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FBS FCA Regulation checklist

Regulatory status is one of the most important things to verify before opening a brokerage account, and it should never be taken on trust from marketing pages or third-party summaries. This page does not assert whether FBS holds FCA authorisation. Instead, it explains how to check the position yourself, why the specific legal entity you contract with matters, and what UK regulation generally means for retail clients.

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Check the FCA register directly

The Financial Conduct Authority maintains a public register of authorised firms in the United Kingdom. To verify any broker's status, search the register for the firm's exact legal name and reference number, then compare those details against the legal documents on the broker's own website. Names that are similar but not identical can indicate a different entity, a clone or an unrelated firm. Do not rely on logos, badges or statements on a broker's homepage as proof of authorisation.

Search the FCA register using the exact legal entity name and firm reference number shown in the broker's legal documents.
Match the registered address and permissions on the register against what the broker publishes.
Be cautious of near-identical names, which regulators warn can be used by clone firms.

Identify which FBS entity would hold your account

Many brokerage brands operate through multiple legal entities licensed in different jurisdictions, and the protections you receive depend entirely on which entity you contract with, not on the brand name. Before opening an account, find the entity named in the client agreement presented to you during registration and check its regulator, licence number and jurisdiction. Clients in different countries are often onboarded to different entities with different rules on leverage, negative balance protection and dispute resolution.

Read the client agreement to find the exact legal entity and jurisdiction that would serve your country.
Verify that entity's licence directly with the named regulator, not just on the broker's website.
Note that protections such as leverage caps and compensation schemes attach to the entity, not the brand.

Understand what FCA authorisation generally provides

For retail clients of FCA-authorised firms, UK rules generally include client money segregation requirements, restrictions on retail CFD leverage, negative balance protection on CFDs, and access to the Financial Ombudsman Service for eligible complaints. Eligible claims against a failed authorised firm may be covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, subject to its rules and limits. None of these protections apply if your account sits with an entity outside FCA authorisation, which is why entity verification comes first.

FCA rules for retail CFD clients include leverage limits and negative balance protection.
Eligible complaints against authorised firms can go to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
FSCS coverage has eligibility rules and limits, and applies only to authorised entities.
These protections do not extend to accounts held with non-UK entities of the same brand.

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FAQ

Is FBS regulated by the FCA?

Do not rely on this or any third-party page for that answer. Check the FCA public register for the exact legal entity named in the client agreement you would sign, and confirm the firm reference number matches. Brand-level claims are not a substitute for entity-level verification.

Why does the specific FBS entity matter so much?

Broker brands often operate several entities licensed in different jurisdictions. Leverage limits, negative balance protection, complaint routes and any compensation scheme access all depend on the entity holding your account, so the same brand can offer very different protections to clients in different countries.

What protections do FCA-authorised brokers give retail clients?

In general terms: client money segregation, retail CFD leverage restrictions, negative balance protection on CFDs, access to the Financial Ombudsman Service for eligible complaints, and possible FSCS coverage subject to its rules. Confirm current rules with the FCA, as regulations can change.