.
The FDIC will not accept a copy of the borrower’s credit report as proof of payoff.
Business Equipment and/or Other Chattel Property (UCC): Required Documents for Obtaining a Lien Release
1. UCC Financing Statement
A copy of the filed UCC Financing Statement for the property that you are requesting to be released. 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 original UCC Filing has been lost or is unavailable, you'll have to request a printout from the Secretary of State containing this information, and provide it to us.
2. Proof of Payoff
Proof that the loan was paid in full. Proof of Payoff may include such things as a copy of a "PAID" Note, copies of payment checks, or any other documentation that would indicate payment. This should greatly reduce the
amount of research time and expedite our handling of your request.
The FDIC will not accept a copy of the borrower’s credit report as proof of payoff.
Life Insurance: Required Documents for Obtaining a Lien Release
1. Collateral Assignment of Life Insurance Policy
A copy of the Collateral Assignment of Life Insurance Policy for the policy that you are requesting to be released. The Life Insurance Company that issued the policy should be able to provide this. 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. Proof of Payoff may include such things as a copy of a "PAID" Note, copies of payment checks, or any other documentation that would indicate payment. This should greatly reduce the
amount of research time and expedite our handling of your request.
Questions?
What can I expect and when can I expect a response?
Once the request has been entered through the Community Portal at https://ask.fdic.gov/fdicinformationandsupportcenter/s/ you will receive a screen notification of your
assigned case number and then an acknowledgement email containing the case number.
Because of the large volume of requests received at the FDIC, it typically takes up to 20 business days to process a request once all required documentation has been provided by the requestor. If the required document(s) are not provided and
extensive research is required, additional days may be added to our processing timeframe.
We cannot accept requests by phone or email.
You can contact FDIC DRR Customer Service at 888-206-4662 between the hours of 8am – 4pm Central Time Monday through Friday (except federal holidays) to speak to a customer service representative.
If you do not have access to a computer, you may mail your request to: FDIC, DRR Customer Service, 600 North Pearl Street, Suite 700, Dallas, TX
ABOUT LIENS AND LIEN RELEASES
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 Deed of Trust or Mortgage 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 that you record the lien release document with the same county agency that recorded the original Deed of Trust or Mortgage.
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 lien holder is a bank or savings and loan that failed and has been placed into FDIC Receivership.
If the lien holder 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. 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.
Questions?