What Sarma does

Sarma is a privately held financial information services company founded in 1907 and headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. The company operates four core service lines: mortgage credit services (merge credit reports, tri-merge reports, rescore tools, and appraisal management via AppraisalComply), third-party debt collections through its subsidiary Sarma Collections Inc. (SCI), background and tenant screening through ScreenMeNow, and skip tracing and verification services through Sarma Data Systems (SDS). Customers span mortgage lenders and brokers, creditors in the financial, medical, government, and utilities sectors, HR departments, property managers, and auto dealers, with service delivery extending nationally from offices in San Antonio and Miami. Notable long-standing relationships include Guadalupe Regional Medical Center (since 2004) and Security Service Federal Credit Union.

The technology platform centers on a web-based architecture with SSL-encrypted data transmission, real-time consumer credit and collections databases, and XML interface integration for enterprise clients. Proprietary modules include the SCI Payer Payment Portal (a contact-less self-service portal launched July 2020), AppraisalComply (HVCC-compliant appraisal delivery with borrower authorization codes and compliance logging), ScreenMeNow (background screening ordering tool launched 2014), and a Credit Simulator launched October 2024. The company maintains bureau-level integration with TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax, and is SOC 1 Type II certified with documented compliance under CFPB, FCRA, FDCPA, HIPAA, CCPA, and FTC frameworks.

Sarma's revenue model is predominantly transaction-fee across collections, mortgage credit reporting, and screening services, with a subscription/recurring component through Sarma Data Systems. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, with one promotional reference point of $5 per national criminal check offered in 2018. Go-to-market is sales-led, combining field sales representatives covering regional territories (Texas, Florida, and other markets), inside sales teams handling inbound inquiries, and dedicated account executives for enterprise and major accounts. The company also operates the Sarma Charitable Foundation (SCF), established in 2020, which has directed over $2.8 million in giving to nonprofits, schools, and communities in Texas, Florida, and California. Leadership is led by President and CEO Bob Benavides and CFO Dawn Harvey.

Name

Sarma

Legal name

Sarma

Website

https://sarma.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1907

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Sarma is a privately held, 117-year-old financial information services firm headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, providing mortgage credit reporting, third-party debt collections, background screening, and skip tracing data services to lenders, creditors, employers, and property managers nationwide through subsidiaries SCI and SDS.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Financial Services - Credit Reporting and Debt Collections

NAICS

Collection Agencies (561440), Collection Agencies (56144), Credit Bureaus (561450), Activities Related to Credit Intermediation (5223)

SIC

Services-Consumer Credit Reporting, Collection Agencies (7320), Miscellaneous Business Credit Institution (6159)

akta.pro primary industry

Third-Party Collection Agencies (Consumer) (FSAKAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Third-Party Debt Collection Agencies (Consumer & Commercial) (BPAAAEAB), Regulatory Reporting & Recordkeeping (AML/CTF) (FSAMAMAG)

Keywords

• Debt collection services
• Credit reporting services
• Background screening
• Mortgage credit services
• Skip tracing services

Headquarters

HQ city

San Antonio

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Third-Party Debt Collections: Sarma Collections Inc. (SCI) provides third-party collection services to financial, medical, government, and utilities sectors nationally. Services include early-out and past-due collections, accounts receivable management, and consumer payer portal for debt repayment.
2. Mortgage Credit Services: Provides merge credit reports and scores to mortgage lenders and brokers. Includes tri-merge credit reports, rescore tools, and appraisal delivery services.
3. Background Screening: Employment and tenant screening services including criminal searches, drug testing (5 and 10 panel), credit checks, and verification services for HR departments and property management.
4. Sarma Data Systems (SDS): Skip tracing tools, public record information access, multi-vendor consumer credit report access, and Experian Business reports provided through an online platform.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Sarma provides third-party debt collection services (through subsidiary Sarma Collections Inc.), mortgage credit services including merge credit reports and appraisal management, background and tenant screening services, and skip tracing/consumer data verification through the proprietary Sarma Data Systems (SDS) platform. The company serves financial, medical, government, and utilities sectors nationally, complemented by a consumer-facing payer payment portal for self-service debt repayment.

Product overview

Sarma is a multi-service financial information and business solutions company founded in 1907, headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. The company operates a unified platform-plus-modules architecture organized around four core service lines: Mortgage Lenders and Broker Services (providing merge credit reports, scores, and appraisal management via AppraisalComply), Debt Collections through its subsidiary Sarma Collections Inc. (SCI, offering third-party collection services with a payer payment portal), Background Screening Services (BGS, covering employment, tenant, and drug screening with tools like ScreenMeNow), and Sarma Data Systems (SDS, an all-in-one skip tracing, verification, and reporting platform). DocuSign e-signature integration and a credit simulator round out the product portfolio. The company also operates the Sarma Charitable Foundation (SCF), established 2020, focused on financial literacy and community giving.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mortgage Lenders and Broker Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Sarma Charitable Foundation total giving over $2.8 million to nonprofits, schools, and communities

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Applied InnovationcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 July 2020Development partner for SCI payment portal introduced July 2020. Selected based on security, ease of use, user options, technology and online uptime requirements.
• American Red CrossmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Charitable partnership for disaster relief efforts. SCF donated $25,000 for California wildfire relief and participated in Red Cross telethon. Partnership for delivering aide and comfort to disaster victims.
• Habitat for Humanity of San AntoniomajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Long-standing charitable partnership. SCF has built 5 Habitat homes in San Antonio and Laredo. $75,000 donation to Laredo Habitat for Humanity. Financial literacy outreach partnership.
• Valero Texas OpenmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2020Three-year consecutive sponsor of Valero Texas Open golf tournament. SCF donated $40,000 to Valero Foundation in 2026. Participated in Pro-Am event awarding $10,000 to Mission Road Ministries.
• Ronald McDonald House Charities of San AntoniomajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Partnership to support RMHC mission. Provided meals to families at Ronald McDonald House during holidays. Supporting development of new wing at CHRISTUS Children's Center.
• San Antonio Food BankmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Partnership to combat food insecurity in San Antonio community. SCF supports food bank initiatives as part of charitable mission.
• First Tee - San AntoniominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Youth development partnership for financial literacy and youth mentorship through golf programs. Youth golf clinics for kids ages 7-13.
• Boys and Girls ClubminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Youth mentorship partnership as part of SCF financial literacy and youth development initiatives.
• Guadalupe Regional Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2004Long-standing partnership since 2004 for collections services. SCF collaboration providing $25,000 donation for patient financial assistance program.
• TransUnioncoreTechnology or IntegrationSarma serves as a sales agent for TransUnion products and service lines. Provides credit reporting, Identity Alerts Solutions, and other TransUnion data services to customers. Historical exclusive agent relationship for consumer credit information ended December 2018.
• ExperiancoreTechnology or IntegrationCredit bureau partnership providing consumer credit information and business reports through Sarma Data Systems platform.
• EquifaxcoreTechnology or IntegrationCredit bureau partnership for consumer credit information access and verification services.
• DocuSigncoreTechnology or IntegrationE-signature technology integration for touch-free online contract and document access portal, enabling customer onboarding without physical contact.
• Security Service Federal Credit Union / SSFCU Charitable FoundationmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerLong-standing business relationship and charitable partnership. Sponsorship of SSFCU 35th Annual Charity Golf Classic. Proceeds benefit children's hospital, community health, and family services.
• Spurs GiveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in Play SA Initiative for park renovations. SCF and Spurs Give unveiled renovation project at Kingsborough Pool with shade structures and mural.
• University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) Women's Golf TeamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth golf clinic partnership. UIW Women Golf Team members teach golf skills at SCF youth community clinics.
• Blessed Angels Community CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership for turkey giveaways and holiday assistance. SCF pledged $100,000 to Blessed Angels.
• Blonde CreativeminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSan Antonio-based web design agency awarded website redesign project in July 2020 after vetting 5 other companies.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• TransUnion: TransUnion is one of the three national credit bureaus and a former exclusive partner of Sarma — it competes broadly as a data provider and offers its own reseller/credit reporting products overlapping with Sarma's SDS and mortgage services.
• Experian: Experian is a global credit bureau and data services company that competes with Sarma's SDS data products and mortgage credit services through its own direct and partner channels.
• CoreLogic (now ICE Mortgage Technology): CoreLogic is a large incumbent provider of mortgage data, analytics, credit reporting, and appraisal management services — competing broadly with Sarma's mortgage credit services line as part of a much wider portfolio.

Direct peers

• IC System: IC System is a privately held, family-owned third-party debt collection agency serving financial, healthcare, government, and utility creditors nationally — a close functional peer to Sarma Collections Inc. across recovery services and consumer-facing payment portals.
• Transworld Systems: Transworld Systems provides third-party debt collection, accounts receivable management, and skip tracing services to small and mid-market creditors across the US — directly comparable to Sarma's SCI and SDS service lines.
• Accurate Background: Accurate Background is a privately held background screening provider serving employers with criminal searches, drug testing, and verifications — a direct competitor to Sarma's Background Screening Services (BGS) line.
• Pioneer Credit Recovery: Pioneer Credit Recovery is a large national third-party collection agency serving student loan, healthcare, and government creditors — comparable in regulated verticals (especially healthcare and government) to Sarma Collections.
• Enhanced Recovery Company (ERC): ERC is a third-party debt collection agency serving consumer and commercial creditors, with early-out and past-due collections comparable to Sarma Collections Inc.'s core offerings.
• Credit Plus: Credit Plus is a credit reporting reseller offering tri-merge credit reports, merge reports, and appraisal services to mortgage lenders and brokers — a direct peer to Sarma's Mortgage Lenders and Broker Services line.

Emerging players

• Checkr: Checkr is a technology-led background screening platform offering criminal, driving, and identity checks via API — an emerging competitor to Sarma's BGS line bringing modern, developer-first delivery to a market Sarma has served traditionally.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses2 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sarmainfo
• Facebookfacebook.com/sarma-128811267188005
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sarma

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sarma