How to check that a lender is registered with the NCR
Every credit provider in South Africa must be registered with the National Credit Regulator, and registered providers carry a number that starts with NCRCP. You can check any lender in a few minutes by searching the NCR's public register for its name or number. This guide shows you how, and what the result does and does not tell you.
Key takeaways
- Registered credit providers are listed on the NCR website, and their numbers start with NCRCP.
- Search by the lender's full legal name or its NCRCP number, then match the name and address.
- Take the details from the lender's agreement, not only from a message you received.
- Registration is a necessary first check, not a recommendation of the loan.
- Never pay a fee to receive a loan, whatever the lender is called.
Why should you check a lender's registration?
The National Credit Regulator states that everyone giving out credit must be registered with it and must apply the rules in the National Credit Act. Registration puts the lender under the regulator's oversight, which means you have somewhere to take a complaint if something goes wrong.
It takes a few minutes and costs nothing. Do it before you send your identity document, payslips or bank statements, not afterwards.
Where do you find a lender's NCRCP number?
Start with the lender's own materials. A registered credit provider normally shows its registration number on its website, usually in the footer or on an about page, and on its credit agreement and quotation. Look for a code that begins with NCRCP, followed by digits.
Also note the lender's full legal company name, its trading name and its physical address. These are the details you will match against the register. If you cannot find any of them, ask the lender in writing for its legal name and NCRCP number. A genuine provider can answer in one line.
- Check the website footer and the about or contact page.
- Check the top or bottom of the pre-agreement statement and quotation.
- Check the credit agreement itself, where the credit provider's details are recorded.
- If the number is missing, ask for it in writing before you share any documents.
How do you search the NCR register of credit providers?
Go to the National Credit Regulator website, open the Registrants menu and choose the register of credit providers. The search page has a keyword field. The NCR's own examples show two ways to search: enter the provider's full name or its NCRCP number, or add a town to narrow the search.
Results are sorted by status, with separate tabs for registered providers, voluntarily cancelled registrations, registrations cancelled by the tribunal and registrations that have lapsed. You want to see the lender under the registered tab.
- Step 1: Open the NCR website and find the Registrants menu.
- Step 2: Choose the register of credit providers.
- Step 3: Type the full legal name or the NCRCP number in the keyword field.
- Step 4: Open the result and read the status tab it sits under.
- Step 5: Compare every detail with what the lender gave you.
- Step 6: If you find nothing or find a mismatch, contact the NCR before you proceed.
What should you look for in the result?
Each entry on the register shows the provider's full name, trading name, telephone number, final registration date, NCR registration number, legal registration number and physical address. Match these against the lender's website and documents.
The NCR has warned that criminals sometimes use the registration details of lawfully registered providers. So do not stop at seeing that a number exists. Check that the name, address and phone number on the register match the company you are dealing with, and use the contact details you found independently, not only those in an SMS, email or WhatsApp message.
If a provider appears only under cancelled or lapsed registrations, it is not currently registered.
| What you see | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Name, number and address match the lender's agreement | A good sign; continue to read the quotation carefully |
| Name matches but the address or phone is different | Pause and ask the lender to explain, and contact the NCR if the answer is unclear |
| Provider appears under cancelled or lapsed registrations | Do not proceed; it is not currently registered |
| No entry at all | Do not share documents; ask the lender for its number in writing and contact the NCR |
What does registration mean, and what does it not mean?
Registration means the provider is on the regulator's register and must follow the National Credit Act, including the duty to assess affordability, to give you a written quotation and to respect the rules on fees, interest and collection.
It does not mean the loan is the cheapest, or that it suits your budget, or that the NCR recommends the lender. The register does not rank providers. You still need to compare the total repayable and decide whether you can afford it.
The register also does not replace your own judgement about how a lender behaves. If a registered provider asks you to pay a fee before you receive the loan or to leave your bank card or ID with it, say no and report it to the NCR.
What warning signs should you look for on a lender's website and agreement?
Most problems show up before you sign. The signs below are worth a second look, and any one of them is a reason to pause and verify.
A lender can also state its registration on its own pages. Handle that statement like any other claim and confirm it on the NCR register.
- A request to pay a fee, an insurance amount or an admin charge before the loan is paid out.
- No NCRCP number, no legal company name or no physical address on the site or documents.
- Pressure to decide today, or messages that arrive from a personal number on WhatsApp or Facebook.
- Documents with spelling errors, missing company details or amounts that differ from what you were told.
- A request to send your PIN, OTP or online banking login.
- A request to hand over your bank card, SASSA card or ID as security.
- A quotation that is missing the total repayable, the fees or the payment dates.
What can you do if the lender is not on the register?
Stop and keep every message, screenshot and document. Do not send money or personal documents. Contact the NCR with the details at its call centre or complaints email address, and ask it to confirm.
If you have already paid an upfront fee, the NCR advises opening a criminal case at your nearest police station. Our guide on loan fraud in South Africa explains what to report and how.
Frequently asked questions
What does NCRCP stand for?
NCRCP is the prefix the National Credit Regulator uses for the registration number of a credit provider. A registered provider has an NCRCP number followed by digits, which you can search on the NCR register.
Is the NCR register free to search?
Yes. The register of credit providers is published on the NCR website for the public to search. You can search by name or by registration number.
A lender says it is registered but I cannot find it. What now?
Try the exact legal company name rather than the trading name, and try the NCRCP number. If you still find nothing, do not share documents or pay anything, and contact the National Credit Regulator to confirm.
Can a registered lender still do something wrong?
Registration puts a lender under the Act, but it does not guarantee good conduct. If a registered lender breaks the rules, for example by holding your card or charging a fee before payout, you can lodge a complaint with the NCR.
Do I need to check banks too?
Banks that provide credit are also credit providers under the Act. The register is mainly useful for non-bank and online lenders you do not already know. The same principle applies: confirm who you are dealing with before you hand over documents.