Efficient Query of Fin. Licenses Comprehensive Analysis Applicable Guide

How to Efficiently Check Financial Licenses A Comprehensive Guide

In today’s increasingly complex financial market and tightening regulatory environment, whether you are a business expanding operations, an investor selecting partners, or a regular user choosing a financial service platform, it is crucial to verify whether the relevant institutions hold valid financial licenses. A financial license not only serves as the foundation for legal operations but also plays a key role in ensuring financial security and regulatory compliance.

Recently, national financial regulators have intensified efforts to crack down on illegal financial activities. For example, in November 2025, the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission CBIRC released a list of companies that had engaged in lending activities without proper financial licenses, and emphasized the importance of verifying institutional qualifications through official channels. This action once again highlights the necessity of mastering effective methods to confirm the authenticity and validity of financial licenses before participating in any financial activity.

1. What Is a Financial License?

A financial license is an administrative permit issued by national financial regulators to financial institutions, authorizing them to conduct specific types of financial business. Common financial licenses include, but are not limited to

Banking license

Insurance license

Securities license

Fund management license

Payment license

Microfinance license

Financing guarantee license

Each type of license comes with specific regulatory requirements and permitted business scopes.

2. Why Should You Check Financial Licenses?

1. Verify Legality Only institutions with valid licenses are legally authorized to provide financial services.

2. Prevent Risks Many illegal fundraising and fraud platforms often disguise themselves under the guise of financial innovation but lack proper licensing.

3. Make Informed Investment Decisions Cooperating with licensed institutions reduces legal and financial risks, protecting personal or corporate interests.

3. Five Effective Methods to Check Financial Licenses

1. Official Regulatory Websites

In China, major financial licenses are issued by authorities such as the People’s Bank of China PBOC, the China Securities Regulatory Commission CSRC, the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission CBIRC, and local financial regulators. Each has an official information disclosure platform where you can search for licensed institutions.

Banking and Trust Institutions Visit the CBIRC website at www.cbirc.gov.cnhttp//www.cbirc.gov.cn to check licenses for banks, trusts, and consumer finance companies.

Securities and Futures Firms The CSRC website www.csrc.gov.cnhttp//www.csrc.gov.cn provides licensing information for securities firms, fund companies, and futures companies.

Payment Institutions The PBOC website www.pbc.gov.cnhttp//www.pbc.gov.cn maintains a list of non-bank payment institutions. To check payment licenses, go to the Administrative Approval Disclosure section on the PBOC homepage to view the list of licensed enterprises and their validity periods.

2. National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System

The National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System www.gsxt.gov.cnhttp//www.gsxt.gov.cn, managed by the State Administration for Market Regulation, is an authoritative platform for checking basic enterprise information. By searching for a company name, you can review sections such as Key Personnel, Business Scope, and Administrative Permits to see if the company holds any financial-related permits or filings.

While this system does not directly display license numbers, reviewing the business scope for keywords such as financial information services or online lending information intermediary can help identify whether the company engages in financial activities.

3. Third-Party Professional Platforms

With the development of financial technology, several third-party platforms offer convenient tools for checking financial licenses. Examples include

Tianyancha, Qichacha, Qixinbao These commercial platforms compile enterprise registration data, administrative penalties, and court records, often highlighting licensed institutions.

Financial RegTech Platforms Platforms like JinXin Wangyin provide real-time financial license databases and blacklisted entity screening services.

Note These platforms mainly aggregate publicly available data and should be used only as supplementary references. Final confirmation should always come from official sources.

4. Review Disclosures on Product or Service Pages

Legitimate financial platforms typically display their license type and number clearly on their official websites, apps, or promotional materials. For example, a fintech platform may state on its About Us page

This company holds a securities and futures business operation license issued by the China Securities Regulatory Commission, License No. 91310115MA1K3YJ123.

According to regulations, certain financial advertisements must include risk warnings such as Investment involves risks; proceed with caution and regulatory identification marks. These are also indicators of platform compliance.

5. Contact Regulatory Authorities via Phone

If you are unsure whether an institution holds a valid license and cannot confirm it through the above methods, you can directly call the customer service hotline of the relevant regulatory authority for assistance

CBIRC Consumer Complaint Hotline 12378

CSRC Service Hotline 12386

PBOC Financial Consumer Rights Protection Hotline 12363

Calling these hotlines not only provides first-hand information but also allows you to report suspected violations, helping authorities take timely action.

4. Key Considerations and Common Misconceptions

1. Differentiate Between Registration and Licensing Some online financial platforms may have completed local financial bureau registrations, but this does not equate to holding a formal financial license.

2. Check License Validity Some financial licenses have expiration dates and require renewal. Operating without renewal constitutes illegal activity.

3. Beware of License Misuse Some platforms falsely claim to be affiliated with licensed institutions without authorization.

4. Don’t Rely Solely on Marketing Claims All legitimate license information can be verified through official channels. Never rely solely on verbal assurances.

5. Conclusion

As the financial industry continues to evolve rapidly, operating with a valid license has become a fundamental requirement. Whether you are an individual or a business, mastering effective methods to verify financial licenses is essential for avoiding risks and making informed, secure financial decisions. In the face of an ever-growing array of financial products and services, only through rational judgment and multi-channel verification can you truly safeguard your financial well-being.