How to Verify if a Lending Company Is SEC-Registered in the Philippines

Philippine legal context • Practical steps • Red flags • Borrower rights (General information only; not legal advice. Laws and procedures can change.)

1) Why SEC registration matters

In the Philippines, lending companies (and financing companies) that extend loans to the public using their own funds are primarily supervised by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Operating without the proper SEC authority is unlawful and exposes the business—and its officers—to administrative and criminal liability. For you, the borrower, dealing only with duly authorized entities helps ensure minimum governance standards, disclosures, and avenues for redress.

Core legal bases

Republic Act No. 9474 – Lending Company Regulation Act of 2007 (LCRA) and its IRR
Republic Act No. 8556 – Financing Company Act of 1998 (for financing companies)
Republic Act No. 11232 – Revised Corporation Code (corporate form and filings)
Republic Act No. 3765 – Truth in Lending Act (cost-of-credit disclosures)
Republic Act No. 11765 – Financial Products and Services Consumer Protection Act (FCPA), 2022 (consumer rights; SEC powers)
Republic Act No. 10173 – Data Privacy Act (your personal data)

Bottom line: A lender must be a corporation and must hold a specific SEC Certificate of Authority (CA) to operate as a lending (or financing) company. An SEC “certificate of incorporation” alone is not enough.

2) Who needs SEC registration (and who doesn’t)

Needs SEC CA:

Lending company – a corporation engaged in granting loans from its own funds to the public on a regular basis
Financing company – similar but generally provides credit facilities for goods, services, or business needs

Different regulators / not under the SEC’s lending-company regime:

Banks, pawnshops, money service businesses → Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)
Cooperatives / credit cooperatives → Cooperative Development Authority (CDA)
Microfinance NGOs → governed by their special law/regime
Informal/private loans by individuals not in the business of lending → outside LCRA, but subject to the Civil Code and other laws

If a business is offering loans to the public as an ongoing enterprise and it’s not one of the exceptions above, it should be an SEC-authorized lending/financing company.

3) What “SEC-registered” should look like (documents you should see)

Ask the company to show (or state on its website/app/branch signage):

Exact Corporate Name (as per SEC records)
SEC Registration/Company Number (certificate of incorporation)
Certificate of Authority (CA) Number – this is the license to operate as a lending/financing company
Principal Office Address and official contact details
For apps/web platforms: the corporate owner of the platform and the list of app names/online lending platforms (OLPs) tied to the company

Many legitimate entities display the SEC Reg. No. and CA No. prominently on their premises, website, and in the app store listing or app “About” page.

4) How to verify a lender step-by-step

Step A — Gather identifiers

Get the exact corporate name (spelling, punctuation), SEC Reg. No., and CA No.
If dealing with an app or trade name, ask: “What corporation owns this app/brand? What’s its CA No.?”
Take screenshots/photos of disclosures and the name of the app as listed in the app store.

Step B — Check the company against official SEC sources

Without linking to specific sites, here’s what to look for when you visit SEC’s public channels or contact them:

Company/Entity Lookup – confirms if the corporation exists, its status (active/revoked/dissolved), and registered office.
Lists of Lending/Financing Companies with CA – shows if a company has a valid CA.
Lists of registered/recognized Online Lending Platforms (OLPs) – maps app names to the corporate owner.
Advisories / Cease & Desist Orders (CDOs) – flags illegal or erring lenders; check the company name and any aliases.

If online checking is not possible, proceed to Step C or Step D.

Step C — Ask for evidence from the lender

Request clear copies (or certified true copies) of:

SEC Certificate of Incorporation (shows the corporate name and date of registration)
SEC Certificate of Authority to Operate as a Lending/Financing Company (shows the CA number and issuance date)
If they operate an app/website, a document or SEC acknowledgment linking the app name(s) to the same corporation

Compare the corporate name on the CA with all marketing/contracting materials. They must match (or properly indicate “doing business as” for registered business/trade names).

Step D — Verify with the SEC directly (offline options)

Contact the SEC (Company Registration and Monitoring or Enforcement) through published channels or visit an SEC office.
Provide the exact corporate name, Reg. No., CA No., and any app names.
Ask two questions:
1. “Does this corporation hold a valid, unrevoked CA as a lending (or financing) company?”
2. “Is [App/Platform Name] officially associated with that corporation?”

Keep replies, screenshots, email acknowledgments, and stamped receipts—these are useful if you need to dispute charges or report misconduct.

5) How to read the certificates (what to check)

Certificate of Incorporation

Corporate name (watch for near-match clones)
Registration number and date
Status (active/revoked/dissolved) in the latest SEC records

Certificate of Authority (CA)

States the corporation is authorized to operate as a lending (or financing) company
Shows CA number and issuance date
Should be valid and unrevoked; many lenders frame this in the branch/app “About” page

Contracts and Receipts

Must identify the corporate lender, not just a trade name
Disclose finance charges, interest rate computation, fees, repayment schedule, and total cost (Truth in Lending Act)

6) Special considerations for online lending apps (OLAs)

App name ≠ corporate name. The app must be traceable to a specific SEC-authorized corporation.
Official SEC guidance requires disclosures on websites/apps: corporate name, SEC Reg. No., CA No., contact info, and (where applicable) the list of OLPs under the company.
App stores have their own local-law compliance requirements; the developer/owner listed should map to the same SEC-authorized company.
If a company says “SEC-registered” but refuses to give a CA No. or corporate name, treat as a red flag.

7) Red flags (walk away or investigate further)

No CA number; only shows a DTI business name or an SEC incorporation certificate without a CA
Sole proprietorship or partnership holding itself out as a lending company to the public
Corporate name doesn’t match app/branch documents or contracts
Listed in SEC advisories or CDOs; or the company previously had its CA revoked
Harassing collection tactics, public shaming, threats, or contacting people from your phone book
Upfront “processing” fees before loan approval, advance-fee scams, or unrealistic promises
Requests for excessive data permissions on the app (contacts, photos, GPS) without clear need or consent mechanisms

8) Your rights as a borrower

Clear, meaningful disclosures of interest and all charges (Truth in Lending Act)
Fair treatment & suitability standards under the FCPA (RA 11765); the SEC can enforce consumer protection rules against lending/financing companies
Data privacy (RA 10173): your consent, purpose limitation, minimal data collection, and security safeguards
Protection from unfair debt collection: practices like threats, public shaming, and contacting unrelated third parties are restricted/penalized under SEC rules and other laws
Court relief from unconscionable interest**: while interest ceilings are generally deregulated, courts may strike unconscionable rates

9) What to do if the lender is unregistered or abusive

Stop engaging, keep evidence (screenshots, messages, payment receipts, caller IDs).
Report to the SEC (Enforcement and Investor Protection): include corporate/app names, numbers, copies of IDs, and a timeline of events.
Data-privacy complaints: if an app scraped contacts/photos or used your data without proper basis, file with the National Privacy Commission (NPC).
Law enforcement: if there are threats, extortion, or harassment, report to authorities (e.g., NBI/PNP).
Civil action: consult counsel for rescission, damages, or to challenge unconscionable interest.

10) Quick verification checklist

Exact corporate name obtained (spelled exactly)
SEC Registration No. provided
SEC CA No. provided (lending or financing company)
Corporate name on CA matches contracts/receipts/app disclosures
If app-based: app name maps to the same corporation; app/website shows Reg. No. and CA No.
Not on SEC advisories/CDO lists
Loan documents show all costs; repayment schedule is clear
Data permissions are reasonable; privacy notice is clear

11) Sample email to verify with the SEC

Subject: Verification of SEC Registration and Certificate of Authority – [Company/App Name]

Dear SEC,

I would like to verify whether [Exact Corporate Name], SEC Registration No. [xxxx], holds a valid Certificate of Authority to operate as a lending/financing company.

The company is offering loans to me under the name [App/Trade Name]. Please confirm if this app/platform is officially associated with the corporation above and whether the CA remains valid and unrevoked.

Thank you, [Your Full Name] [Mobile/Email]

12) FAQs

Q: A lender sent me a copy of their SEC incorporation certificate. Is that enough? A: No. You must see a Certificate of Authority (CA) specifically authorizing it to operate as a lending (or financing) company.

Q: The branch signage shows a trade name that’s different from the corporation on the contract. Is that okay? A: Trade names can be used, but the corporate lender with a valid CA must be clearly identified in disclosures and the loan agreement.

Q: Are interest rates capped? A: There’s no general usury ceiling today, but unconscionable rates/charges can be voided or reduced by courts. The lender must fully disclose the true cost of credit.

Q: The company says its CA “is being processed.” Can it already lend? A: No. Lending to the public requires a CA. “Pending” is not authority to operate.

Q: The app developer name is different from the corporate lender. A: Ensure the app/platform is officially tied to an SEC-authorized corporation (same one named in your contract). If they can’t show that, treat it as a red flag.

13) Practical tips

Always ask for the CA No. first. If they won’t provide it, end the conversation.
Match the corporate name across app listing, website, contract, receipts, and certificate.
Keep copies of everything (ID of the collector, messages, call logs).
When in doubt, verify with the SEC before signing or paying any fee.

If you want, tell me the corporate name, Reg. No., CA No., and app name you’re checking, and I’ll help you walk through the verification logic against this checklist.