The FSA Register
Search our Register for firms, individuals and investment schemes that are, or have been, regulated by us.
Financial services firms, payment services firms, electronic money issuers, individuals and collective investment schemes each have permissions, or are approved, to conduct certain activities. Our Register is set up so you can search the specific areas separately.
You can search our Register for information on firms, individuals and investment schemes that are, or have been, regulated by us to conduct business in the UK.
You should search our Register as well as making additional checks to ensure a firm or individual you are considering doing business with is regulated by us and permitted to offer the relevant service or products.
Below we help you find out which part of the Register is relevant to you.
You should search this part of the Register if you are dealing with a firm for business relating to banking, investments, insurance, or mortgages and other home finance.
The types of firms most likely to be involved in these activities include:
- banks and building societies;
- investment firms;
- credit unions;
- mortgage and other home finance providers and brokers;
- insurers and insurance brokers;
- stockbrokers, asset managers and financial advisers; and
- some issuers of electronic money.
Find out more about financial services firms on the Register or search the Register now.
The types of firms that must be authorised by us or registered to carry out payment services include money remitters, credit card issuers and merchant acquirers.
Some situations where you might be dealing with a payment services firm include:
- a credit card company that does not provide banking services;
- a money transfer operator, where you do not have to open an account;
- a foreign exchange broker that offers transfers to third parties; and
- a mobile phone network operator that offers payment services to third parties.
Learn more about searching for a payment services firm or check the Register now.
As well as authorising firms to conduct regulated activities, our Register includes individuals in firms who are approved to carry out particular functions.
We must approve an individual before they are able to conduct certain types of business, such as selling or advising on investments like personal or stakeholder pensions, life assurance policies, shares or collective investment schemes.
Find out more about searching for an individual or check the Register now.
A collective investment scheme is an arrangement that enables a number of investors to 'pool' their assets and have these managed by an independent professional.
Investments are often in gilts, bonds and quoted equities, but depending on the type of scheme can go further such as into unquoted shares or property.
You can search our Register to find out whether a CIS is ‘Authorised’, ‘Recognised’ or ‘Terminated’.
Learn more about collective investment schemes on the Register or search the Register now.
Some professional firms are permitted to perform limited regulated financial activities in addition to their normal professional services. The professional firms most likely to offer these incidental services include solicitors, accountants and chartered surveyors.
Find out more about searching for an exempt professional firm (EPF) or check the Register now.
Electronic money (e-money) is money 'stored' electronically to spend later. This includes on pre-paid cards, such as travel money cards and some gift cards.
Banks and building societies that issue e-money, and some e-money institutions (EMIs), can be found on the financial services firms section of the Register.
Most EMIs (which are e-money issuers other than banks and building societies) and firms that hold a ‘small e-money certificate’, are listed in the e-money section of the Register.
Learn more about e-money issuers on the Register or search the Register for one now.
Further information
The regulatory jurisdiction for the Register comes under the Financial Services & Markets Act 2000 (FSMA), Money Laundering Regulations 2007, Payment Services Regulations 2009 and Electronic Money Regulations 2011.
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. If you would like to buy data or subscribe, for a fee, to receive an extract of the Register you should email data.extract@fsa.gov.uk.
You can also find out more about the Mutuals Register and Regulated Covered Bonds Register
