The FSA Register
Search our Register for firms, individuals and investment schemes that are, or have been, regulated by us.
Some foreign firms can offer financial products or services in the UK and how they are set up to operate can affect how they appear on our Register. Find out what to look for when dealing with a foreign firm.
A financial services firm authorised in another European Economic Area (EEA) state can offer certain products or services in the UK and other EEA countries, if it has a ‘passport’ to do so. The EEA includes the EU states, plus Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein.
These firms are regulated in their home country and must meet standards which have been agreed across all EEA countries, but will appear on our Register as ‘EEA Authorised’.
The services or products an EEA authorised firm can offer in the UK will be detailed in the ‘Passports’ section of their record on our Register.
If a financial services firm is based in a foreign country outside the EEA it can still operate in the UK but will need to be authorised by us and will appear on our Register as ‘Authorised’.
Checking where a firm is regulated
Financial services firms must state who they are regulated by on letters to customers, such as by displaying the regulator’s logo, as part of their Statutory Status Disclosure Statement. You can also ask the firm for this information.
Foreign firms operating in the UK under a passport must not use the FSA logo, so if our logo does not appear on documents from a firm it is likely the firm is not regulated by us.
Additional regulated activities
A financial services firm authorised in another EEA state can carry out additional regulated activities in the UK that it is not permitted to do in its home state through a ‘top-up’ permission provided by us, subject to requirements like our client money and client assets rules.
However, the Register does not show whether a firm based in the EEA has authority to hold client money or assets around those activities covered by its ‘top-up’ permission.
Find out more about the types of business found on the Register and what these ‘permissions’ mean.
Other types of foreign firms
Payment services firms and electronic money institutions based in another EEA country will not appear on the Register, so you will need to check with the regulator in the EEA state to see how the firm is regulated.
You can get details of other regulators in the EEA from the European Commission.
Complaints and compensation
If you deal with a foreign financial services firm that is authorised by us, such as one based outside the EEA that is operating in the UK, you may be covered by the Financial Ombudsman Service and Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) if things go wrong.
However, if a firm is authorised in another EEA state, you will be covered by the compensation scheme of that country rather than the FSCS.
Compensation rules can vary depending on the country the firm is authorised in, so you should ask the firm for specific details.
You can find out more about foreign banks operating in the UK and how compensation arrangements apply to them, and see more on how compensation works for firms based abroad.
You can also find out more about compensation and the FSCS.
Further information
If a firm or individual claims to be authorised by us or registered, but the firm does not appear on our Register, or their contact details are missing, you should call our Consumer Helpline.
There are also some steps you should take to protect yourself from fraud and unauthorised activity.
You can contact our Consumer Helpline if you have any problems or questions about using our Register. Industry users can also call 0845 606 9966 or email register@fsa.gov.uk.
