ORIAS register
France's single public register of insurance, banking and finance intermediaries. ORIAS registration is mandatory and publicly searchable by number; it conditions the right to operate as an IOBSP. A borrower can use it to verify that their broker is properly registered and for which activity categories.
Key points
- ORIAS is the single public register of all insurance, banking and finance intermediaries in France.
- Registration is renewed annually and subject to proof of regulatory prerequisites.
- The 8-digit ORIAS number is the first check to perform before collaborating with any intermediary.
- The categories listed in the register indicate the legal scope of permitted activities.
Frequently asked questions
How do you verify the validity of a broker's ORIAS registration?
Simply enter the 8-digit ORIAS number on the register's official website to instantly obtain the intermediary's status, the categories for which they are registered and the validity date. This check is accessible to any borrower, bank or partner. A negative result or a missing category should immediately raise a red flag.
What conditions must be met to obtain and maintain ORIAS registration?
Registration requires professional-liability insurance, proof of professional competence (recognized diploma or experience), and depending on the category a financial guarantee. Annual renewal requires proving that these conditions are still met. Any failure can result in removal from the register and thus a ban on practicing.
What is the difference between ORIAS and the ACPR?
ORIAS is a registration register: it certifies that an intermediary meets the administrative conditions to practice. The ACPR is the prudential and conduct regulator: it supervises commercial practices, investigates complaints and can impose disciplinary or financial sanctions. ORIAS registration is the necessary condition; ongoing ACPR compliance is the permanent one.
In practice
During an annual compliance audit of a brokerage network, the compliance officer checks that each of the network's 40 agents holds an active ORIAS number covering the mortgage-credit category, a single anomaly would be enough to expose the network to regulatory sanction.
Official sources
- Single register of intermediaries · ORIAS
- Article L519-1 of the Monetary and Financial Code · Légifrance
- The banking-operations intermediary (IOBSP) · ABE Info Service (Banque de France / ACPR)