Information for Goodstanding Letter Requests
What is a goodstanding letter?
A goodstanding letter provides information about a firm or individual whom is, or has been, regulated by the Prudential Regulation Authority.
Before making your request
Check if the firm or individual has ever been authorised, registered or approved by us.
Find this information on the Financial Services Register. You can check if a firm is authorised by the PRA by clicking on the ‘Regulators’ tab underneath the ‘Basic Details’ section.
For a goodstanding letter, we would only provide information in relation to firms and individuals that have been authorised, registered or approved by us.
Please let us know if you believe the subject of your enquiry is a controller. Controllers are not on the register, as only firms carrying out regulated activities and individuals performing a role under the Senior Managers and Certification Regime are on it. See Part XII and section 422 of FSMA for the meaning of 'controller'.
Submitting a request
We need to ensure the request is valid. To enable this, when submitting the request, please include a complete checklist together with supplementary information for each firm and individual you are asking about with the following details:
- Individual and/or firm reference number(s) where relevant so we can find the correct details quickly.
You can find reference numbers on our Financial Services Register. A firm’s reference number is a six digit reference comprising numbers only and an individual’s reference number is an eight digit reference that starts with three letters then has five numbers for the remainder.
Find out more about how to use the Register - Details if we have published a notice. (It may help you if you are aware there may be adverse information on the subject of the request)
- Rationale for submission of request.
- Dates of birth for individuals, together with any other names you have for them. For information about how we use personal data, please see our privacy notice.
- Exact date you need an answer if this is inside our anticipated response time for non-urgent cases of 42 days.
- The risk of not meeting your deadline if your request is urgent.
- If the firm/individual is not on the register, why you still need a goodstanding letter.
- If you have confirmed that the firm or individual is authorised or approved and you have completed the checklist, please attach it to your request together with supporting documentation and email it to: PRAGoodstanding.Letters@bankofengland.co.uk
We would remind you that goodstanding letters from us must be treated as confidential.
If you want to discuss your request over the telephone, you can ring us on + 44 20 3461 7000 between 10 am and 12 noon Monday to Friday.
Goodstanding Letter FAQs
What is a goodstanding letter?
A goodstanding letter is a letter we issue to overseas regulators who request information about regulated firms and individuals in the UK. It contains information about:
- The regulatory structure in the UK
- The firm’s or individual’s status on the financial services register
- Whether or not we have taken any enforcement or disciplinary action against the firm or individual.
When is a goodstanding letter needed?
We issue a goodstanding letter if we receive an enquiry from an international regulator about a firm or individual who has ever been authorised.
Who may request a goodstanding letter?
We may only issue goodstanding letters to overseas regulators. The overseas regulator must confirm it needs a goodstanding letter before we can process it.
What does an overseas regulator need to do before submitting a goodstanding letter request?
- Check if the firm or individual has ever been authorised, registered or approved by us by searching the Financial Services Register. You can check if a firm is PRA-authorised by clicking on the ‘Regulators’ tab under the ‘Basic Details’ section.
- Check if we have published a notice by searching the notices we have published on our website.
What is a firm reference number (FRN)?
This is a six-digit reference comprising numbers only assigned to a firm on the financial services register when it is authorised.
What is an individual reference number (IRN)?
This is an eight-digit reference comprising letters for the first three digits then five numbers for the remainder. It is assigned to an individual on the financial services register when they are approved.
How does an overseas regulator request a goodstanding letter?
Overseas regulators must complete our checklist and attach it to an email, together with the supplementary information required, and send to PRAGoodstanding.Letters@bankofengland.co.uk or enclose it with a letter to:
Goodstanding Letters
Prudential Regulation Authority
20 Moorgate
LONDON
EC2R 6DA
UNITED KINGDOM
Why do we need the checklist?
We need to make sure the request is valid. It also enables us to process your request more efficiently. For information about how we use personal data requested in the checklist, please see our privacy notice.
Should goodstanding letters issued by us be treated as confidential?
Yes. We have to process data in a way that is fair and lawful. Where we share information we expect it to be treated as confidential.
How long do we take to issue a goodstanding letter?
We aim to acknowledge requests within five days and provide a full answer within 42 days. Complex cases may take longer. If you need a full answer sooner, please include within your request the date you need it by together with your reasons for this. For the avoidance of doubt, this 42 day period does not relate to requests for information from EEA competent authorities.
Can overseas regulators ring the Goodstanding Letters Team (for example, to check progress)?
Yes. Our telephone number is + 44 20 3461 7000 and our lines are open between 10 am and 12 noon Mondays to Fridays.
