The ASIC Banned and Disqualified Search provides access to official registers listing individuals who have been legally disqualified from managing corporations or banned from practicing in the financial services or credit industries in Australia. This search consolidates information from multiple registers, including:

• Disqualified persons
• Banned securities representatives
• Banned futures representatives
• Australian financial services banned/disqualified persons
• Credit banned/disqualified persons

Users can search for individuals by name using either the ASIC Connect search banner or the dedicated search page on the ASIC website.

The information available for free includes the individual’s name, type of ban or disqualification, commencement and cessation dates (or whether the ban is permanent), and, in some cases, a document relating to the banning or disqualification (notably for the credit industry). Additional documents with further details may be available for purchase.

The registers also include the Register of Disqualified Officers, containing data on those barred from managing corporations by a court or registrar decision, including exceptions where individuals have been granted leave to manage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations.

Furthermore, the Enforceable Undertakings Register can be checked to determine if a person has agreed not to participate in corporation management or financial services business, though this information does not appear on the banned registers.

How the Banned and Disqualified Search Can Be Used in Background Checks:

• Verify Individuals’ Eligibility: Confirm whether a person is legally prohibited from holding management roles in companies or working in financial or credit services, ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
• Risk Mitigation: Identify banned or disqualified individuals to avoid engaging with persons who may pose a regulatory or reputational risk to organisations or clients.
• Due Diligence in Hiring or Partnerships: Screen prospective directors, senior managers, advisers, or key personnel before appointments or business arrangements.
• Regulatory Compliance: Meet obligations under corporate governance and financial services laws by ensuring banned or disqualified persons are not involved in relevant roles.
• Access to Official Documentation: Obtain formal banning or disqualification documents to understand the context and severity of prohibitions on an individual’s professional activities.

Using the ASIC Banned and Disqualified Search helps organisations and individuals conduct comprehensive and authoritative background checks, reducing exposure to legal and financial risks associated with banned or disqualified persons in Australia.