Source review: Official FCA consumer guidance, the FCA Firm Checker, the Financial Services Register and the FCA Warning List were reviewed on 11 August 2026. Regulatory records can change, so repeat the check before opening or funding an account.
Quick answer: To check a forex broker on the FCA Register, first identify the exact legal company that would hold your account. Search that legal name or its Firm Reference Number (FRN) using the official FCA Firm Checker. Confirm the firm is currently authorised, has permission for the service being offered, and that its website, email, phone number and address match the FCA record. Then review the full Financial Services Register entry and the FCA Warning List.
An FCA number displayed on a broker website is not proof by itself. A brand can use several companies, a group can route different countries to different entities, and a clone website can copy the name and FRN of a genuine firm. The purpose of this process is to verify the company, permissions and contact details together.
FCA Firm Checker or Financial Services Register?
The FCA provides two related tools. The FCA Firm Checker is the simpler starting point for consumers who want to know whether a firm is authorised and has permission to provide a particular service. The Financial Services Register is the official public record and contains more detailed and historical information.
Use the Firm Checker before buying a product or service. Use the full Register when you need to examine a firm’s regulatory history, restrictions, approved activities, trading names, client-money information, appointed-representative relationships or disciplinary action.
Neither tool guarantees that a broker is safe, suitable or financially sound. FCA authorisation with the correct permissions can reduce risk, but it does not remove market risk, fraud risk, insolvency risk or the possibility of future misconduct.
Step 1: Identify the company that will hold your account
Start with the broker’s client agreement, account-opening page, terms and conditions, legal disclosure or website footer. Record the exact legal company name and any FRN shown there. Do not search only for the marketing brand.
A global broker may operate an FCA-authorised UK company and separate companies in other jurisdictions. The existence of an FCA-authorised company within the same group does not automatically mean your own account will be held by that company. Confirm the contracting entity before you deposit.
Step 2: Open the official FCA tool directly
Type the official FCA address into your browser or use a trusted bookmark. Do not rely on a link supplied in an unsolicited email, message, advertisement or broker chat. Fraudsters can create convincing copies of regulator and broker websites.
For a new consumer relationship, begin with the FCA Firm Checker. For a detailed investigation, use the Financial Services Register at register.fca.org.uk.
Step 3: Search by legal name or FRN
Search the exact legal company name. If you have an FRN, search that as well and compare the results. Similar names are not enough. Confirm that the name on the regulatory record matches the company named in your account documents.
If the broker cannot clearly state which company will contract with you, stop the application and request written clarification. Do not accept a general statement such as “our group is regulated” as a substitute for the legal entity.
Step 4: Check the current regulatory status
Confirm that the record shows a current status that permits the firm to conduct the relevant regulated business. An entry marked “No longer authorised” or “Revoked” should not be treated as a current authorisation. Review any restrictions, requirements, cancellations or disciplinary information shown on the full Register.
The same brand may route another country to a different company, so also read our country-specific legal entity guide before comparing a UK offer with an international account.
Registration and authorisation are not always the same. The FCA explains that an authorised firm must have permission to provide specific products and services, while registration may apply to particular activities with different requirements. Read the status in context instead of treating every FCA listing as equivalent.
Step 5: Confirm the permissions match the service
A firm can be authorised without having permission for every financial activity. Check whether the record covers the service being offered to you. If the website is offering leveraged forex or CFDs, do not assume that an unrelated permission is sufficient.
If the permissions are difficult to interpret, contact the FCA using the contact details published on its official website. Ask the broker to explain in writing which regulated activity and legal entity apply to your account, but verify that explanation independently.
Step 6: Match the website and every contact detail
Compare the website domain, telephone number, email domain and physical address with the FCA record. Use the contact details published by the FCA to contact the firm. Do not use the number provided by a salesperson if it differs from the official record.
This step is essential because clone firms may copy a genuine company’s name and FRN while substituting their own website, email address or telephone number. If a caller claims the FCA details are outdated, treat that as a warning and contact the FCA directly.
For a deeper identity check, follow our 9-step guide to spotting a clone forex broker.
Step 7: Check trading names and appointed representatives
A firm may use approved trading names. Verify that the brand you see is connected to the legal company on the Register. If a business is listed as an appointed representative, identify its principal and confirm what activities the principal permits it to perform.
The FCA notes that a principal is responsible for the activities it has accepted for an appointed representative. If you are unsure whether the offered service falls within that relationship, use the principal’s official Register contact details to ask for confirmation.
Step 8: Search the FCA Warning List
Search the FCA Warning List for the legal name, brand, website domain and contact details. A warning is a serious stop signal. However, the absence of a warning does not prove that a firm is authorised or genuine; the FCA may not yet know about a new website or identity.
Also review the warnings shown on the Firm Checker or Register record. If the domain you are using appears in a clone or unauthorised-firm warning, do not send money or identity documents.
Step 9: Understand the limits of consumer protection
Do not assume that FCA authorisation automatically guarantees Financial Ombudsman Service or Financial Services Compensation Scheme protection for every product, loss or customer. Eligibility can depend on the activity, product, legal entity, customer classification and circumstances.
If protection is important to your decision, check the conditions directly with the relevant scheme and retain the written information supplied by the firm. Authorisation is evidence to evaluate, not insurance against trading losses.
Step 10: Save an evidence record
Save the legal entity, FRN, status, relevant permissions, official website, contact details, warning-search result, source links and the date checked. Keep a copy of the client agreement that names the entity. Repeat the check before a new deposit and whenever the broker changes its domain, terms or account entity.
FXPEDIA360 FCA verification result
- PASS: The legal entity is identifiable, currently authorised for the relevant service, and the domain and contact details match the FCA record. No conflicting warning was found on the date checked.
- WARNING: The company is listed, but the account entity, permissions, trading name, appointed-representative relationship or contact details require clarification.
- FAIL: The firm cannot be found, is no longer authorised or revoked, lacks the relevant permission, uses mismatched contact details, or appears on a clone or unauthorised-firm warning.
A PASS means that the stated evidence checks were completed on the stated date. It is not a recommendation, safety guarantee or prediction of future conduct.
FCA broker verification checklist
- Exact contracting company identified
- Legal name and FRN searched on the official FCA service
- Current status checked
- Relevant permissions reviewed
- Website, email, phone number and address matched
- Trading names and appointed-representative relationships checked
- Warning List searched
- Protection assumptions checked separately
- Source URLs and verification date saved
Frequently asked questions
What if a forex broker is not on the FCA Firm Checker?
Do not assume it is authorised. Check the exact legal name on the full Register and contact the FCA through its official website if the firm claims to be authorised but cannot be found.
Does an FCA FRN prove that a broker website is genuine?
No. Clone firms can copy a genuine FRN. The website domain and all contact details must also match the FCA record.
Does an FCA-regulated group mean my account is FCA regulated?
Not necessarily. Your protection depends on the company named in your account agreement and the service it is authorised to provide. A separate offshore company in the same group is not automatically covered by the UK company’s authorisation.
For a worked example, see our comparison of Pepperstone’s UK, EU, Australian and Bahamas legal entities, which shows why an FCA-regulated group company does not automatically make every account an FCA account.
How often should I repeat the check?
Check before opening the account, before the first deposit, before a material new deposit and after any change to the broker’s domain, terms, legal entity or regulatory status.
Official FCA sources
- FCA Firm Checker
- FCA: How to check a firm or individual is authorised
- Financial Services Register
- FCA: Financial Services Register guidance
- FCA Warning List
- FCA: Clone firms and individuals
Start with our broader forex broker regulation verification guide, then explore the latest articles in Broker Safety.
For a broader comparison of account entities, retail safeguards and complaint routes, read our regulated vs offshore forex brokers guide.
This article is for general education only and does not provide financial, investment, legal or tax advice. FXPEDIA360 does not guarantee that a broker is safe, suitable or free from future problems.
FCA Register evidence table
| Evidence to record | Where to verify it | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Firm reference number and exact legal name | FCA Firm Checker or Financial Services Register | Links the brand claim to a specific firm |
| Website, phone and address | Official firm record | Helps identify clone contact details |
| Permissions, restrictions and status | Firm details and permissions | A registered firm may not have every permission a user assumes |
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