How to Check if a Lending App Is SEC Registered

By Pesoloan Editorial Team · Published 01/11/2026

Quick Answer

Find the company name behind the app, then confirm three things on the SEC's public lists: the company is registered, it holds a Certificate of Authority, and the app itself appears in the list of recorded online lending platforms. The names and SEC number must match on the same row. It takes about five minutes and needs no account.

Anyone can publish a loan app, and many look professional. A few minutes of checking before you hand over your ID, phone permissions and bank details is the most effective protection you have. This guide shows how to check any lending app, step by step, and which traps to avoid.

Why Three Checks, Not One

"SEC registered" can mean three different things, and a lender can pass one and fail another:

Company registration. The business is a registered corporation with an SEC registration number.
Certificate of Authority (CA). A lending or financing company needs this authority from the SEC to operate as a lender.
Recorded online lending platform. Under SEC Memorandum Circular No. 19, Series of 2019, lenders must report each online platform, and the SEC publishes the recorded ones.

A lookalike app can use a real company's name, or a real company can run an app that was never recorded. That is why matching all three matters.

Step-by-Step Check

Find the developer name in the store. Open the app's Google Play or App Store page and note the developer or company name. It is usually near the app title or in the app description.
Note the SEC details the app claims. Many apps print an SEC registration number and Certificate of Authority number in the description. Treat them as claims to be checked.
Open the SEC's list of recorded online lending platforms. Read the date note at the top of the page, because it tells you how current the list is.
Search the list. Press Ctrl+F (or use your browser's find function) and search the app name, then the company name.
Match the row. The app name, company name and SEC registration number should all sit on the same row.
Look for an asterisk. The SEC uses an asterisk to mark companies with pending cases for resolution.
Check the Certificate of Authority. Search the SEC's list of financing companies or lending companies for the company name and confirm its CA number.
Check the advisories. The SEC publishes advisories naming unrecorded and unauthorized platforms and copycats. Search for the app name and any lookalike names.
Compare the contact details. The company address, email and website on the store listing should match what you find in official records.
Decide. If any check fails, do not proceed.

Example: Checking Pesoloan

Following the steps above for Pesoloan:

The developer in the stores is Masaganang Buhay Finance Philippines Corporation.
The SEC's list of recorded online lending platforms includes "Pesoloan" under that company with SEC registration number CS201824008. The version we checked carried the note "as of 2 November 2021 (updated as of 08 October 2024)," and the entry had no asterisk.
The SEC's list of financing companies (as of 31 May 2020) shows the same company and number with Certificate of Authority No. 1185.

Our full write-up is in the article on whether Pesoloan is SEC registered, and the details of the operator are on the page about the company behind Pesoloan.

Common Traps

Lookalike names. An app called something similar to a known lender is not that lender. Warnings and reviews often get attached to the wrong app. For example, "Pesoloan Mart" belongs to a different company from Pesoloan.

Copycats and fake logos. In August 2026 the SEC warned about fake platforms imitating the names and logos of licensed lenders. Always install from the store listing under the developer name you verified.

A real company, an unrecorded app. The company may be registered while the specific app is not on the recorded list.

Old lists and reposts. Social media posts and blog pages often repost old lists. Use the SEC's own page and read its date note.

Self-declared numbers. An SEC number in an app description is not proof. Check it against the SEC lists.

The moratorium. The SEC stopped recording new platforms from November 2021. News reports say it lifted that moratorium from 1 August 2026, so new platforms can now be recorded. A recently launched app may be unrecorded for the simple reason that it has not yet been processed, and borrowing from it before it appears on the list is a risk.

What Registration Does Not Tell You

Being recorded means the lender is authorized. It does not tell you whether the cost is fair, whether collection is respectful or whether data is handled properly. After the registration check, read the disclosure statement, review the permissions and check the rules on collection. Our guide to online lending scam red flags covers what to look for next.

If the App Fails the Check

Do not install it, or uninstall it if you already have.
Do not enter an ID, a selfie, a bank account or an OTP.
Report it. You can report unrecorded or unauthorized platforms to the SEC, and report the listing to the app store.
Tell family and friends, since these apps spread by referral.

If You Want Verified Options

Checking every lender yourself takes time. You can compare legit online loans in the Philippines on our main page, which lists several recorded lenders with amounts, ages and requirements, and then run the same five-minute check on any you choose.

Next Steps

You can also see verified loan options in the Philippines on our main page, then repeat the five checks above on any lender you choose.

FAQs

Where can I find the list of SEC-recorded online lending platforms?

On the SEC website, under lending companies and financing companies, in the page titled List of Recorded Online Lending Platforms. Read the date note at the top, since the list is updated from time to time.

What does the asterisk on the SEC list mean?

The SEC uses it to mark companies with pending cases for resolution. An asterisk is not proof of wrongdoing, but it is a reason to read more.

Is a Certificate of Authority the same as being recorded?

No. The Certificate of Authority allows a company to operate as a lender. Recording lists the specific online platforms the company runs. Check both.

How do I report an unrecorded app?

Report it to the SEC and to the app store. Include the app name, developer, screenshots and what you saw.

Sources We Checked

Pesoloan Editorial Team. We research online lending in the Philippines and check company and registration details against public SEC records before publishing. Our articles separate documented facts from user reports and list their sources. Learn more on our author page and in our editorial policy.