What Is a SEC CA Number and Where to Find It
Contents
The Certificate of Authority (CA) number is the SEC-issued license ID that lets a lending or financing company operate legally in the Philippines. Think of it as the lending equivalent of a driver's license. The regulator issued it; the regulator can revoke it. This page explains what a CA number proves, where to find one, and why the source matters as much as the number. Checked September 16, 2026.
What a CA number proves
Three things, under RA 9474 (lending companies) or RA 8556 (financing companies). The company is registered with the SEC. It holds a Certificate of Authority to operate as a lender. And its platforms are recorded on the SEC's official list. Without a CA, the company has no legal basis to lend.
Where to find a legit lender
Three places, in order of reliability. The SEC financing-companies registry at appointment.sec.gov.ph, a public searchable registry with CA numbers (financing companies only). The SEC's recorded platforms list, the January 26, 2026 release names every recorded platform and its parent corporation. And the lender's own pages, a secondary source that must match the registry.
Primary versus secondary sources
Our reviews label every CA number by source. Primary: read directly from a public registry (financing companies only; lending companies have no such registry). Secondary: printed by the company, an aggregator, or a store listing. The label matters. Secondary numbers are self-reported leads until verified. Our reviews tell you which kind you are reading.
Frequently asked questions
What is a CA number on a loan app?
A Certificate of Authority number issued by the SEC. It proves the operator is licensed to lend. Lending-company CA numbers have no public desk-checkable registry; financing-company CA numbers do.
How do I verify a CA number?
For financing companies, search appointment.sec.gov.ph. For lending companies, ask Check With SEC or call the 1-4SEC hotline. Our reviews label each number by source.
What happens if a lender loses its CA?
The SEC can revoke it. The 2025 enforcement waves proved this: companies that lost their certificates had to stop operating, and continuing meant fines and criminal complaints.
The bottom line for borrowers
A CA number is the lending app's license ID. Where it comes from matters as much as the number. Verify through the registry or Check With SEC, and let the label, primary or secondary, guide your trust. Checked September 16, 2026.
Sources used for this review
- SEC financing-companies registry (appointment.sec.gov.ph); Check With SEC (checkwithsec.sec.gov.ph); hotline 1-4SEC
- Per-app CA citations across our review series