This guide walks you through, step-by-step, how to verify whether a Philippine lending corporation’s authority to operate has been revoked, and what that status practically means for borrowers, counterparties, and compliance teams. It covers the legal basis, the types of permissions a lending firm needs, where and how to check status, red flags, and what to do if you discover problems.

1) The Legal Backbone (Why “revoked” matters)

Primary law: the Lending Company Regulation Act of 2007 (Republic Act No. 9474) and its IRR.

Regulators involved:

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC): registers corporations and issues the Certificate of Authority (CA) allowing a corporation to operate as a lending company. The SEC may suspend or revoke that CA, and can also revoke a corporation’s primary registration under the Revised Corporation Code for certain violations (e.g., persistent failure to file reports).
National Privacy Commission (NPC): handles data-privacy abuses (commonly implicated in abusive debt-collection).
Law enforcement (PNP/NBI) and prosecutors: for criminal harassment, threats, or unfair collection practices (when applicable).

Key distinction:

Corporate registration (primary license): The certificate that the corporation exists as a legal person.
Certificate of Authority (secondary license): Specific permission to operate as a lending company. A corporation can still exist even if its CA is revoked—but it cannot legally engage in lending.

Typical grounds for revocation/suspension of the CA include:

Operating a lending business without the CA or beyond its scope.
Failure to comply with reportorial requirements (e.g., AFS/GIS), or repeated non-compliance with SEC rules.
False statements or concealment of material information in applications or reports.
Unlawful collection practices (e.g., harassment, shaming), use of unregistered online lending platforms (OLPs), or other violations of SEC regulations and memoranda.

2) What Exactly You Need to Verify

You need to confirm three things—preferably in this order:

Exact Legal Name Get the corporation’s registered name (not just the app name, brand, or trading style). Variations in punctuation, Inc./Corp., or an added word can point to entirely different entities.
Corporate Status (Primary Registration) Check if the corporation itself is active, suspended, or revoked under the Revised Corporation Code.
Lending Authority (Certificate of Authority / CA) Confirm whether the CA to operate as a lending company is valid, suspended, or revoked.

Tip: A flashy app or storefront name is not proof of authority. Always anchor on the registered corporate name and the CA number (if available).

3) Where and How to Check Status

A) SEC public resources (self-service checks)

Company/Entity Lookup: Search the SEC’s public lookup or name-verification service for the registered corporate name to see corporate existence and public status notes.
Lending/Financing Company Lists: The SEC periodically posts lists of registered lending and financing companies and may separately list entities with valid CAs.
Enforcement/Advisory Pages:
- Revocation/Suspension Orders: Look up SEC Orders against lending companies. Orders typically cite the corporation’s exact name, CA details, violation, and the date of revocation or suspension.
- Investor Advisories/Warnings: The SEC posts advisories naming entities operating without authority, using unregistered OLPs, or continuing operations after revocation.
Online Lending Platform (OLP) Compliance Notes: If the lender operates apps/websites, check SEC notices on registered/cleared platforms. Using an unregistered OLP can support enforcement action even if the lender has a CA.

Practical approach: Search by exact legal name, then by former names/aliases, then by known app names or trade names linked to that entity.

B) Requesting documents or confirmation from the SEC

If public pages are inconclusive, you can:

Request certified copies (e.g., the company’s latest Certificate of Authority, past SEC Orders, or a Certification on status).
Write the SEC (Corporate and lending-company desks) to confirm whether the CA is valid, suspended, or revoked, and to ask for the Order number and date if revoked.
Reference details you have: corporate name, company registration number (if known), CA number (if known), office address, and any app/site operated.

C) Cross-checking beyond the SEC

NPC decisions/advisories (privacy/collection abuse).
Court or law-enforcement bulletins (if there are reported cases).
App stores/official announcements (only as a clue; always verify with the SEC).

4) Reading SEC Orders (what to look for)

A proper revocation Order will typically indicate:

The exact legal name of the corporation (watch for near-matches).
The regulatory basis (RA 9474, IRR, SEC Memorandum Circulars, Revised Corporation Code provisions).
The acts/omissions (e.g., unregistered OLPs, non-filing of AFS/GIS, misrepresentations, abusive collection).
The disposition (e.g., Certificate of Authority REVOKED, possible fines, cease-and-desist directives).
The date the Order took effect and whether a motion for reconsideration or appeal was filed.

If you’re a borrower or counterparty, note the date of revocation—it helps assess if lending continued after the ban (a serious red flag).

5) Red Flags When the Status Is Unclear

The company refuses to disclose its SEC registered name or CA number.
The name on the contract doesn’t match the name on receipts, app, or collector ID.
The lender claims “we’re registered with DTI,” which is not a substitute for an SEC corporate registration and a CA for lending.
Fine print refers to different or multiple corporations.
The firm’s apps/websites are changed frequently, or the operator name in the app store is opaque.

6) What “Revoked” Means in Practice

If the CA is revoked: the corporation cannot legally engage in lending or hold itself out as a lending company.
If the corporate registration is revoked: the legal entity itself loses its corporate existence (subject to winding-up rules).
Collections after revocation: continuing to disburse new loans or collect as a “lending company” after revocation risks further SEC enforcement, possible criminal complaints, and civil exposure depending on the conduct.
Effect on borrowers’ obligations: Revocation of a CA does not automatically void all loan contracts. Contract validity is a legal question that depends on timing, disclosures, applicable consumer laws, interest/charges, and the specific findings in the SEC Order. Seek counsel for case-specific advice.

7) Step-by-Step: Quick Verification Workflow

Get the exact corporate name (ask for the CA and SEC registration number).
Check SEC public lookup for corporate status (active/suspended/revoked).
Check SEC lending/financing lists for a valid Certificate of Authority.
Search SEC enforcement/advisory pages for Orders or warnings naming the entity (or its platforms).
If results conflict or are stale, request certified confirmation from the SEC (and copies of any Orders).
Document everything (screenshots, file copies, names/dates).
If you find a revoked CA but the firm is operating, preserve evidence and proceed to reporting (below).

8) If You Find a Revoked or Unlicensed Lender

Preserve evidence:

Keep screenshots of the app, messages, in-app disclosures, receipts, and payment channels.
Save contracts, SOAs, and call/SMS logs (with dates/times).
Note names/ID numbers of collectors, and dates of calls/visits.

Report appropriately:

SEC (Enforcement/Investor Protection): Submit your documentation (company name, app links, Order copies if any, timeline of conduct after revocation).
NPC: If there are privacy violations (e.g., contact-list harvesting, doxxing, public shaming).
Law enforcement / prosecutors: For threats, extortion, harassment, or other criminal acts.
Your platform accounts/banks/e-wallets: Flag suspicious collection accounts to disrupt abusive pipelines.

9) Due Diligence for Businesses & Counsels

When onboarding a lending counterparty or purchasing portfolios:

Name hygiene: Confirm the exact corporate name, former names, and affiliates.
License pack: Ask for SEC Registration, Articles/By-Laws (latest), CA, and latest SEC-filed AFS/GIS.
Enforcement sweep: Pull SEC Orders/advisories; check for pending cases if material.
OLP compliance: If there’s an app/website, obtain evidence it’s cleared/registered as required.
Contract reviews: Examine interest/fees and collection practices for compliance risk.

10) Simple Templates

A) One-paragraph request to the SEC for status confirmation

We respectfully request confirmation of the current status of [Exact Corporate Name, Inc./Corp.], SEC Company Reg. No. (if known), and its Certificate of Authority to operate as a lending company under RA 9474. Kindly advise whether the CA is valid, suspended, or revoked and, if revoked, provide the Order No. and date, with copies if available. Attached are identifying details and any platform names used by the company. Thank you.

B) Borrower incident cover note to attach to complaints

I am reporting [Exact Corporate Name] and its app [App/Platform Name] for continued lending/collection despite indications of revocation. Attached are screenshots, receipts, and communications dated [range]. Please investigate and advise on appropriate action.

11) Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: The app shows a different company name than my contract. Which one do I check? Check all names. Start with the legal name on the contract and then cross-reference the app developer/publisher and any “operated by” disclosures.

Q2: The company says “we’re registered with SEC,” so we’re fine. Registration alone is not enough. To act as a lending company, the firm needs a valid CA. Verify both.

Q3: If the CA is revoked, do I still owe my loan? Possibly, yes—revocation doesn’t automatically void a loan. The outcome depends on dates, terms, and the specific law/regulations cited. Seek legal advice for your facts.

Q4: The company is collecting via e-wallet/bank accounts under a different name. That’s a red flag; capture evidence and include it in your report. Cross-check if that payee name has a CA.

Q5: How often should I re-check status? Before entering into a loan or engagement, and whenever you see material changes (new app, new operator name, enforcement news).

12) Takeaways

A Philippine lending corporation must have both: (i) SEC corporate registration and (ii) a valid SEC Certificate of Authority under RA 9474.
Revocation of the CA means the entity cannot legally conduct lending; operating anyway invites enforcement and other liabilities.
Verification requires: exact legal name, corporate status, CA status, and a sweep of SEC enforcement/advisory postings.
When in doubt, obtain certified confirmation from the SEC and keep meticulous records.

This article provides general information for Philippine context and is not a substitute for legal advice. For case-specific guidance, consult counsel.