(a) The provisions of this subtitle do not apply to:
(1) Any banking institution;
(2) Any other-state bank;
(3) Any national banking association or savings bank;
(4) Any credit union;
(5) Any savings and loan association;
(6) The United States government or any of its departments, agencies, or instrumentalities;
(7) An accredited institution of higher education, as defined under § 10-101 of the Education Article;
(8) The sale of payment instruments by any person on behalf of any other person who is exempted by this subsection, if the payment instruments were received from the other person under a trust receipt for the specific purpose of sale;
(9) The provision of electronic transfer of government benefits for any federal, state, or county governmental agency as defined in Federal Reserve Board Regulation E, by a contractor for and on behalf of the United States or any of its departments, agencies, or instrumentalities, or any state or any political subdivision of any state; or
(10) Any authorized delegate of a licensee, acting within the scope of authority conferred by a written contract as described in § 12-413 of this subtitle.
(b) Any person who is exempted by this section nevertheless may apply for and, if qualified, receive a license.