About FirmSearch

FirmSearch helps consumers and professionals quickly check whether a UK financial firm appears on the FCA Financial Services Register. This page explains how the site works, where the data comes from, and what our verdicts mean.

What FirmSearch is

FirmSearch is an independent consumer directory built on data from the FCA Financial Services Register. It is designed for anyone who wants to quickly verify whether a firm is regulated before engaging with it, for example, before opening an account, transferring money, or seeking advice.

The site is particularly useful for:

  • Consumers checking whether a firm is authorised before dealing with it
  • Journalists and researchers verifying firm status
  • Compliance professionals doing initial due diligence
  • Anyone who has received unsolicited contact and wants to check whether the firm is legitimate

Where the data comes from

Every fact on FirmSearch comes from an official public record:

  • The FCA Financial Services Register: each firm's status, permissions, requirements, disciplinary history and contact details. It is the authoritative source for whether a firm is authorised.
  • The FCA Warning List: firms the FCA warns are operating without authorisation, and impostors copying real firms.
  • Companies House: company records, directors and their other appointments, owners, and filed accounts.
  • The Financial Ombudsman Service: published complaints figures for the firms it reports on.

FirmSearch does not change what these records say. We bring them together, explain them in plain English, and point out what is worth a closer look.

How we keep the data current

We re-check firms against the FCA Register every day, so each firm's record is refreshed about every two weeks. Companies House records are refreshed about weekly, and new accounts are added as they are filed. Firm statuses can change: a firm can become authorised, have its authorisation cancelled, or be placed under restrictions at any time.

Because there is always a lag between the FCA Register and our snapshot, you should treat FirmSearch as a starting point, not a real-time source. Always verify the current status directly on the official FCA Register before making financial decisions.

What the verdict means

Each firm page shows a verdict summarising the firm's regulatory standing. The verdicts are derived from the status fields on the FCA Register:

  • Authorised. The firm holds full FCA authorisation and is permitted to carry out the regulated activities shown on its record. This includes firms with "Authorised" or "Registered" status on the FCA Register.
  • Appointed representative. The firm acts as an appointed representative of another FCA-authorised firm (its "principal"). It is covered by the principal's authorisation rather than holding its own. You should check the principal firm's record as well.
  • Caution. The firm's status warrants caution. This includes firms whose authorisation has been suspended, varied, or is subject to requirements, or where there is a history of disciplinary action. Read the full record carefully.
  • Cancelled / lapsed. The firm's authorisation or registration has been cancelled, withdrawn, or has lapsed. A cancelled firm is no longer authorised to carry out regulated activities. If a firm is soliciting business despite a cancelled status, that may indicate fraud, report it to the FCA.

These verdicts are our interpretation of the data fields provided by the FCA Register. They are intended to help you navigate the information, not to replace it. Always read the underlying firm record before acting on any verdict.

Independence disclaimer

FirmSearch is an independent directory. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or in any way connected to the Financial Conduct Authority. The FCA does not review, approve, or endorse the content on this site.

For the authoritative and up-to-date position on any firm, always verify directly on the official FCA Financial Services Register. If you suspect a firm is operating without authorisation or is impersonating a regulated firm, report it to the FCA directly.

Who runs FirmSearch

FirmSearch is operated by Vasia Media Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales (company number 13841574). If you have a question, spot an error in our data, or want to report a potential clone firm, please get in touch.