The FCA Register is an important tool for credit brokers, lenders, partners and customers.
It helps people check whether a firm is authorised or registered, what permissions it may hold, whether it is currently authorised, and whether there are warnings or restrictions that need attention.
For credit brokers, the Register is not just something customers may check. It can also support onboarding, lender due diligence, AR and IAR checks, permissions reviews, compliance audits and customer journey evidence.
This guide explains how credit brokers can use the FCA Register in a practical way.
The Financial Services Register is the FCA’s public record of firms, individuals and other bodies that are authorised or registered.
It can be used to check information such as:
The FCA also provides the FCA Firm Checker, which is designed to help consumers check if a firm is authorised and has permission for the service it is offering.
For credit brokers, both tools can be relevant. The Firm Checker may be helpful from a consumer perspective, while the full Register is useful for reviewing a firm’s regulatory record.
The FCA Register matters because credit broking is a regulated activity.
A credit broker may need to show customers, lenders, principals, platforms, affiliates or commercial partners that it is operating under an appropriate regulatory route.
This may involve:
The Register can help support those checks, but it should not be used in isolation. The firm still needs to understand what permissions apply and whether its current activity matches those permissions.
For more on regulatory routes, read FCA Authorisation Routes for Credit Brokers: Direct Authorisation, AR and IAR Status.
When reviewing a credit broking firm, check:
These checks can help identify inconsistencies before they become compliance, customer journey or partner due diligence issues.
The first point to check is the firm’s status.
A firm may appear as authorised, registered, no longer authorised, revoked or another status depending on its position.
Credit brokers should regularly confirm that their status is accurate and that customer-facing wording does not overstate what the firm can do.
If a firm is no longer authorised or revoked, the FCA says customers should avoid dealing with it.
For firms that are authorised, the next question is whether the permissions match the activity being carried out.
A firm’s authorisation status is not the whole picture.
A firm may be authorised for some activities but not others. Credit brokers need to understand whether the permissions shown on the Register align with the actual customer journey and business model.
Review whether the firm’s activity includes:
The Register can show permissions, but firms still need to interpret whether those permissions cover the actual activity.
For a broader guide, read Why FCA Authorisation Matters for Credit Brokers.
The FCA Register can be useful for checking Appointed Representative and Introducer Appointed Representative arrangements.
A firm operating as an AR or IAR should understand:
AR and IAR status should not be treated as a shortcut. These relationships require due diligence, oversight, clear responsibilities and ongoing monitoring.
An IAR role is usually narrower than full AR status, so the firm should check that its activity is limited to what the appointment allows.
For more on route options, read FCA Authorisation Routes for Credit Brokers: Direct Authorisation, AR and IAR Status.
Credit brokers often use trading names, brands, websites or campaign-specific landing pages.
The Register check should be compared against customer-facing materials.
Review whether:
Inconsistent naming can cause customer confusion, lender concerns and audit issues.
For customer journey clarity, read Credit Broker vs Lender: Key Differences Explained.
Customers and partners may use the FCA Register to verify a firm’s details.
Credit brokers should therefore make sure that contact information is consistent where relevant.
Check whether:
This is also relevant because clone firms may pretend to be authorised businesses. The FCA warns that clone firms copy genuine authorised firms to scam people, and customers should check official details carefully.
Customers may use the FCA Register or Firm Checker before dealing with a firm.
A credit broker should make it easy for customers to understand:
This supports customer understanding and can help reduce confusion.
The homepage copy deck recommends clear regulatory footer wording and careful positioning around FCA authorised status and credit broking permissions.
Lenders, principals, platforms, affiliate networks and commercial partners may also check the Register.
They may want to understand:
Credit brokers should make sure their compliance evidence is organised and consistent with the Register.
For partner-related issues, read Are You an Affiliate Network or Publisher Facing Issues With Advertiser and Platform Sign-Off?.
A compliance audit may include a Register check.
This can help confirm:
Audit findings may arise if customer-facing materials do not match the firm’s regulatory position.
For audit preparation, read What to Expect During an FCA Compliance Audit as a Credit Broker.
Financial promotions should be consistent with the firm’s regulatory status.
If a credit broker advertises that it is authorised, appointed or able to provide certain services, the Register and underlying permissions should support that position.
Promotions should avoid:
For practical guidance, read How to Advertise as a Credit Broker Without Breaking FCA Rules.
The Register can support customer understanding, but it does not replace clear communication.
Customers should not need to interpret complex regulatory entries to understand who they are dealing with.
Credit brokers should still explain:
Consumer Duty means firms should provide information customers can understand, at the right time, in a way that supports informed decisions.
For related guidance, read Understanding the Affordability and Suitability Rules in Credit Broking.
Common mistakes include:
The Register is useful, but it needs to be read carefully and linked back to the business model.
For more common compliance issues, read Common Compliance Mistakes Credit Brokers Make and How to Avoid Them.
Credit brokers should check the Register regularly and whenever something changes.
Useful points to check include:
Keep evidence of checks where relevant, especially for audit or due diligence purposes.
For ongoing compliance planning, read How to Stay Up to Date With FCA Rules and Regulations as a Credit Broker.
Credit brokers may want to keep records of:
These records can help show that regulatory information is actively monitored.
Authorised Compliance supports UK credit brokers with FCA Register reviews, permissions analysis and regulatory status checks.
Our support can include:
We help firms make sure regulatory status, customer-facing wording and real business activity are aligned.
You can read more in How Authorised Compliance Helps Credit Brokers Stay FCA-Compliant.
The FCA Register is the public record of firms, individuals and other bodies that are authorised or registered by the FCA or PRA.
Credit brokers can use the Register to check authorisation status, permissions, trading names, AR or IAR status, principal firm details and whether customer-facing wording is consistent with the regulatory record.
No. A firm should also check whether the permissions or appointment scope match the activity being carried out.
A Firm Reference Number, or FRN, is a unique reference used to identify a firm on the FCA Register.
Yes. The Register can show appointed representative relationships and principal firm details where applicable.
Financial promotions should be consistent with the firm’s regulatory status, permissions and appointment scope. Promotions should not imply broader authorisation than the firm has.
Credit brokers should check the Register regularly and when there are changes to permissions, trading names, AR or IAR status, websites, promotions or customer-facing regulatory wording.
Yes. Authorised Compliance supports UK credit brokers with FCA Register checks, permissions analysis, AR and IAR scope reviews, customer-facing wording checks and audit preparation.
The FCA Register is an important tool for credit brokers, but it should be used carefully.
Checking whether a firm appears on the Register is only the first step. Credit brokers also need to understand permissions, AR or IAR scope, trading names, customer-facing wording and whether the business is operating within the correct regulatory route.
Used properly, Register checks can support better customer understanding, stronger partner due diligence and a more controlled credit broking compliance framework.
I’m Will Hurst, and I bring 20+ years of hands-on experience across credit broking, AR/IAR oversight, lender relationships and regulated finance operations.
Learn more about my practical, FCA-focused approach
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