Many financial firms that market online say they hold a licence from the Labuan Financial Services Authority (Labuan FSA). They often show a licence number to back this up. Here is what that number can and cannot tell you, and how to check it yourself.
Where Labuan licence numbers appear
Labuan FSA licenses financial businesses in the Labuan International Business and Financial Centre (Labuan IBFC). Its financial institutions directory groups them by type, such as banks, insurers, fund managers and money brokers.
Labuan FSA also publishes lists of licensees in the Federal Government Gazette. For example, a gazette notice issued in March 2026 lists the Labuan banks and Labuan investment banks whose licences were valid as at 31 December 2025. It was issued under section 96 of the Labuan Financial Services and Securities Act 2010.
A separate gazette notice lists Labuan Islamic bank licensees under section 71 of the Labuan Islamic Financial Services and Securities Act 2010.
In these lists, each licensee's name sits next to a licence number. Labuan FSA posts the notices on labuanfsa.gov.my.
What the number looks like
In the 2026 banking lists, each licence number is six digits followed by one or two letters. The letters vary between entries. Some investment banks, for example, have numbers ending in "BI".
The gazette notices do not explain what the digits or letters stand for. Labuan FSA does not give an official key in these lists, so treat any explanation you see elsewhere with care.
This means a licence number on its own tells you very little. What matters is whether the exact number and the exact name appear together in Labuan FSA's own records.
How to check a Labuan licence number yourself
Copy the licence number and the company name exactly as the firm shows them on its website or documents.
Search Labuan FSA's financial institutions directory at labuanfsa.gov.my and find the list for that type of business.
Compare the name and number with the latest gazette list for that licence type. If either one does not match, stop and ask questions before going further.
Check whether the licence has ended. Labuan FSA publishes lists of entities whose licences were surrendered or revoked, such as its list of Labuan money brokers surrendered and revoked as at 23 January 2026.
Check Labuan FSA's list of unregulated and unauthorised individuals, entities, websites and funds. Labuan FSA says this list is not exhaustive and is updated from time to time.
If the firm offers investments to people in Malaysia, also check sc.com.my/investment-checker and the SC Investor Alert List.
SmartChecker shows register records and reviews for the companies it lists, but the regulator's own records are the final word.
What a Labuan licence does and does not allow
A Labuan licence covers business in Labuan IBFC. It is not the same as a licence from the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) or Bank Negara Malaysia.
For example, Labuan FSA's money broking page says Labuan money brokers may deal only in foreign currency, not ringgit, except to cover administrative and statutory expenses. It also says they may not deal with residents other than authorised dealers under the Exchange Control Act 1953.
So a genuine Labuan licence number does not, by itself, mean a firm may offer every kind of service to you.
Common questions
Can I tell what kind of licence a firm holds from its number alone? No. Labuan FSA's published lists do not explain the code, so check the directory, which groups firms by licence type.
Does a valid-looking number prove a firm is licensed today? Not on its own. Licences can be surrendered or revoked, so check Labuan FSA's latest lists and its surrendered and revoked lists.
What if the number is not on any Labuan FSA list? Contact Labuan FSA through the details on labuanfsa.gov.my before dealing with the firm.
Does SmartChecker issue or confirm licences? No. SmartChecker is independent and shows public register records. Only Labuan FSA can confirm a Labuan licence.