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FCA-Regulated UK Payment Gateway
FRN 920628

Monek is directly authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority as a payment services provider — not an agent of another acquirer. Your funds sit in designated UK trust accounts, reconciled every business day under PS25/12.

Verify on FCA Register →Talk to our team

What FCA authorisation actually gives you

"Regulated" is a marketing word. "Authorised" is a legal status with four specific consequences for the merchants we serve.

Safeguarded funds

Your money between transaction capture and settlement is held in a designated UK trust account at a UK clearing bank, separate from Monek's operating funds. Reconciled every business day, audited annually.

Capital adequacy

Authorised firms must hold ongoing regulatory capital sized against transaction volume. It's the regulator's way of ensuring we cannot trade insolvent — and what stops a UK payments firm becoming a single point of failure for your cash flow.

Financial Ombudsman access

Eligible merchants get free, binding dispute resolution if Monek acts unreasonably. That's not available to merchants of unauthorised firms or those operating as undisclosed agents.

Resolution plan

If the worst happens, there's a regulator-approved process to return customer funds promptly — rather than merchants queuing as unsecured creditors in an administration.

Our credentials, all verifiable

FCA Authorised

FRN 920628

Payment services provider — direct authorisation

PCI DSS Level 1

Current

Highest merchant tier, audited annually

ISO 27001

Certified

Information security management

Cyber Essentials Plus

Certified

UK government-backed cybersecurity standard

Companies House

11091040

Monek Group Limited, registered England & Wales

Operating since

1989

Continuously serving UK merchants

Authorised in our own right — not via an agent

Many UK payment brands are not directly authorised. They operate as agents of an authorised firm — sometimes a UK acquirer, sometimes an overseas e-money institution. Here's why that matters for you.

Direct authorisation (Monek)

The legal entity you contract with is the regulated firm

  • Safeguarding obligation sits with Monek directly
  • FCA supervises Monek's books, governance, and AML controls
  • Ombudsman access is direct
  • Capital adequacy is held against your transaction volume
  • Resolution plan applies to your funds specifically

Agent model (many "regulated" brands)

You contract with a brand; the licence sits elsewhere

  • Safeguarding obligation sits with the principal, not the brand
  • FCA supervises the principal — the agent gets a lighter regime
  • Ombudsman access depends on the contracting entity
  • Capital adequacy is held by the principal against all their agents combined
  • Resolution path can be slower and more complex

How to verify any UK payment provider in 90 seconds

1

Search the FCA Register

Go to register.fca.org.uk and search by company name. Note the FRN.

2

Read the permissions

Does the firm hold 'Acquiring of payment transactions' or 'Issuing of electronic money' itself, or is it listed as an agent of another firm? Both are visible on the register entry.

3

Confirm the FRN on the provider's website

Every authorised UK payment firm must publish its FRN. If a 'regulated' payment company won't give you a number, that's your answer.

Open the FCA Register →
PS25/12 · In force from 7 May 2026

Built for the new safeguarding regime

The FCA's new safeguarding rules took effect on 7 May 2026, setting out daily reconciliation, monthly returns, annual independent audit, and detailed resolution packs for every UK payment firm. Monek's internal controls were built around the new standards well ahead of commencement — there was no operational change for our merchants this week.

Read what changed and what to ask your PSP →

Frequently asked questions

How do I check Monek's FCA authorisation?+
Go to register.fca.org.uk and search 'Monek'. You'll find FRN 920628 listed against Monek Ltd. The register entry shows our permissions, including 'Acquiring of payment transactions', and confirms we're directly authorised rather than acting as an agent.
What does FRN 920628 mean?+
FRN stands for Firm Reference Number. It's the unique identifier the FCA assigns to every authorised firm. Quoting an FRN on a website or contract is a regulatory requirement — and it's how you verify any payment provider is who they say they are.
Are my funds protected if Monek fails?+
Yes. Under FCA safeguarding rules (PS25/12, in force since 7 May 2026), your funds between transaction capture and settlement are held in a designated UK trust account separate from Monek's operating money. They are reconciled daily, audited annually, and returnable to merchants via a regulator-approved resolution plan if the firm fails.
What's the difference between FCA authorised and FCA regulated?+
'Regulated' is a general term — many firms operate under FCA rules without holding their own authorisation, often as agents of an authorised principal. 'Authorised' means the firm itself has been granted permission by the FCA and is directly supervised. Monek is authorised, not an agent.
Does FCA authorisation cost merchants more?+
No. Our authorisation status doesn't add to your processing rate — it sits behind the same competitive UK pricing as the rest of our service (from 0.99% blended or fair IC++ above £200k/year).
Can I see your other compliance certifications?+
Yes. In addition to FCA authorisation, Monek is PCI DSS Level 1, ISO 27001 certified, and holds Cyber Essentials Plus. Audit summaries are available on request to merchants and prospective merchants.

Take payments with a directly authorised UK acquirer

No agent chain, no overseas e-money licence, no ambiguity. Just FRN 920628, safeguarded funds, and a UK team on the phone.

Talk to our teamSee the gateway