Our regulatory status
What we are, what we are not, and what that means for your company.
What we do
Welcome Fintech Solutions Limited, trading as Welcome Finance, is a commercial finance broker. We introduce Irish limited companies to lenders for business-purpose finance. We do not lend money and we do not hold client money.
Are business finance brokers regulated in Ireland?
Not all of them. A broker that arranges credit for consumers must be authorised by the CCPC as a credit intermediary under the Consumer Credit Act 1995, and mortgage intermediaries are regulated by the Central Bank. A broker that arranges business-purpose finance only for companies, as we do, is, as we understand the law, an unregulated commercial finance broker in Ireland. The authorisation regime for credit intermediaries under the Consumer Credit Act 1995 covers credit for consumers only, and we do not arrange consumer credit.
The EU’s revised Consumer Credit Directive (Directive (EU) 2023/2225) applies from 20 November 2026. It covers credit agreements for consumers, meaning individuals acting outside their trade, business or profession, not business finance for companies. We will review this page as Ireland’s rules implementing it take effect, and update it if anything changes for brokers that work only with companies.
Not regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland: an unregulated commercial finance broker
As we understand the law, arranging business-purpose finance for limited companies does not require authorisation from the Central Bank of Ireland or the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC). The Consumer Credit Act 1995 protects consumers, meaning individuals acting outside their business, and does not apply to our clients.
What this means for you
- The Central Bank's Consumer Protection Code does not apply to our service. A regulated lender may still owe your company protections under the Code, which covers companies with an annual turnover of €5 million or less (the Code already covered companies up to €3 million; from 24 March 2026 the limit rose to €5 million)
- The Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (FSPO) deals with complaints about financial service providers listed in the FSPO Act 2017, such as regulated firms and consumer credit intermediaries. A broker arranging business finance for companies only is not one of them, so complaints about our service cannot be referred to it
- We follow our own complaints procedure and customer commitments
- Lenders may be regulated for some activities; you can check any firm on the Central Bank's register
What we do not do
Our full company details are on the company information page.
- Consumer credit, personal loans or mortgages
- Property finance, such as commercial mortgages, bridging loans or development finance, or any loan secured on a home someone lives in
Regulatory status: FAQs
Is Welcome Finance regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland?
No. Welcome Finance arranges business-purpose finance for limited companies only, which, as we understand the law, does not require authorisation from the Central Bank of Ireland or the CCPC. We do not arrange consumer credit or home mortgages. You can confirm on the Central Bank register that we are not listed as an authorised firm.
Is it legal to broker business loans without authorisation?
Yes, as we understand the law. Authorisation rules apply to activities such as consumer credit and mortgage intermediation. Arranging finance for a limited company for business purposes is not consumer credit, so the Consumer Credit Act 1995 does not apply, and we carry out none of those regulated activities.
Can I complain to the FSPO about Welcome Finance?
No. The FSPO deals with complaints about financial service providers listed in the FSPO Act 2017, such as regulated firms and consumer credit intermediaries. A broker arranging business finance for companies only is not one of them, so complaints about our service are outside the FSPO’s remit; use our complaints procedure instead. A complaint about a regulated lender’s own service may go to the FSPO if your company’s turnover in the previous financial year was €3 million or less.
Does the Consumer Protection Code apply to my company?
Not to our service, because we are not regulated. A regulated lender may still owe your company protections under the Code. The Code already covered companies with an annual turnover of up to €3 million; from 24 March 2026 the limit rose to €5 million, so it now covers companies with an annual turnover of €5 million or less. Regulated lenders lending to small companies must also follow the Central Bank’s SME Lending Regulations.
Are the lenders you introduce regulated?
It varies. Some lenders are authorised by the Central Bank for some activities, while lending to limited companies is often not a regulated activity. We always tell you which lender is making an offer. You can search it at registers.centralbank.ie or call the Central Bank on 0818 681 681.
Will you ever arrange consumer loans or mortgages?
Not at present. Arranging consumer credit would need authorisation from the CCPC as a credit intermediary, and arranging mortgages would need Central Bank authorisation. If we ever apply for either, we will update this page. Until then, we only arrange business-purpose finance for Irish limited companies.
How we work