IOBSP (credit intermediary)
Intermédiaire en Opérations de Banque et en Services de Paiement: the regulated French status that lets a professional connect a borrower with a bank and present or advise on credit operations. An IOBSP must be registered with ORIAS and hold proof of professional competence, professional-liability insurance and, depending on category, a financial guarantee. It is the legal framework of the credit-broker profession.
Key points
- Mandatory legal status for anyone presenting or advising on credit transactions in France.
- ORIAS registration sorts IOBSPs into several categories reflecting their degree of independence from banks.
- An IOBSP must hold professional-liability insurance and maintain ongoing professional competence.
- IOBSP remuneration is regulated and must be disclosed to the borrower before signing.
Frequently asked questions
What are the different IOBSP categories and how do they differ?
The regulatory framework distinguishes brokers, exclusive agents, non-exclusive agents and banking-operations agents. The key difference lies in the number of banking partners and the nature of the contractual tie with them. An independent broker can freely approach the whole market, whereas an exclusive agent is tied to a single institution.
Why is ORIAS registration so important for a credit broker?
Without a valid ORIAS number, any act of credit intermediation is unlawful and exposes the professional to criminal liability. Banks routinely check this number before signing a partnership agreement. It is also the first reflex of an informed borrower or legal advisor wanting to verify the intermediary's legitimacy.
What is the difference between an IOBSP and a bank advisor?
A bank advisor is employed by one institution and can only offer that institution's products. An IOBSP, especially as a broker, acts on the borrower's behalf and puts several banks in competition. This independence is precisely what justifies their registration requirement and enhanced duty to advise.
In practice
A wealth advisor who had been directing clients toward mortgage loans without ORIAS registration had to pause that activity upon review: by regularizing their IOBSP status, they could legitimately charge fees and broaden their service offering.
Put it into practice with CourtImmo
See how CourtImmo software helps brokers on this topic:
Official sources
- The banking-operations intermediary (IOBSP) · ABE Info Service (Banque de France / ACPR)
- Article L519-1 of the Monetary and Financial Code · Légifrance
- Single register of intermediaries · ORIAS