Official / regulatory update · Philippines
How to check if a loan app is properly recorded with the SEC
Check the company, its authority to lend, and the app's recorded status separately before treating an online loan as verified.
People searching for SEC registered loan apps need to check more than a company name. The SEC's borrower advisory tells users to verify the lending or financing company and the online lending platform on the SEC website.
Check three separate records
- Corporate registration identifies the corporation. It does not by itself authorize lending.
- A lending company must obtain a Certificate of Authority from the SEC before it may conduct lending business.
- The app or website should also appear on the SEC's List of Recorded Online Lending Platforms under the responsible company.
The SEC's current lending-and-financing pages link to the List of Recorded Online Lending Platforms and to records for lending and financing companies. Search the exact app name, then confirm the legal company behind it and the relevant authority. A similar logo or brand spelling is not a substitute for an exact match.
What a match does not prove
An entry in an official record helps confirm identity and regulatory status at the time of the check. It is not a promise that a loan app is low-cost, suitable, or free from complaints. Read the loan agreement, interest, fees, charges, and due date before accepting an online loan.