Understanding Regulator Websites: How to Search FCA/ASIC/CySEC Registers Yourself

✓ Last verified 2026-07-26

Every regulator register works slightly differently, and the parts that trip people up are usually the same across all of them: entity naming, historical status, and telling a genuine match from a look-alike.

FCA Financial Services Register (UK)

• Search by firm name or Firm Reference Number (FRN) on the FCA’s Financial Services Register.
• Check the “Status” field — active authorization is what you’re looking for; some entries show historical or “no longer authorised” statuses, which matters if the broker still advertises the old authorization.
• Note the specific permissions listed — a firm can be authorized for some activities but not others, so check that the permission relevant to retail leveraged trading is actually present.

ASIC Connect (Australia)

• ASIC’s professional registers let you search by Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) number or entity name.
• Cross-check the exact legal entity name against what appears in the broker’s account-opening terms — brand names and the licensed legal entity are often different strings.
• Confirm the license covers the specific financial products/services relevant to what you’re being offered.

CySEC Regulated Entities Register (Cyprus)

• Search by CIF (Cyprus Investment Firm) license number or company name on the CySEC register.
• CySEC licenses are commonly the entity that services clients outside a broker’s top-tier jurisdictions (e.g., UK/Australia) under one brand — this is normal, but it means the specific protections and compensation scheme applicable to you depend on which entity you’re actually contracted with.

Cross-cutting tips that apply to every register

1. Type the regulator’s domain yourself — never follow a “verify here” link the broker provides, in case it points to a fake lookalike register.
2. Search the exact registered company name, not just the trading/brand name — brokers frequently operate several legal entities under one consumer-facing brand.
3. A license number that matches is not enough on its own — confirm the registered company name on the register matches what appears in your actual account-opening agreement, since scammers occasionally cite a real license number belonging to a different, legitimate company.
4. Check for historical status changes — some registers show past enforcement actions, suspensions, or name changes; read this history, not just the current status line.

The practical takeaway

• Bookmark the official register domains directly (fca.org.uk, asic.gov.au, cysec.gov.cy) rather than relying on search results or broker-provided links.
• Match the exact legal entity name on the register against your account-opening terms, not just the license number or the broker’s marketing brand.
• Combine this with the SEC Philippines advisory check described in our SEC advisory list guide — these are two separate, complementary checks.

This is general educational information, not investment advice. Regulator websites and their interfaces are updated periodically — always use the current official site.