Texas Form 411 is the Amendment to Registration by an Out-of-State Financial Institution, the document a foreign bank, savings bank, savings and loan association, credit union, or trust company files with the Texas Secretary of State to update its registered name, purpose, principal office, registered agent, or registered office in Texas. The form was last Revised 05/11, and missing the 91-day deadline in Section 9.009 of the Business Organizations Code can put your Texas branch operations into involuntary termination of registration.
Form 411 is a small form with big consequences. The Texas Secretary of State processes thousands of foreign-entity amendments each year, and a single missed checkbox or a wrong file number is the most common reason these amendments come back rejected.
- 🏦 What Form 411 actually changes on your Texas registration and why every out-of-state financial institution needs it
- 📅 The 91-day filing window under BOC § 9.009 and how to count it correctly
- ✍️ A line-by-line walkthrough of all six items, plus the Effectiveness and Execution blocks
- 💵 The exact $150 fee ($25 for credit unions) and every accepted payment method on SOSDirect
- 🚫 The ten most common mistakes that get Form 411 rejected and how to avoid each one
What the Form Is and Who Must File It
Form 411 is the official amendment instrument for an out-of-state financial institution that already holds a registration to transact business in Texas under Chapter 201 of the Texas Finance Code. It is filed with the Corporations Section of the Texas Secretary of State and updates the public record so that customers, courts, and process servers can rely on the information on file. The form sits inside the framework of the Texas Business Organizations Code, specifically the foreign-entity provisions in Chapter 9.
The form is mandatory whenever the financial institution changes its legal name or its stated purpose in its home jurisdiction, per BOC § 9.009. It is optional but widely used when the institution wants to update its principal office, registered agent, or registered office in Texas.
Eligible filers are foreign banks, federal banks, savings banks, federal savings banks, savings and loan associations, federal savings and loan associations, credit unions, federal credit unions, and trust companies that already operate at least one branch or office inside Texas. Domestic Texas banks do not use Form 411 — they file with the Texas Department of Banking instead. Foreign for-profit corporations that are not financial institutions file Form 406 rather than Form 411.
If your institution has stopped doing business in Texas, the right form is Form 612 — Certificate of Withdrawal of Registration, not Form 411. And if you only need to swap your registered agent or registered office without changing anything else, Form 401 is cheaper at $15. Form 411 is the right choice whenever a name change, purpose change, or multiple changes ride on the same filing.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Form 411 is short, but the supporting paperwork behind it is not. Pull every document together before you open the PDF, because the Secretary of State’s examiners cross-check each entry against your current registration record and your home-state records. A missing piece will trigger a deficiency letter and add two to three weeks to processing.
The Secretary of State’s Corporations Section telephone line at (512) 463-5555 can confirm your file number if you do not have it.
- Exact legal name on file in Texas. Pull this from your original Form 309 application for registration or your last filed amendment, because any spelling mismatch causes rejection.
- Texas SOS file number. This is the number assigned when you first registered, and entering the wrong number routes the amendment to the wrong record.
- Date of original registration. Listed on your file-stamped copy of Form 309 and recommended by the Form 411 instructions to speed processing.
- Type of financial institution. This drives the fee — banks pay $150 and credit unions pay $25 — so picking the wrong box can mean an underpayment rejection.
- Certified amendment from your home jurisdiction if you are changing your legal name, because Texas wants confirmation the change has been made where you are chartered.
- New purpose language that mirrors the authority granted under your home charter, because BOC § 9.009 requires consistency.
- New principal office or registered office street address, since BOC § 5.201 bars P.O. boxes, mail drops, and answering services for the registered office.
- Written or electronic consent of any new registered agent, even though it is not filed with the form, because BOC § 5.2011 treats designating someone without consent as a false filing.
- A duplicate copy of the completed form, since the Secretary of State requires two originals to return a file-stamped copy to you.
- Payment for the $150 (or $25) filing fee, plus the 2.7% credit-card convenience fee if you pay by card, per the SOS Fee Schedule.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
The official Form 411 lives on the Texas Secretary of State website as a fillable PDF at the Form 411 page, and the corresponding instructions sit at the Form 411 instructions page. Always download a fresh copy each time you file, because the Secretary of State silently re-posts revised forms when statutory citations change. The current revision is dated 05/11 in the form’s footer.
You can also reach the form through the agency’s master Business and Nonprofit Forms list, which groups every Texas Business Organizations Code form by purpose. Filers who already have an account on the SOSDirect filing portal can pay there, but Form 411 itself is not available as a direct online fill — it is filed by mail, fax, or in person, and SOSDirect is used mainly for credit-card payments and document imaging.
If your office is in Austin, you can pick up a paper copy at the James Earl Rudder Office Building, 1019 Brazos Street. The Corporations Section staff there will hand you a current-revision form, but they will not give legal advice on how to complete it.
For institutions outside Texas, the most common workflow is to download the PDF, complete it on a computer, print two originals, sign both in blue ink, and overnight them to the Austin P.O. Box with a check or Form 807 credit card payment slip.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out Texas Form 411 Line by Line
The following walkthrough mirrors the order of the boxes on the official PDF. Use the exact field labels printed on the form. Sample entries are italicized so you can tell instructions apart from what you actually type.
Item 1 — The Name of the Financial Institution
This box asks for the legal name of your institution as it currently appears on the Texas Secretary of State records, not the new name you are switching to. Type the name in upper-and-lower case exactly as it sits on your original Form 309 registration, including any commas, periods, “N.A.”, or “F.S.B.” designators.
A small bank registered as First Heritage Bank, N.A. writes that exact string in Item 1, even if its new chartered name is “First Heritage National Bank.”
The most common nuance is what to do when your name on file already contains a typo from the original 1990s registration. Do not “fix” it here — leave the typo in Item 1 and use Item 4 to correct the name as part of this amendment.
A common mistake is entering the new name in Item 1, which causes the examiner to flag the form because the name does not match any registration record. The direct consequence is rejection and the loss of two to four weeks while you refile.
The misconception that filers carry into this box is that Item 1 reflects the institution’s current legal name in the home state. It does not — it reflects what the Secretary of State has on file in Texas, which may be older than the home-state record.
Item 2 — Type of Financial Institution
This box asks you to check one of nine boxes identifying your charter type, ranging from Bank and Federal Bank to Savings Bank, Federal Savings Bank, Savings and Loan Association, Federal Savings and Loan Association, Credit Union, Federal Credit Union, and Trust Company. Mark only one box, and pick the type that matches your charter under the laws of your home jurisdiction.
A federally chartered credit union headquartered in Oklahoma checks Federal Credit Union on Item 2, which sets its filing fee at $25 instead of $150 under the Form 411 instructions.
A nuance worth flagging: if you converted from a state savings bank to a federal savings bank between your original Texas registration and today, check the box that matches your charter at the moment of filing, and use Item 6 to disclose the conversion history.
The common mistake is checking Bank when you are actually a Federal Bank, which is treated as a different fee class on internal SOS routing and triggers a deficiency notice. The consequence is a paper-trail tangle that can take weeks to fix because the case has to be re-keyed.
The misconception is that “Trust Company” is a generic synonym for any institution offering trust services. It is not — only an entity chartered as a stand-alone trust company under its home-state law checks that box.
Item 3 — Date of Registration and File Number
This box asks for the date the Texas Secretary of State originally filed your application for registration and the file number it assigned. The filing date appears on the file-stamped first page of your Form 309, and the file number is a 10-digit number printed on the same stamp.
A trust company first registered on March 14, 2008 writes 03/14/2008 and 0800123456 in Item 3.
The Form 411 instructions state these data points are “recommended” rather than strictly required, but every experienced filer fills them in because leaving them blank forces a manual record search at the Corporations Section and adds days to processing.
A common mistake is using the institution’s home-state charter date instead of the Texas registration date, which sends the examiner to the wrong record entirely. The consequence is either a rejection or, worse, an amendment posted to the wrong entity’s record.
The misconception is that the “file number” is the federal Employer Identification Number. It is not — it is a Texas-internal identifier that has nothing to do with the IRS, and using the EIN here causes immediate rejection.
Item 4 — Amendment to Legal Name
Item 4 is where you write the new legal name your institution carries in its home jurisdiction after the change. Type the new name on a single line, in the format used on your home-state amendment certificate.
A New Mexico bank that just changed its name from Sandia Foothills Bank to Sandia Heritage Bank, N.A. writes Sandia Heritage Bank, N.A. on Item 4.
A nuance: if the new name conflicts with an existing Texas entity name, the Secretary of State will reject the form even though the institution is foreign, because BOC § 9.004 extends the name-availability rules to foreign filers, and you may need to register an assumed name on Form 503 instead.
The most common mistake is leaving Item 4 blank but checking the “name change” purpose elsewhere, which produces an internally inconsistent filing. The consequence is rejection with a deficiency letter that often arrives 7–10 business days later.
The misconception is that Item 4 documents a “doing-business-as” name. It does not — Item 4 is for the new legal name only, and assumed names are filed separately under BOC Chapter 71.
Item 5 — Amendment to Purpose
Item 5 is the field for changing the purpose stated in the original registration. Spell out the new purpose in plain English, and certify on the same item that the institution is authorized to pursue that purpose under the laws of its home jurisdiction.
A federal savings bank moving into trust services writes to engage in the business of a federal savings bank, including the exercise of fiduciary and trust powers as authorized by 12 C.F.R. § 150 on Item 5.
A nuance: the Texas Finance Commissioner can object to a purpose that exceeds what your home charter allows, even if your home regulator has signed off, because BOC § 9.009 caps Texas activities at what your jurisdiction permits.
The common mistake is copying boilerplate “any lawful purpose” language used by Texas LLCs into a financial-institution form, which is rejected because banks must state a specific banking purpose. The consequence is rejection plus a careful rewrite.
The misconception is that purpose changes are cosmetic. They are not — examiners read this carefully, and a purpose that does not match your home charter triggers a referral to the Texas Department of Banking.
Item 6 — Other Changes to the Registration
Item 6 is the catch-all for changes other than name and purpose, including principal office address, registered agent, registered office address, and any other statement from the original application. Identify each statement being changed by item number or description, then state the new wording.
A Louisiana bank moving its principal office writes Item 7 of the original application is amended to read: The principal office of the financial institution is 500 Poydras Street, Suite 2200, New Orleans, LA 70130. on Item 6.
If the space on the form runs out, attach an exhibit on the institution’s letterhead labeled “Exhibit A to Form 411” and reference it in Item 6.
A common mistake is bundling a registered-office change with a P.O. Box, which violates BOC § 5.201. The consequence is rejection of the entire amendment, not just the registered-office portion.
The misconception is that you can use Item 6 to “withdraw” a Texas registration. You cannot — withdrawals require Form 612, and using Form 411 for that purpose has no legal effect.
Effectiveness of Filing — Options A, B, and C
The form requires you to choose exactly one effectiveness option. Option A makes the amendment effective on filing. Option B sets a delayed effective date no more than 90 days after the date of signing, under BOC § 4.052. Option C ties effectiveness to a future event or fact other than the passage of time, under BOC § 4.053.
A bank waiting for OCC approval of its name change might select Option C and write effective upon receipt of OCC approval letter for name change on the Option C line, with the 90th-day date listed.
A nuance: if Option C is selected, the institution must file a follow-up statement within 90 days under BOC § 4.055. Forgetting this follow-up makes the amendment lapse entirely.
The common mistake is checking both Option A and Option B “to be safe,” which forces the examiner to reject the filing because the effectiveness is ambiguous. The consequence is the loss of the original filing date and any deadline benefit it provided.
The misconception is that Option B can be used to backdate a filing. It cannot — Option B only delays effectiveness forward, never backward.
Execution Block
The execution block requires the date, the signature of an authorized person, and the printed name. The form does not require notarization, but the signer must be a governing person or managerial official under BOC § 4.001, such as a bank president, vice president, secretary, or in-house counsel acting under a board resolution.
A bank’s chief operating officer signs as Maria Lopez, Chief Operating Officer and dates the form 05/21/2026.
A nuance: filers who use an outside service company to physically deliver the form should still have the institution’s officer sign — the messenger may not sign as “authorized person.”
The common mistake is having an outside attorney sign without internal authorization, which is treated as a materially false filing under BOC § 4.008. The consequence ranges from a rejected filing to a Class A misdemeanor charge.
The misconception is that an electronic signature is invalid. It is not — Texas accepts electronic signatures under the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act in BOC Chapter 4, provided the signer is authorized.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
Each scenario below follows one named filer through every meaningful section of Form 411, using the exact field labels from the official PDF.
Scenario 1 — Carlos Mendez, COO of a Federal Savings Bank Changing Its Name
| Form Section | What Carlos Enters |
|---|---|
| Item 1 — Name on file | Lone Star Federal Savings Bank |
| Item 2 — Entity type | Federal Savings Bank (checked) |
| Item 3 — Registration date and file number | 07/22/2014 / 1402233344 |
| Item 4 — New legal name | Lone Star Heritage Federal Savings Bank |
| Item 5 — Purpose change | Not applicable — left blank |
| Item 6 — Other changes | Not applicable — left blank |
| Effectiveness | Option A — effective on filing |
| Execution | 05/21/2026 / Carlos Mendez, Chief Operating Officer |
| Filing fee | $150 by check |
Scenario 2 — Aisha Patel, General Counsel of a Federal Credit Union Changing Purpose and Principal Office
| Form Section | What Aisha Enters |
|---|---|
| Item 1 — Name on file | Sun Belt Federal Credit Union |
| Item 2 — Entity type | Federal Credit Union (checked) |
| Item 3 — Registration date and file number | 11/03/2016 / 1611998877 |
| Item 4 — New legal name | Not applicable — left blank |
| Item 5 — Purpose change | to operate as a federal credit union including the offering of member business loans authorized under 12 U.S.C. § 1757a |
| Item 6 — Other changes | Item 7 of the original application is amended to read: The principal office is 4400 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76107. |
| Effectiveness | Option B — delayed to 06/15/2026 |
| Execution | 05/21/2026 / Aisha Patel, General Counsel |
| Filing fee | $25 by credit card plus 2.7% convenience fee |
Scenario 3 — Janet Brooks, President of a Trust Company Updating Registered Agent and Office
| Form Section | What Janet Enters |
|---|---|
| Item 1 — Name on file | Pioneer Trust Company |
| Item 2 — Entity type | Trust Company (checked) |
| Item 3 — Registration date and file number | 02/19/2009 / 0902112233 |
| Item 4 — New legal name | Not applicable — left blank |
| Item 5 — Purpose change | Not applicable — left blank |
| Item 6 — Other changes | The registered agent is changed to CT Corporation System and the registered office address is changed to 1999 Bryan St., Suite 900, Dallas, TX 75201. |
| Effectiveness | Option A — effective on filing |
| Execution | 05/21/2026 / Janet Brooks, President |
| Filing fee | $150 by money order |
How to File the Completed Form
The Texas Secretary of State accepts Form 411 by mail, by fax, and in person, but not through SOSDirect’s direct-fill workflow. Submit two originals so the agency can return one file-stamped copy as your proof of filing, per the Form 411 instructions.
By mail, send both originals and your check or money order payable to the Secretary of State to Secretary of State, P.O. Box 13697, Austin, TX 78711-3697. Standard processing currently runs 13–15 business days based on the SOS-published processing dashboard, and your proof of filing is the file-stamped duplicate the agency mails back.
By fax, send the duplicate forms to (512) 463-5709 and include a completed Form 807 credit card payment slip authorizing the $150 (or $25) fee plus the 2.7% convenience fee. Faxed filings still receive paper file-stamps returned by mail, so retain your fax confirmation as interim proof.
In person, walk both originals into the James Earl Rudder Office Building at 1019 Brazos Street, Austin, TX 78701, where over-the-counter service is generally completed the same business day. Pay by check, money order, LegalEase debit card, or major credit card. Expedited handling adds $25 per document under the SOS fee schedule, and the file-stamped duplicate is handed back to you on the spot.
What Happens After You File
Once the Secretary of State receives Form 411 with the correct fee, an examiner reviews the document for statutory compliance under BOC Chapter 4. If the form passes review, the examiner stamps both originals, retains one for the public record, and returns the duplicate as your evidence of filing. The amendment shows up in the agency’s SOSDirect business search within one to two business days of acceptance.
If the form fails review, the agency mails a deficiency letter explaining the defect and gives the filer a window — typically 30 days — to correct and resubmit. Deficiency rejections do not refund the filing fee unless the entire fee was unauthorized, but they do let you re-file without a second fee if you cure the defect within the deadline.
After acceptance, your institution should update its internal records, notify counterparties of the new legal name (if applicable), and confirm that the Texas Comptroller franchise-tax account reflects the change. The Secretary of State does not automatically push name changes to the Comptroller, so the franchise-tax account update is the institution’s responsibility and matters for the next Public Information Report due May 15.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
These are the ten most common errors examiners flag on Form 411, drawn from the Amendments and Corrections FAQs and decades of filing experience.
- Entering the new name in Item 1. Item 1 is for the name currently on file, and using the new name causes immediate rejection.
- Using the home-state charter date in Item 3. The agency cannot find your record under the wrong date, which delays processing by weeks.
- Checking the wrong entity type in Item 2. This sets the wrong filing fee and triggers a deficiency notice.
- Listing a P.O. Box as the registered office in Item 6. BOC § 5.201 bars mail drops, and the entire form is rejected.
- Designating a registered agent who has not consented. BOC § 5.2011 treats this as a false filing and exposes signers to penalties.
- Selecting two effectiveness options at once. Examiners cannot resolve ambiguity and must reject the filing.
- Filing only one original instead of duplicates. The agency cannot return a file-stamped copy without the duplicate, and you lose your proof of filing.
- Underpaying the filing fee. Banks pay $150 and credit unions pay $25, and an underpayment is treated as no payment until cured.
- Forgetting the 2.7% credit-card convenience fee. Card payments without the surcharge are rejected as short-paid, per the SOS fee schedule.
- Missing the 91-day deadline under BOC § 9.009. Late name or purpose amendments expose the institution to involuntary termination of registration.
Do’s and Don’ts
- Do download a fresh PDF from the Form 411 page every time, because the Secretary of State silently re-posts revised forms.
- Do submit two originals so the agency can return one file-stamped copy as your proof of filing.
- Do confirm your file number against your original Form 309 before mailing, because a wrong number routes the amendment to the wrong record.
- Do keep a courier or certified-mail receipt as a backup record of the filing date, especially when you are close to the 91-day deadline.
- Do update the Texas Comptroller franchise-tax account after acceptance, because the agencies do not share name changes automatically.
- Do call (512) 463-5555 to confirm fee amounts on big multi-amendment filings, since the SOS fee schedule governs.
- Don’t sign with a non-officer or messenger, because BOC § 4.001 requires an authorized governing person.
- Don’t use Form 411 to withdraw your registration — withdrawals require Form 612.
- Don’t stack a name change inside Item 6 instead of Item 4, because examiners read each item literally and will reject the filing.
- Don’t assume the name in Item 1 needs to match your current home-state name; it must match what the Texas Secretary of State has on file today.
- Don’t forget to include Form 807 when paying by fax, because fax filings without the credit-card slip are not processed.
- Don’t wait until day 90 of the 91-day window to mail; allow at least seven business days of mail transit to avoid a missed-deadline rejection.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
- Pro — DIY saves money. A self-filed Form 411 costs only the $150 fee (or $25 for credit unions), with no outside legal costs.
- Pro — DIY is faster for simple changes. A name-only or address-only amendment is straightforward enough that an in-house compliance officer can complete it in under an hour.
- Pro — Outside counsel adds review depth. A Texas-licensed attorney can spot conflicts with BOC § 9.009 and home-state charter limits before filing.
- Pro — Registered-agent services handle delivery. National services like CT Corporation or CSC walk filings to the Rudder Building same day.
- Pro — Professional help reduces rejection risk. Experienced filers know to submit duplicates and pre-confirm file numbers, cutting the rejection rate dramatically.
- Con — DIY filers miss the 2.7% credit-card surcharge. Self-filers without prior experience often underpay because they forget the surcharge in the SOS fee schedule.
- Con — DIY filers miss the duplicate-original requirement. Many first-timers send one original and lose their proof of filing.
- Con — Outside help adds $300–$1,500 in legal fees depending on the firm and the complexity of the amendment.
- Con — Service companies cannot give legal advice. They will deliver the form but will not tell you whether your purpose language survives BOC § 9.009 review.
- Con — Coordinating outside counsel slows filings. When the deadline is tight, the back-and-forth of engagement letters can eat the 91-day window.
DIY vs. Professional Help on Form 411
| Filing Decision Factor | Best Choice |
|---|---|
| Single name change with clean home-state record | DIY by in-house compliance officer |
| Purpose change touching trust or fiduciary powers | Outside counsel familiar with BOC § 9.009 |
| Tight deadline within 10 days of the 91-day cutoff | Registered-agent service for in-person delivery |
| Multiple changes bundled into Item 6 | Outside counsel for drafting precision |
| Registered agent change only | DIY using cheaper Form 401 instead of Form 411 |
FAQs
Is Texas Form 411 the same as the IRS Form 411?
No. There is no IRS Form 411. Texas Form 411 is a state filing made with the Texas Secretary of State and has no federal tax function whatsoever.
Do I need to file Form 411 if I only changed my Texas registered agent?
No. A standalone registered-agent change is filed on the cheaper Form 401 for $15, not on Form 411.
What if my Texas-on-file name in Item 1 has a typo from the original 1990s registration?
No, do not silently fix it in Item 1. Leave the typo intact in Item 1 and use Item 4 to correct the legal name as part of this amendment.
Can I write my new legal name in Item 1?
No. Item 1 is reserved for the name currently shown on the Secretary of State records, and entering the new name causes rejection.
Do I write my federal Employer Identification Number in Item 3?
No. Item 3 takes the Texas SOS file number, a 10-digit identifier on your Form 309 file stamp — never the EIN.
Can a credit union pay only $25 instead of $150?
Yes. The Form 411 instructions set the credit-union fee at $25 while every other financial-institution type pays $150.
Does Form 411 need to be notarized?
No. Texas does not require notarization, but the signer must be an authorized governing person or managerial official under BOC § 4.001.
Can I file Form 411 through SOSDirect?
No. SOSDirect handles fee payments and document images, but Form 411 itself is filed by mail, fax, or in person at the Rudder Building.
Is there a deadline to file?
Yes. Name and purpose changes must be filed on or before the 91st day after the change in the home jurisdiction, per BOC § 9.009.
Can I list a P.O. Box for the new registered office in Item 6?
No. BOC § 5.201 requires a physical street address, and a P.O. Box causes rejection of the entire amendment.
Do I need to attach my new registered agent’s written consent?
No. Consent must exist under BOC § 5.2011, but the Secretary of State does not require you to attach it to Form 411.
Can I check both Option A and Option B in the Effectiveness block?
No. Selecting two options creates ambiguity and triggers a deficiency rejection — pick exactly one effectiveness option.
Will the Texas Comptroller automatically learn about my new name?
No. Updates to the franchise-tax account at the Texas Comptroller are the institution’s responsibility and must be made separately.
Can outside counsel sign the form on my behalf?
Yes, but only with a documented internal authorization, because BOC § 4.008 treats unauthorized signatures as materially false filings.
Related reading
- How to Fill Out Texas Form 203 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Texas Form 306 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Texas Form AP-152 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Texas Form 424 (w/Examples) + FAQs
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- How to Fill Out Texas Form 503 (w/Examples) + FAQs
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