Atlanta, Georgia – On April 11, 2019, the Superior Court of Forsyth County, Georgia, entered a Consent Order and Judgment enjoining the following from further violation of the two Orders to Cease and Desist issued by the Department of Banking and Finance (“Department”):

  • EDU Financial Solutions a/k/a EDU Loan Pro a/k/a EDU Home Loans
  • Christopher John Simpson, NMLS No. 92707
  • Kathy Hootselle
  • Southern Blinds, Inc.

In 2017, the Department entered two final Orders to Cease and Desist against EDU Financial Solutions based on evidence that it had engaged in residential mortgage brokering activities without a license or pursuant to an applicable exemption in violation of O.C.G.A. § 7-1-1002.

The Department subsequently learned that EDU Financial Solutions, which is operated by Mr. Simpson and owned by Ms. Hootselle in affiliation with Southern Blinds, Inc., violated the Orders to Cease and Desist by continuing to engage in unlicensed mortgage brokering activities, including, but not limited to, directly or indirectly soliciting, processing, placing, or negotiating mortgage loans for others, or offering to solicit, process, place, or negotiate mortgage loans for others.  As a result, the Department filed an action in the Superior Court of Forsyth County to obtain a court order to prevent EDU Financial Solutions, Mr. Simpson, Ms. Hootselle, and Southern Blinds, Inc., from further violation of the Department’s Orders to Cease and Desist.

The Superior Court of Forsyth County found EDU Financial Services, Mr. Simpson, Ms. Hootselle, and Southern Blinds, Inc., to be in violation of the Orders to Cease and Desist and ordered them to comply with their terms.  Additionally, the Court ordered Mr. Simpson to cease and desist from engaging in activities in violation of the Georgia Residential Mortgage Act, O.C.G.A. § 7-1-1000 et seq., and imposed judgment against Mr. Simpson in the amount of $5,000 for civil penalties. 

Contact: 
Rod Carnes
Deputy Commissioner for Non-Depository Financial Institutions
Phone: (770) 986-1371
E-mail: [email protected]

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