Payment Directory FAQ

Questions and answers

What is a payment institution?

A payment institution is a non-bank entity licensed by a financial regulator to provide payment or e-money services. Depending on the jurisdiction, it may be called a PSP, EMI, money transmitter, or payment license holder. UCardInfo is an independent directory, not a regulator.

How do I look up a payment license?

Search the Payment License Directory by legal name, short name, or license number. Open a record to see its jurisdiction, license list, status, and source links. For a final determination, verify the record against the original regulator publication.

What is the difference between a PSP, EMI, and fintech?

A PSP provides payment services, while an EMI is licensed to issue electronic money in jurisdictions that use that category. Fintech is a broad business description, not a license type. The directory keeps the regulatory classification separate from brand or marketing language.

Does unknown capability mean an institution does not support it?

No. Unknown means that we did not find a citable public product page or document confirming the capability. We only mark a capability as yes or no when a public source supports the claim.

What is a U Card?

A U Card, sometimes called a USDT Card or crypto virtual card, is a virtual or physical card funded with cryptocurrency or another supported balance. Availability, KYC, fees, and merchant acceptance vary by provider and region, so check the provider's current terms.

Is UCardInfo free?

Yes. The public directory, U Card comparison, SWIFT lookup, IBAN reference, and payment checker are available without registration, login, or a paywall.

Where does the data come from?

The directory compiles public regulatory lists including PBOC, US state money transmitter lists, FINTRAC, EBA PSD2, FCA subsets, MAS, HKMA, ASIC/AUSTRAC, JFSA, and BNM. Capability and finance fields follow separate verification rules described on the About page.