What’s a FINRA Broker CRD Number?

FINRA CRD stands for Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Central Registration Depository. It is a database used by the securities industry to track the registration and licensing information of securities firms and brokers through a FINRA CRD number.

FINRA, a self-regulatory organization that oversees the securities industry in the United States, maintains all FINRA CRD numbers. The database contains information on the professional backgrounds of brokers, investment advisors, and other securities industry professionals.

Broker-dealer firms and their associated persons are required to register with FINRA and have their information included in the CRD. The information in the CRD includes: personal information, education, employment history, disciplinary actions, and regulatory filings. It also provides information on whether a broker has passed or failed industry exams, the states where a broker is registered, and any aliases this individual has used.

This information allows investors to research the background of brokers and investment advisors before investing their money, and it helps regulators to monitor and enforce compliance with securities laws and regulations.

What is a FINRA CRD Number?

FINRA requires all registered individuals and firms in the securities industry to have a CRD number. By knowing your broker’s CRD number, you can ensure that they are appropriately registered with FINRA and are in compliance with regulatory requirements.

The BrokerCheck tool is a public online database that provides information about brokers and firms registered with FINRA. You can use your broker’s CRD number to look up their background and disciplinary history on BrokerCheck. This can help you decide whether to do business with that broker. Keep reading, and we’ll show you how to use BrokerCheck to learn about a broker.

A broker CRD number is a unique identifier assigned to each individual and firm registered with FINRA. Think of it like a Social Security Number. Each financial advisor or investment firm has their unique identifier.

Disclosure Events on a CRD Record

Events on a broker’s record refer to any incidents or events the broker must disclose on their Form U4, a Uniform Application for Securities Industry Registration or Transfer. These events typically include:

• Regulatory actions
• Customer complaints
• Arbitrations
• Terminations
• Bankruptcies
• Criminal charges
• Civil judgments

Disclosure events are essential for investors to assess the broker’s history and potential risks associated with working with them. When investors research how to use BrokerCheck and type in a broker’s CRD number, they can review this individual’s history of events to make informed decisions about whether to engage with that broker.

A stellar resume, investor profile, or LinkedIn page can make a financial advisor or investment firm seem the next best thing. However, searching for information using a broker CRD number might tell a different story.

Examples of Disclosure Events on FINRA CRD

• Customer Complaints are complaints filed by clients alleging misconduct, such as unauthorized trading, misrepresentation, or unsuitable investment recommendations.
• Regulatory Disciplinary Actions: Actions taken by regulatory authorities, such as FINRA or the SEC, against the broker for violating securities laws or regulations. This could include fines, suspensions, or even barring from the industry.
• Arbitration Awards: Decisions made by arbitration panels in disputes between the broker, clients, or other parties. These awards may involve monetary damages or other remedies.
• Criminal Charges or Convictions: Any criminal charges or convictions related to financial crimes or other offenses.
• Employment Separation After Allegations: Instances where the broker was terminated or resigned from a firm while under investigation for alleged misconduct.
• Financial Judgments or Liens: Legal judgments or liens against the broker related to debts or financial obligations.
• Bankruptcies: Declarations of bankruptcy by the broker may indicate financial difficulties.
• Regulatory Examinations: Records of regulatory examinations conducted by authorities such as FINRA or the SEC, which may reveal findings of non-compliance or deficiencies when using BrokerCheck.
• Educational Background: Information about the broker’s academic qualifications and certifications, including any disciplinary actions related to educational credentials.
• Civil Litigation: Involvement in civil lawsuits related to securities fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, or other legal disputes.

After using a broker’s CRD number to look up someone’s record, disclosure events typically refer to incidents or events related to the broker-dealer, rather than individual brokers. These events may include regulatory actions taken against the broker-dealer by regulatory authorities, customer complaints filed against the broker-dealer, arbitrations involving the broker-dealer, bankruptcies, civil judgments, and other similar matters.

Like individual brokers, disclosure events on a broker-dealer’s CRD record are essential for investors to assess their history and potential risks associated with conducting business with them.

What Do Arbitrations Mean Regarding a Brokerage Firm’s FINRA CRD?

When researching information based on a broker’s CRD number, you could learn about this person’s arbitration history. A broker-dealer may have arbitrations listed on its CRD for several reasons, which can include:

Customer Disputes: When using a FINRA CRD number to look up an advisor, you may see one or more customer disputes. These are the most common types of arbitrations. They involve disputes between the brokerage firm and its customers. Investors can file a complaint for various reasons, including allegations of unauthorized trading, unsuitable investment recommendations, breach of fiduciary duty, misrepresentation, failure to execute trades, or failure to supervise.

Employment Disputes: Arbitrations may also arise from securities employment disputes between the brokerage firm and its current or former employees. These disputes might involve wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, breach of contract, or disputes over compensation.

Inter-Broker Disputes: Arbitrations can occur between different brokerage firms or individual brokers. These disputes involve claims related to compensation agreements, recruitment practices, non-compete clauses, or other contractual matters.

Regulatory Actions: In some cases, FINRA or the SEC may initiate arbitration proceedings against a brokerage firm for alleged violations of securities laws or regulations. These actions could result in fines, sanctions, or other disciplinary measures.

Industry Disputes: Arbitrations may also involve disputes between brokerage firms and other entities within the financial industry, such as investment advisers, clearing firms, or financial institutions. These disputes relate to contractual agreements, business practices, or regulatory compliance issues.

An Easy Way to Check Out Your Broker

Knowing your broker’s CRD number can help you ensure they have a clean disciplinary record and have not been the subject of any regulatory actions that could put your investments at risk.

This information can help you decide who you choose to do business with in the securities industry. It can also provide valuable information to protect your investments and financial interests.

How to Use BrokerCheck with a FINRA CRD Number

BrokerCheck is a publicly available online database that FINRA provides that allows investors to research the background of brokers and investment firms registered with FINRA. Here’s how you can use BrokerCheck and a broker’s CRD number:

1. Visit FINRA’s BrokerCheck Website: Go to FINRA’s BrokerCheck website and enter the broker or firm name you want to research.
2. Identify the Correct Broker or Firm: BrokerCheck may return multiple results for a given name. Look for the broker or firm that matches your information, such as location or the broker’s CRD number.
3. Access the Broker or Firm’s Profile: Click on the name of the broker or firm you want to research to access their profile.
4. Review the Broker or Firm’s Information: The profile will contain information such as the broker or firm’s FINRA CRD number, registration status, employment history, and disciplinary history. You can use this information to evaluate the broker or firm’s background and determine whether they fit your investment needs well.
5. Use the CRD Number for Additional Searches: If you have the broker or firm’s CRD number, you can use it to perform more targeted searches while using this tool. For example, you can use the FINRA CRD number to search for regulatory actions or complaints filed against the broker or firm.

Using this tool and the CRD number, you can access important information about brokers and firms in the securities industry and make informed decisions about who to do business with.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What Is a Disclosure Event?

When researching a financial professional using a broker CRD number, you could find information about disclosure events. If these instances aren’t disclosed, financial statements could be misleading when presented to investors. Not disclosing such important information can lead to serious consequences.

Can I File a Complaint on BrokerCheck?

No, you can’t. BrokerCheck is a free tool used to research financial advisors and investment firms. How to use BrokerCheck involves typing in a broker’s CRD number. However, you can file a complaint through FINRA, which oversees BrokerCheck. Best of all, BrokerCheck costs are free, so there’s no need to worry about a sizable service-related payment.

Can a Broker See Who Has Looked Them Up?

No. Brokers and investment firms can’t see who has looked them up on BrokerCheck. You can search for a firm or advisor using the appropriate FINRA CRD number without worrying that whoever you’re searching for knows what you’re doing. This anonymity encourages investors to research financial professionals utilizing a broker’s CRD number without concern for retaliation.

Get a Free Consultation With a National FINRA Attorney 

FINRA attorneys specialize in the laws and regulations governing the financial industry, particularly those related to securities and investments. A FINRA attorney’s primary responsibility is representing clients involved in legal disputes or regulatory investigations with FINRA.

If you have a securities-related dispute, the FINRA attorneys at the White Law Group may be able to help you.

The White Law Group, LLC is a national securities fraud, securities arbitration, investor protection, and securities regulation/compliance law firm dedicated to helping investors in claims in all 50 states against their financial professional or brokerage firm. Since the firm launched in 2010, it has handled over 700 FINRA arbitration cases.

For a free consultation with asecurities attorney, please call the offices of the White Law Group at 888-637-5510 for a free consultation.

The White Law Group is a national securities fraud, securities arbitration, and investor protection law firm with offices in Chicago, Illinois, and Seattle, Washington.

For more information on The White Law Group and its representation of investors, please visit WhiteSecuritiesLaw.com.

Tags: Broker CRD number, BrokerCheck, CRD number, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Central Registration Depository., FINRA CRD, What is BrokerCheck, what is CRD Last modified: May 21, 2025