EMI register: licensed e-money institutions

About this directory

Frequently asked questions

What is an e-money institution (EMI)?

An e-money institution is a firm authorised to issue electronic money — a digital store of prepaid funds — and to provide related payment services such as payment accounts, cards and transfers. In the UK, EMIs are authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority under the Electronic Money Regulations 2011; across the EEA they are authorised by their national competent authority under the E-Money Directive and recorded in the European Banking Authority's central register.

What is the difference between an authorised EMI, a small EMI and a PI?

An authorised EMI can issue e-money without a volume cap and, in the EEA, can passport its services into other member states. A small EMI operates below a regulatory threshold for average outstanding e-money, carries lighter requirements and cannot passport. A payment institution (PI) is authorised to provide payment services but cannot issue e-money.

How are the listings in this directory verified?

Every entry is cross-checked against the issuing regulator's own public record — the FCA Financial Services Register in the UK and the EBA EUCLID register across the EEA. Firms whose licence has been withdrawn, lapsed or suspended are flagged or removed at the next sync, so the directory reflects live authorisation status rather than a one-off snapshot.

Is money held with an EMI protected like a bank deposit?

No. E-money is not covered by a deposit-guarantee scheme such as the UK's Financial Services Compensation Scheme. Instead, EMIs must safeguard customer funds by holding them separately from the firm's own money, so that balances can be returned to customers if the firm fails.

How current is the data?

Listings are re-checked against the competent-authority registers on a weekly cadence, and each record shows when it was last verified.