How Cenlar Mortgage Payments Work and Where to Send Them
What Cenlar does with your mortgage payment
Cenlar is a mortgage servicer — the company that collects your monthly payment, keeps track of what you owe, and handles the paperwork between you and the lender who actually owns your loan. When you mail a check or set up automatic payments, Cenlar receives it, records it against your account, and passes the money to the investor or bank that funded your mortgage.
Cenlar does not decide whether to approve you for a loan or set your interest rate. Those decisions were made by the original lender. Cenlar's job starts after you close: they manage the payment process, escrow accounts (if you have one), property tax and insurance records, and communication if you fall behind.
You may have Cenlar as your servicer even if you did not originally borrow from them. Mortgages are bought and sold between investors, and the servicer changes with them. If your loan was sold to Cenlar, you will receive a notice in the mail explaining the change and providing new payment instructions.
Key Takeaways
- Cenlar is the company that collects your payment each month, not the lender who owns your loan.
- You can pay Cenlar by mail, automatic bank transfer (ACH), phone, or online through their website or customer portal.
- Your payment must arrive by the due date shown on your statement; payments received after that date are considered late and may trigger a fee.
- If your loan includes an escrow account, part of your payment goes to property taxes and homeowners insurance, and Cenlar pays those bills on your behalf.
- Contact Cenlar directly if your payment does not post to your account within a few business days, or if you receive a late notice you believe is incorrect.
How to send a payment to Cenlar
Cenlar accepts payments through four main channels. The method you choose affects how quickly the payment posts and whether you can set it to repeat automatically.
Mail: Write a check to Cenlar FSB and mail it to the address on your statement. Include your loan number on the check. Mail payments typically take 5 to 10 business days to arrive and post, so send it early if your due date is approaching.
Automatic bank transfer (ACH): Set up a recurring payment through your bank's bill-pay system or through Cenlar's online portal. ACH transfers usually post within 1 to 3 business days. This method is the most reliable way to avoid late payments because you can schedule it to process before your due date.
Phone: Call Cenlar's payment line to make a one-time payment by debit card or bank account. The phone number is on your statement. Payments made by phone are usually posted the same day or next business day.
Online portal: Log into your Cenlar account on their website or mobile app to pay by debit card, credit card, or bank transfer. Online payments typically post within 1 business day. Some credit card payments may incur a processing fee.
Understanding your due date and late payments
Your mortgage payment is due on a specific date each month, shown on your statement. If the payment is not received by that date, it is considered late. Most lenders allow a grace period of 10 to 15 days after the due date before charging a late fee, but the late fee is not a reason to delay — it is an extra cost on top of your regular payment.
A payment that arrives after the due date but within the grace period will not trigger a default, but it will be recorded as late on your account and may affect your credit report. After the grace period ends, Cenlar may report the account as delinquent to credit bureaus, which can lower your credit score and make it harder to borrow money in the future.
If you are unable to make a full payment by the due date, contact Cenlar before the date passes. They may offer a loan modification, forbearance (a temporary pause or reduction in payments), or a payment plan. These options are only available if you ask before you fall behind — waiting until after a missed payment makes them much harder to obtain.
What happens to your payment once Cenlar receives it
When Cenlar receives your payment, it is split into several parts. The largest portion goes toward principal (the amount you borrowed) and interest (the lender's fee for lending you the money). Early in your loan, most of your payment goes to interest; later, more goes to principal.
If you have an escrow account, a portion of your payment is held by Cenlar to pay your property taxes and homeowners insurance when those bills come due. Cenlar pays these bills directly to the tax assessor and insurance company on your behalf. Your statement shows how much of each payment goes to escrow.
Cenlar records the payment against your loan account and updates your balance. This usually happens within 1 to 3 business days of receipt. If you do not see the payment posted within that window, contact Cenlar to confirm they received it.
Escrow accounts and what they mean for your payment
An escrow account is a separate account Cenlar holds in your name to collect money for property taxes and homeowners insurance. Instead of paying these bills yourself, you pay Cenlar a little extra each month, and Cenlar pays the bills when they are due.
Your monthly payment statement shows three numbers: principal and interest, escrow, and the total. The escrow portion changes once a year when Cenlar reviews your tax bill and insurance premium and recalculates how much you need to set aside each month. If your taxes or insurance go up, your escrow payment goes up. If they go down, your escrow payment may go down or you may receive a refund.
You do not have a choice about whether to have an escrow account if your down payment was less than 20 percent or if your loan is backed by a government program like FHA or VA. Lenders require escrow to ensure taxes and insurance are paid on time, because unpaid taxes can lead to foreclosure and unpaid insurance leaves the property unprotected.
If your payment is lost or does not post
Payments occasionally go missing in the mail or fail to post for technical reasons. If you mailed a check and it has been more than two weeks, or if you made an online or phone payment and it has been more than three business days without posting, contact Cenlar immediately.
Have your loan number, the payment amount, and the date you sent it ready when you call. Cenlar can search their records to see if the payment arrived. If it did not, you may need to stop payment on the original check (through your bank) and send a new one, or make a replacement payment by phone or online.
Do not assume the payment posted just because you sent it. Check your statement or log into your online account to confirm. If Cenlar received a late payment and charged a late fee, ask them to review the situation — sometimes they will reverse the fee if the delay was due to mail delivery or a system error on their end.
Contacting Cenlar about your account
Cenlar's customer service number is on your statement and on their website. You can reach them by phone during business hours to ask about your balance, make a payment, set up automatic payments, or discuss options if you are struggling to pay.
If you prefer to handle things online, you can create an account on Cenlar's website to view your statement, make payments, and update your contact information. The online portal also shows your escrow account details and property tax and insurance payment history.
Keep copies of all payment confirmations and correspondence with Cenlar. If a dispute arises about whether a payment was received or posted, your records are the proof you need.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I pay online but the payment does not go through?
Contact Cenlar right away to confirm whether the payment was received. If it was not, your bank may have rejected it due to insufficient funds or a security block. Make a new payment immediately by phone or mail to avoid a late fee. Ask Cenlar to waive any late fee if the delay was caused by a system error on their end.
Can I change my payment due date?
Some lenders allow you to request a different due date, but Cenlar's policy varies by loan type. Call their customer service line to ask. If they allow a change, it usually takes one or two billing cycles to take effect, so do not assume the new date applies to your next payment.
What does it mean if Cenlar says my escrow account is short?
An escrow shortage means Cenlar did not collect enough money during the year to cover your taxes and insurance when the bills came due. Cenlar will ask you to pay the shortage in a lump sum or spread it over the next 12 months by raising your monthly escrow payment. This usually happens when taxes or insurance increased more than expected.
Do I have to use automatic payments?
No. You can pay by mail, phone, or online each month if you prefer. Automatic payments are optional, but they reduce the risk of a late payment because you control the date and the payment goes out automatically without you having to remember.
What happens if I pay extra toward my principal?
You can pay more than your required monthly payment, and the extra amount will go toward principal, which reduces your loan balance and the total interest you pay over time. Tell Cenlar that the extra payment should go to principal, not escrow or next month's payment. Some loans have prepayment penalties, so check your loan documents first.