Market integrity
Support clear, consistent regulatory information so firms, professionals and the public can make informed checks.
ESMA Register
Verify a financial firm
Check the regulatory information available in our database.
Authorised
Restricted authorisation
Not authorised
Insufficient information
About ESMA
Clear information for confident financial checks
ESMA provides a central point of access to company identities, regulatory statuses, permissions and public warnings. Its purpose is to make complex records easier to search, compare and understand.
A listing is not an endorsement of a firm or its products. Users should verify the exact legal entity, jurisdiction and authorised activity before entering into an agreement or transferring funds.
Learn more about ESMAInvestor protection
Make warnings, restrictions and the scope of permissions easier to identify before a financial decision is made.
Regulatory cooperation
Present information from competent authorities through a common, structured and searchable framework.
Why verify a firm?
Before using a financial service, verify the firm's identity, its regulatory status, the activities it is authorised to carry out and any warnings issued against it.
1
Identity
Confirm the firm's legal name, registration number and country.
2
Regulatory status
Check whether the firm is authorised, restricted or not authorised.
3
Authorised activities
Each authorisation covers specific activities, not all of them.
4
Warnings
Review any alerts published in the register.
Competent authorities
A multi-jurisdiction register
The register identifies the authority attached to each company record. Rules, permission categories and supervisory powers differ by jurisdiction, so the competent authority must always be read together with the firm's activities.
The presence of an authority name does not extend a firm's permission beyond the activities and territory shown in its profile.
ESMA
AuthorityEuropean Union
European securities markets coordination and supervisory convergence.
FINMA
AuthoritySwitzerland
Financial market supervision across banks, insurers and financial institutions.
MAS
AuthoritySingapore
Integrated supervision of financial services and monetary stability.
SVG FSA
AuthoritySaint Vincent and the Grenadines
Supervision and registration of financial entities within its jurisdiction.
Investor protection
Use the register before you act
Financial scams often use professional websites, copied registration numbers and urgent messages. ESMA helps users slow the process down and check the facts before sharing documents, signing an agreement or sending money.
Check the identity first
Compare the legal name, trading name, registration number, address and website with the details used by the person or company contacting you.
Read the scope of permission
A firm may be authorised for one activity and restricted for another. Always review the activity table before relying on an offer.
Look for warning signs
Pressure to act quickly, requests for remote access, unexpected calls and payment to personal accounts should be treated as high-risk signals.
Keep a record
Save the profile, export the document and keep emails, contracts, payment requests and website screenshots if something appears suspicious.
Call for applications
Contribute to trusted financial information
We welcome expressions of interest from professionals and early-career candidates committed to market integrity, public service and accessible regulatory information. Applications are assessed on expertise, independence and the ability to work across disciplines and jurisdictions.
Submit an expression of interestAreas of expertise
- Market supervision and financial regulation
- Data analysis, registry quality and digital services
- Legal, risk, compliance and investor protection
- Cybersecurity, operations and public communication
Recruitment decisions are based on merit, relevant experience and equal opportunity. Sending an expression of interest does not guarantee selection.
Spotted something suspicious?
Report a scam or an unauthorised firm
Tell us about a suspicious firm, website, cold call or lookalike brand. Reports feed directly into the warnings list.
Before using a financial service
A simple checklist can prevent confusion between an authorised company, a restricted activity and a website pretending to represent another firm.
- ✓The company name matches the register exactly.
- ✓The website and contact details match the profile.
- ✓The offered activity appears in the authorisation list.
- ✓No active warning or restriction applies to the service.
- ✓The firm is not asking for bank passwords or remote access.
What the register contains
Company records
Legal identity, registration number, jurisdiction, address, website and competent authority.
Authorisations
Activity-by-activity permissions with status, territory and relevant dates where available.
Warnings
Searchable alerts for unauthorised activity, clone-firm behaviour, restricted services and risk signals.
Exportable profiles
Downloadable company records designed for documentation, comparison and internal review.
How the register works
01
Search the register
Enter a firm name, registration number or website domain.
02
Read the profile
Status, authorisations, activities, directors, warnings and history in one place.
03
Export the record
Download the firm record as a PDF or CSV to keep with your own documents.
Alerts and guidance
See all warningsClone firms copying authorised names
Fraudsters reuse the name and registration number of an authorised firm on a lookalike website. Always check the contact details listed in the register.
What a restricted authorisation means
A restricted status means the firm may only carry out part of the activities it advertises. Read the authorisation table before signing anything.
Crypto-asset activities under review
Crypto-asset services are shown separately in each profile. Many firms hold no authorisation for them even when otherwise authorised.
Frequently asked questions
The essentials about statuses, authorisations and what to do when a firm cannot be found in the register.
About the registerWhat does “Authorised” mean?+
The firm appears in the register with a valid authorisation for the activities listed in its profile. It does not mean the investment itself is safe.
The firm is not in the register. What should I do?+
Treat it with caution, do not transfer funds, and report it so the register team can review it.
I have already sent money to a suspicious firm.+
Stop all further payments, keep every message and document, contact your bank, and send us a report with the details.
Does ESMA ever ask for my bank details?+
No. We never ask for card numbers, account details or passwords, and we never request payments.