Before you apply for a loan, it is worth taking a few minutes to check whether the lender is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The FCA register is a free, public database that lists every firm permitted to offer financial products in the UK. Checking it takes less than five minutes and costs nothing.
This article explains how to search the register, what to look for when you find a firm, and how to recognise scam operations that try to imitate authorised lenders.
This article is information only. It explains how to use a public tool provided by the FCA. It does not constitute financial advice, and it does not assess whether any specific firm is suitable for your circumstances.
What does the FCA register tell you?
The FCA register is the direct answer to the question: is this firm legally permitted to offer credit in the UK?
Any firm that wants to lend money, arrange credit, or promote financial products to UK consumers must be authorised or registered by the FCA. The register shows whether a firm holds that permission, what specific activities it is allowed to carry out, and whether any restrictions are in place. It is the primary public record for this information.
Be careful, though. Authorisation is not the same as a guarantee of safety or suitability. Firms that are fully authorised can still run into financial difficulty or enter administration. Recent examples include Euro Exchange Securities UK Limited (which entered special administration in 2026) and Monevium Ltd (which also entered special administration in 2026, despite holding FCA authorisation for payment services). Checking the register tells you a firm is permitted to operate. It does not tell you how financially stable it is.
What is an FRN?
When the FCA authorises a firm, it assigns a unique identifier called a Firm Reference Number, or FRN. The FRN is typically a six or seven-digit number.
You will often see an FRN displayed on a lender's website, usually in the footer or in their legal information. If a firm is legitimate, they are required to display it.
The FRN is the most reliable way to search the register. Searching by firm name can return multiple results if firms have similar names. Searching by FRN brings up the exact record.
If a firm cannot or will not tell you their FRN, treat that as a warning sign.
What to check before you search
Before you open the register, gather the following:
- The exact trading name the firm uses (e.g. the name on the website or advert)
- The FRN, if it is displayed
- The type of product they are offering (personal loan, credit broker, etc.)
Having this information ready makes it easier to confirm you are looking at the right record, and to compare what the firm claims against what the register shows.
Step 1: Go directly to the FCA register
Open a browser and type the register address directly into the address bar: register.fca.org.uk
Do not use a link from an email, a text message, or a social media post to reach the register. Clone firms sometimes create fake versions of the FCA website or the register itself. Going directly to the address avoids that risk.
Step 2: Search for the firm
On the register homepage, enter the firm's name or FRN into the search box and press search.
If you are searching by name, look carefully at the results. Clone firms often use names that are very close to legitimate ones, differing by a single word or a slight spelling change. If you find more than one result, compare the addresses and FRNs carefully.
If the firm does not appear at all, it may not be authorised. A firm operating without authorisation is acting illegally under sections 19 and 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.
Step 3: Check the firm's status
When you open a firm's record, the first thing to check is its status. It should say Authorised or Registered. If it says Formerly authorised, Cancelled, or Withdrawn, the firm no longer holds permission to conduct regulated activity.
Be aware that authorisation status can change. A restriction or cancellation may have been added since you last checked. It is worth running the check at the point of application, not weeks beforehand.
Step 4: Check the firm's permissions
A firm's record includes a list of the regulated activities it is permitted to carry out. These are called permissions.
For a personal loan or bad credit lender, look for permissions such as:
- Entering into a regulated credit agreement as lender, this means the firm is permitted to lend directly
- Credit broking, this means the firm arranges credit on behalf of other lenders rather than lending directly itself
- Debt adjusting or debt counselling, relevant if the firm claims to help with existing debt
If the product being offered does not match the permissions listed, that is a serious warning sign. A firm promoting personal loans but holding only insurance permissions, for example, is not permitted to offer that product.
Step 5: Check the contact details match
Compare the address, phone number, and website listed on the FCA register against the contact details the firm has given you.
Clone firms copy a legitimate firm's name and FRN, but use different contact details. If the address or phone number on the register does not match what the firm has provided to you, stop. Do not proceed and do not send any money.
If you are uncertain, contact the real firm directly using the contact details shown on the register, not the ones from the email or advert.
What are clone firms, and how do they operate?
A clone firm is a fraudulent operation that copies the identity of a real, authorised firm. The scammer uses the legitimate firm's name, FRN, and sometimes a near-identical website to appear credible.
Clone firm fraud has evolved. Scam promotions no longer rely only on copycat websites. The FCA's annual report (published 2026) noted that in the first year of its current strategy, the regulator made 650 social media takedown requests and saw 3 arrests related to illegal financial promotions by so-called "finfluencers". This reflects a shift: fraudulent promotions now spread through social media accounts and influencer-style content, not only fake websites.
Warning signs of a clone firm or scam operation include:
- Contact details that differ from those on the register
- Pressure to act quickly or pay an upfront fee
- Promises of approval before any credit checks
- No FRN displayed, or an FRN that belongs to a different firm entirely
- Initial contact made through an unsolicited message, social media post, or advert
The FCA maintains a Warning List of firms it has identified as operating without authorisation or as possible scams. This is searchable at the same register address. Checking the Warning List as well as the main register is a useful additional step.
What to do if a firm fails the check
If a firm does not appear on the register, has cancelled or lapsed authorisation, or shows a mismatch in contact details or permissions, do not proceed with an application.
You can report a suspected unauthorised firm or clone operation to the FCA. Contact the FCA Consumer Helpline on 0800 111 6768 (freephone).
It is also worth checking whether the firm appears on the FCA's Warning List before you apply to any unfamiliar lender.
Frequently asked questions
What is an FRN?
An FRN (Firm Reference Number) is a unique number the FCA assigns to every firm it authorises. You can enter an FRN directly into the FCA register to see the firm's full record, including the activities it is permitted to carry out.
Is an authorised firm safe to borrow from?
Authorisation means the firm meets FCA rules for conducting regulated activity. It does not mean the firm will never fail or that its products will suit your situation. Authorised firms can still enter administration. Always check the register at the point of application.
What is a clone firm?
A clone firm is a fraudulent operation that copies the name, address, or FRN of a real authorised firm to appear legitimate. Scam promotions now spread via social media as well as fake websites. Always navigate to register.fca.org.uk directly rather than clicking links in unsolicited messages.
What permissions should I look for on the register?
For a personal loan or bad credit lender, look for permissions such as 'entering into a regulated credit agreement as lender' or 'credit broking'. If the listed permissions do not cover the product being offered, that is a warning sign.
What if the firm does not appear on the register?
If a firm cannot be found on the FCA register, it may not be authorised to offer credit in the UK. Borrowing from an unauthorised firm carries no FCA protection. You can report an unauthorised firm to the FCA consumer helpline.
Does checking the register affect my credit file?
No. Searching the FCA register is a free public check with no connection to your credit file. It does not create a hard or soft search on your record.
Related reading
For a broader look at borrowing options when your credit history is imperfect, the Bad credit loans guide covers the types of credit available and the checks lenders typically run.
- What is an FRN?
An FRN (Firm Reference Number) is a unique number the FCA assigns to every firm it authorises. You can enter an FRN directly into the FCA register to see the firm's full record, including the activities it is permitted to carry out.
- Is an authorised firm safe to borrow from?
Authorisation means the firm meets FCA rules for conducting regulated activity. It does not mean the firm will never fail or that its products will suit your situation. Authorised firms can still enter administration, as several have in recent years. Always check the register at the point of application, not just once.
- What is a clone firm?
A clone firm is a fraudulent operation that copies the name, address, or FRN of a real authorised firm to appear legitimate. Scam promotions now spread via social media as well as fake websites. Always navigate to register.fca.org.uk directly rather than clicking links in unsolicited messages.
- What permissions should I look for on the register?
For a personal loan or bad credit lender, look for permissions such as 'entering into a regulated credit agreement as lender' or 'credit broking'. If the firm's listed permissions do not cover the product being offered, that is a warning sign.
- What if the firm does not appear on the register?
If a firm cannot be found on the FCA register, it may not be authorised to offer credit in the UK. Borrowing from an unauthorised firm offers no protection under FCA rules and may be illegal. You can report an unauthorised firm to the FCA via their consumer helpline.
- Does checking the register affect my credit file?
No. Searching the FCA register is a free public check and has no connection to your credit file. It does not create a hard or soft search on your record.