Updated September 28, 2026
What is Financial Conduct Authority?
In short
The Financial Conduct Authority is the UK watchdog on how lenders and card providers treat customers, and every authorised firm carries a reference you can check.
The Financial Conduct Authority is the UK regulator that watches how financial firms behave towards customers. A firm allowed to lend or issue cards shows a Financial Conduct Authority reference, which you can look up before you apply. Aqua Card lists 682417. Cosmo Payment lists 900015, and Capital on Tap lists 900922. Barclaycard shows 759676. A reference tells you who stands behind the card; it says nothing about the rate you pay or the limit you get.
Sources
- aquacard.co.uk, checked September 26, 2026
- barclaycard.co.uk, checked September 26, 2026
- capitalontap.com, checked September 26, 2026
- cosmopayment.com, checked September 26, 2026