Bob Niemi

Bob brings a unique perspective to achieving workable outcomes for complex matters.  He uses his experience and relationships to advise lenders on a wide array of regulatory and compliance matters, including licensing, examination and acquisitions.

Bob’s work in the mortgage industry began over 35 years ago and includes positions held at all levels of bank and non-bank mortgage companies. Bob served as Executive Director of the Ohio Mortgage Bankers Association Board and then Deputy Superintendent for the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions. During that time, he was elected to serve as the NMLS Ombudsman, appointed to the NMLS Policy Committee and also elected to the AARMR Board of Trustees where he served as Treasurer. Since returning to the industry side in 2016, Bob has earned the Certified Mortgage Banker accreditation from the MBA.

During his time as Ohio’s chief lending regulator, Bob gained familiarity with shifting regulations and evolving codes and he uses this perspective to advise clients in establishing business practices, policies, and training programs that are compliant and forward-thinking. Bob has utilized his knowledge and experience to help shape mortgage laws and evolve lending regulations to reduce regulatory burden on lenders while preserving consumer protections.

Bob has also been a state licensed mortgage originator, CMB instructor, trainer for state mortgage examiners, and an approved NMLS pre-licensing education mortgage instructor and instructor for Mortgage Banking Bound at Barry University. He is also the co-author of the MBA Compliance Essentials resource on MLO Temporary Authority.

Bob is engaged with the MBA on several committees and coordinated the team that developed the branch licensing flexibility model language. This language has been the basis of more than 25 state remote work legislative and guidance documents with more currently in progress.

Representative Matters

• Frequent speaker on federal and state legislative, examination and enforcement trends at industry-related conferences and seminars nationwide
• AARMR Industry Advisory Council, Chair
• Society of Certified Mortgage Bankers, Vice Chair (2023-2024), Secretary (2022-2023)
• MBA of Florida Board, Second Vice President and Co-Chair of the CMB Society of Florida
• NAMMBA Visionary
• MAA / MORPAC Steering Committee (2018-2023) MORPAC Platinum Donor
• MBA Legal Issues and Regulatory Compliance Committee (2016-present)
• MBA State Legislative Regulatory Committee (2016-present)
• MBA State Relations Committee (2016-present)
• MBA of Tampa Bay, Legislative Chair