{"version":"1.0","type":"article","canonical_url":"https://hackforddata.com/insights/list-annex-1-firms","slug":"list-annex-1-firms","title":"How to find a list of Annex 1 firms","summary":"As the FCA increases its scrutiny of Annex 1 firms, Hackford helps consultants and counterparties find and understand the businesses relevant to their work.","author":"Dan Robinson","authorThumb":"images/client/dan.png","date":"2026-10-28","featureImage":"images/blog/list-annex-1-firms_cover-stone-v1.png","cardImage":"images/blog/list-annex-1-firms_cover-stone-v1_900.webp","category":"Guide","excerpt":"As the FCA increases its scrutiny of Annex 1 firms, Hackford helps consultants and counterparties find and understand the businesses relevant to their work.","readTime":"4 min read","content_plain":"As the FCA brings more scrutiny to bear on Annex 1 firms, there are opportunities for consultants to help these businesses ensure that they have strong financial crime controls in place that are tailored to the risks they actually face.\nThere is also the chance to help regulated counterparties like banks to review the Annex 1 firms they may be working with. Annex 1 registration is clearly no replacement for careful due diligence.\nFor both opportunities, the first step is to identify the relevant Annex 1 firms, whether as potential clients or among existing counterparties. So, for those who need to go beyond FCA Register spot checks, we have added a dedicated Annex 1 filter to the Hackford platform and MCP.\nWhat are Annex 1 firms?\nAnnex 1 firms are financial businesses registered with the FCA for anti-money laundering (AML) supervision but which are not FCA-authorised under the wider financial services regime.\nHackford’s data identifies 1,183 current FCA Annex 1 registrations. These range from commercial lenders whose activity falls outside regulated credit or mortgage activities, to financial leasing companies, money brokers and safe custody providers (such as safe deposit box businesses).\nWhy now\nThe FCA has increased its scrutiny of these businesses. In August 2026, it sent information requests to around 900 Annex 1 firms, following work with 300 in late 2025.\nOn 23 October 2026, it announced restrictions on six lenders following concerns about AML controls. Imposed at each firm’s request, these restrictions limit new customers and new business with existing customers.\nTypes of Annex 1 firms\n\n \n\nCredit lenders are the largest group in Hackford’s Annex 1 data, with 573 firms, or 48.4% of the total. Credit brokers account for a further 121 firms (10.2%).\nThere are also 72 mortgage lenders and 72 property finance lenders, each representing 6.1% of the total. Beyond lending and broking, the population includes 44 safe-deposit operators and 32 digital asset infrastructure businesses.\nAcross the population, Hackford identifies 55 different firm types. A consultant working with commercial lenders will need a different list from one supporting safe custody providers. Being able to distinguish between these businesses helps turn a broad list of Annex 1 firms into a more focused set of potential clients or counterparties.\nBeyond spot checks\nIndividual Annex 1 firms are visible on the FCA’s Register. To check an individual firm, look for status “Registered” and type “Supervised for anti-money laundering purposes only”.\nFinding a relevant group of firms is a more challenging task than checking an individual business.\nHackford allows subscribers to build a list of Annex 1 firms and segment the results further. Additional filters include Hackford’s proprietary firm types, employee headcount, and financial metrics.\nFrom a search to a working list\nFor example, a consultant researching commercial lenders can start with the Annex 1 population, then narrow it to the firms relevant to their work:\n\n\nSelect Add firm criteria → Regulatory profile → AML registration → Annex 1.\n\n\nAdd firm type, employee headcount or financial criteria, where available, to narrow the results.\n\n\nThe data can then be exported to CSV for further analysis, or the firms saved to a watchlist to receive email alerts on the changes selected in your watchlist settings.\n\n\n\n \n\nTo see how the Annex 1 filter could help with your research, please get in touch with Hackford.","content_blocks":[{"id":"p-0","kind":"p","text":"As the FCA brings more scrutiny to bear on Annex 1 firms, there are opportunities for consultants to help these businesses ensure that they have strong financial crime controls in place that are tailored to the risks they actually face."},{"id":"p-1","kind":"p","text":"There is also the chance to help regulated counterparties like banks to review the Annex 1 firms they may be working with. Annex 1 registration is clearly no replacement for careful due diligence."},{"id":"p-2","kind":"p","text":"For both opportunities, the first step is to identify the relevant Annex 1 firms, whether as potential clients or among existing counterparties. So, for those who need to go beyond FCA Register spot checks, we have added a dedicated Annex 1 filter to the Hackford platform and MCP."},{"id":"what-are-annex-1-firms","kind":"h2","text":"What are Annex 1 firms?","html":"What are Annex 1 firms?
"},{"id":"p-4","kind":"p","text":"Annex 1 firms are financial businesses registered with the FCA for anti-money laundering (AML) supervision but which are not FCA-authorised under the wider financial services regime."},{"id":"p-5","kind":"p","text":"Hackford’s data identifies 1,183 current FCA Annex 1 registrations. These range from commercial lenders whose activity falls outside regulated credit or mortgage activities, to financial leasing companies, money brokers and safe custody providers (such as safe deposit box businesses)."},{"id":"why-now","kind":"h2","text":"Why now","html":"Why now
"},{"id":"p-7","kind":"p","text":"The FCA has increased its scrutiny of these businesses. In August 2026, it sent information requests to around 900 Annex 1 firms, following work with 300 in late 2025."},{"id":"p-8","kind":"p","text":"On 23 October 2026, it announced restrictions on six lenders following concerns about AML controls. Imposed at each firm’s request, these restrictions limit new customers and new business with existing customers."},{"id":"types-of-annex-1-firms","kind":"h2","text":"Types of Annex 1 firms","html":"Types of Annex 1 firms
"},{"id":"img-10","kind":"img","src":"https://hackforddata.com/images/blog/top-annex-1-firm-types.png","text":"Top Annex 1 firm types, led by 573 credit lenders representing 48.4% of 1,183 current registrations"},{"id":"p-11","kind":"p","text":"Credit lenders are the largest group in Hackford’s Annex 1 data, with 573 firms, or 48.4% of the total. Credit brokers account for a further 121 firms (10.2%)."},{"id":"p-12","kind":"p","text":"There are also 72 mortgage lenders and 72 property finance lenders, each representing 6.1% of the total. Beyond lending and broking, the population includes 44 safe-deposit operators and 32 digital asset infrastructure businesses."},{"id":"p-13","kind":"p","text":"Across the population, Hackford identifies 55 different firm types. A consultant working with commercial lenders will need a different list from one supporting safe custody providers. Being able to distinguish between these businesses helps turn a broad list of Annex 1 firms into a more focused set of potential clients or counterparties."},{"id":"beyond-spot-checks","kind":"h2","text":"Beyond spot checks","html":"Beyond spot checks
"},{"id":"p-15","kind":"p","text":"Individual Annex 1 firms are visible on the FCA’s Register. To check an individual firm, look for status “Registered” and type “Supervised for anti-money laundering purposes only”."},{"id":"p-16","kind":"p","text":"Finding a relevant group of firms is a more challenging task than checking an individual business."},{"id":"p-17","kind":"p","text":"Hackford allows subscribers to build a list of Annex 1 firms and segment the results further. Additional filters include Hackford’s proprietary firm types, employee headcount, and financial metrics."},{"id":"from-a-search-to-a-working-list","kind":"h2","text":"From a search to a working list","html":"From a search to a working list
"},{"id":"p-19","kind":"p","text":"For example, a consultant researching commercial lenders can start with the Annex 1 population, then narrow it to the firms relevant to their work:"},{"id":"ol-20","kind":"ol","text":"Select Add firm criteria → Regulatory profile → AML registration → Annex 1.\n\n\nAdd firm type, employee headcount or financial criteria, where available, to narrow the results.\n\n\nThe data can then be exported to CSV for further analysis, or the firms saved to a watchlist to receive email alerts on the changes selected in your watchlist settings.","items":["Select Add firm criteria → Regulatory profile → AML registration → Annex 1.","Add firm type, employee headcount or financial criteria, where available, to narrow the results.","The data can then be exported to CSV for further analysis, or the firms saved to a watchlist to receive email alerts on the changes selected in your watchlist settings."]},{"id":"p-21","kind":"p","text":"Select Add firm criteria → Regulatory profile → AML registration → Annex 1."},{"id":"p-22","kind":"p","text":"Add firm type, employee headcount or financial criteria, where available, to narrow the results."},{"id":"p-23","kind":"p","text":"The data can then be exported to CSV for further analysis, or the firms saved to a watchlist to receive email alerts on the changes selected in your watchlist settings."},{"id":"img-24","kind":"img","src":"https://hackforddata.com/images/blog/annex-1-search-builder.png","text":"Hackford search builder filtering active UK Annex 1 firms by credit lender and 10 to 24 employees"},{"id":"p-25","kind":"p","text":"To see how the Annex 1 filter could help with your research, please get in touch with Hackford."}],"entities":[{"type":"Reg","name":"FCA Register"}],"references":[{"url":"https://www.fca.org.uk/news/statements/fca-applying-increased-scrutiny-annex-1-firms","title":"sent information requests to around 900 Annex 1 firms"},{"url":"https://www.fca.org.uk/news/press-releases/fca-restricts-6-firms-following-concerns-over-anti-money-laundering-controls","title":"announced restrictions on six lenders"},{"url":"https://www.fca.org.uk/firms/financial-services-register","title":"FCA’s Register"},{"url":"https://hackforddata.com/contact","title":"get in touch with Hackford"}],"checksum":"c9b0d190cc1a5685d130b611eca71dc13a9182f64d0c105e66ce66524d1a1493","last_modified":"2026-10-28T00:00:00.000Z","license":"All Rights Reserved"}