Explainer - Why is it important to deal with an authorised financial service provider?

Only firms authorised by the Central Bank of Ireland or a corresponding regulator in another EEA Member State can provide regulated financial services in Ireland. If you engage with an unauthorised firm you lose the protections of regulation, and you can lose access to important protections designed to look after you if things go wrong.

For example, you can lose access to:

• The Deposit Guarantee Scheme

  This protects you if you have money in a bank, building society or credit union that is unable to pay back your savings.

• The Investor Compensation Fund

  This compensates you if an investment firm goes out of business and can’t pay back your money.

• The Insurance Compensation Fund

  This is designed to protect consumers when an authorised non-life insurance company goes into liquidation and can’t meet the cost of paying claims.

• The Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman

  The FSPO takes complaints on behalf of consumers against financial service providers.

How to check a firm is authorised

You can find out if a firm is authorised by checking our Register of Authorised Firms. The Register tells you if a firm that you are using, or planning to use, has been authorised to do business in Ireland.

A list of search tips is available on our website to help you search the Register effectively.

You can also contact 0818 681 681 or +353 (0)1 224 5800 to check if a firm is authorised.

In certain cases, we publish a warning notice if a firm has been providing financial services without the appropriate authorisation.

A list of unauthorised firms that we have published warnings on is available on our website.

Reporting an unauthorised firm

If a firm or individual contacts you and you believe they are providing services without the appropriate authorisation, let us know by calling 0818 681 681 or +353 (0)1 224 5800.

You can also submit your query online.

See also:

• Unauthorised firms