All About The Legal Entity Identifier: A Mandate Of The Future!

20 November 2019

Legal Entity Identifier is an alphanumeric, 20-character code developed by the International Organization for Standardization. Abbreviated as LEI, this code contains information on the company’s ownership structure and provides answers of ‘who is who’ and ‘who owns what.’

It gives a unique identification of all legal entities (organization, company, firm, trust, fund, and government body) that are participating in any financial transactions.

The complete LEI system is operated and maintained by GLEIF (Global LEI foundation), and the right to issue LEIs is only given to the few organizations.

It All Started With Wrigley’s:

In 1974, when the grocery industries were pleading for the development of barcode, many companies proposed their proposals to bring them. Considering this, the UPC was introduced, which became the first code to be scanned on Wrigley’s Chewing gum.

Later, to end the one-dimensional (UPC) barcode, which only contains 20-alphanumeric codes, Denso Wave (a Toyota’s subsidiary) invented Quick Response (QR) codes. QR codes are a two-dimensional system that focuses on rapid scanning and is widely used by today’s marketers to streamline processes.

Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) Came In Existence – 2011

The LEI was developed by the G20 (an international organization with 20 major countries) in 2011 to track all financial transactions in national jurisdictions. The need for LEI came when regulators were suffering from financial crises, and there was no unanimous code to make successful financial transactions.

The difficulties in identifying transaction details and calculating the risk amount bring LEI into existence. The first (LEI) legal entity identifiers database was issued in December 2012.

Structure Of Code:

Technically, the Legal Entity Identifier is represented as ISO 17442. It contains 20-character alphanumeric numbers with the first four characters showing the LOU, Local Operating Unit. The other 5-18 characters are an alphanumeric string, which organizations assign. And, the last two characters are called checksum digits.

Process Of LEI:

The companies that need a Legal Entity Identifier should contact the respective organizations that provide LEIs. They then have to provide the necessary information and the fee. The issuing body will then provide LEI after cross-checking all details. Things like registration of the business, information about other connected companies, etc. are verified before giving LEI. Some other things, which the issuing body will assure, are:

A country where the entity was formed
The registered address of the legal entity
Any legal or official name of the entity (if any) that is present in the records
The Unique code of representing countries and their connected company’s
Data of the first LEI assignment, date of the last information update and it’s an expiry date

Why LEI Is Important:

LEIs reduce the risks associated with financial transactions. With them, you can easily measure the total risk involved in trading.
It minimizes the overall cost of reporting tasks, cost of information gathering, and other administrative costs.
LEI help in enhancing market transparency as with a unique code, it is easy to detect the frauds and other manipulations in the market.

Who Should Need LEI?

Organizations, corporations, and other entities that are involved in the financial transactions need LEI to recognize all entities and funds involved in the transactions. If you are any of the following, you can register for LEI:

A non-profit organization
Registered Company or Registered Subsidiary
A business having a distinct identity
A trust or Funds

LEI In Business And In Payment Systems:

To have clear business identification and to make transparent financial transactions, business needs a unique code called LEI. LEI also helps to minimize the cost and the speeding process of transactions, improve data sharing, and more. Furthermore, in trading (direct and indirect payments), LEI ensures that the correct information is used to transfer funds.

LEIs not only ensure transparency and safety in the global market, but also provide maximum compatibility and safe business.

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Unveiling The Dark Side Of Trading: Exposing Binary Options Scams And Ensuring A Secure Future

It is quite normal to have an extra cushion in life in the form of financial freedom. When you have enough money, your life becomes more comfortable. You have the freedom to buy the things that you desire most. And it is not a crime to dream big. Many seek an alternative source of income to supplement their income. There are several ways one can achieve this, and the stock market is one such place. Many have invested in the stock market and have made substantial profits. Considering the current economic situation, the need for this extra cushion is ever greater. The rising food prices, the Fed's increasing interest rates, and declining job prospects have raised concerns among many Westerners. As more and more people explore the possibilities of making a quick buck, scammers are just around the corner, waiting for them to make a mistake and get scammed in the process. Several scammers will impersonate stock brokers or brokerage firms; there are also some firms whose license to practice trading has expired or been revoked due to some legal issues. Thus, you, as an investor, need to be careful not to fall for such scams. The binary options trading scam is one such financial fraud that has engulfed many victims in its path. Binary Option Trading Before we understand the nature of the scam, let us first understand what binary options trading is. It is a type of contract between the broker and the client where the payouts entirely depend on the outcome, such as "yes" or "no." The price trend of a financial asset like a stock is considered, and a wager exists between the broker and the client that in the next five minutes, the price trend of that particular stock will either increase or decline. The one who loses the wager pays the winning amount to the winner. For example, a $100 wager between the client and broker is that the price of X stock, which is trending at $45 per share, will rise or fall. The one who loses the wager pays off the winner. Such wagers are instantaneous, and unlike other types of options available in the financial market, there is no way the client can avoid paying the losing bet. The contract ends when the stimulated time ends, and the loser pays the winner. Binary Option Scams Well, if binary options trading is so simple, you have a 50% chance of winning the bet, and you might think, "What could go wrong?" Well, for one, the trading platform that scammers offer their clients to download is rigged. The rigging is achieved in two ways: either the entire platform is rigged or there is a delay in the data that is streamed. Generally, the trading platforms offered by brokers or brokerage firms relay real-time data on price fluctuations in the stock market. The trading platform provided by Binary options scammers could cause a delay in the data streamed by the stock market. Thus, scammers know in advance about the price moment and can thus ensure that every bet that is placed is in favor of the scammer. In the second way of scamming the victims, scammers provide their victims with a completely rigged trading platform. In this case, the real-time data is not streamed from the stock market; rather, it is completely controlled by scammers. How do scammers keep their victims enticed? Scammers are smart; they know that if they keep on winning every time, their victims will lose interest and stop playing their "rigged game." Scammers will ensure that their victims initially win, thus promising a false sense of security that they have the "ability to win big." Thus, once these scammers start investing more, they start to lose. They invest more because they are afraid of losing money. The false sense that "this is the last bet, the one bet that will recover all the lost money," makes them invest more while increasing the amount on successive bets. A few genuine brokers and brokerage firms allow binary trading; they are regulated and certified by the regulatory authority, which ensures clients' interests are protected. How to spot bogus brokers or brokerage firms offering binary options services? Among all the complaints that are being received by the SEC, or Securities Exchange Commission, there are three common categories where victims were ripped off. 1. Denying reimbursement or paying off clients Once clients have opened trading accounts with scammers, they will deposit their money into their trading accounts. As and when the clients are falsely encouraged by the scammers to invest more to win more. Once these clients have had enough of the losses or wish to withdraw their winnings from their accounts, these scammers will not allow their clients to withdraw. Since these Binary options scammers are based in another country, there is little that these clients can do apart from calling their customer service center, which will eventually block their contact numbers. 2. Identity Theft Under the guise of providing binary options services, scammers will collect all the sensitive data from their victims. These scammers will collect their social security numbers, bank account numbers, credit card details, passports, driver’s licenses, and so forth. 3. Rigged trading platform Many clients who fall victim to bogus brokers or brokerage firms finally admit that they have fallen for a scam where they suspect that the trading platform was rigged. They also stated that the time left until the expiration of the winnings may be extended arbitrarily until the trade ends in a loss. Final thoughts The United States has legalized binary options trading, and as mentioned earlier, there are a few genuine brokers and brokerage firms regulated by regulatory authorities that are either private or government-owned. Since almost all brokers and brokerage firms advertise and can be contacted online, researching these firms is a must to avoid falling for binary options scams. Use caution if any broker or brokerage firm is offering binary options services at competitive prices. It's possible that they are scammers. Regulatory authorities offer protection against scams and fraud; they protect the interests of clients of a broker or a brokerage firm. So when a broker or brokerage firm goes rogue, these regulatory authorities ensure that the client's interests are protected. Always check that the online broker or brokerage firm is authorized and protected by a renowned private regulatory body or a government-owned entity. The binary option scam has also engulfed the cryptocurrency market; thus, be cautious if a binary option is offered in the crypto market. Read Also: 6 Ways To Make Sure Your Finances Are Seamless The Future Of Digital Currencies: 7 Things We Can Expect In 2022 Crypto Staking: Locking Up Crypto Holdings To Earn Interest

3 Factors That Determine Your Personal Loan Interest Rate

Personal loans are collateral-free loans, making them most people’s first choice when seeking finance from an external source. Apart from the ease, you can access a hefty amount to fund a range of personal loan for your personal need. However, being an unsecured loan, personal loan interest rates are relatively higher than those of secured loans. The interest rate on a personal loan depends on various factors. Firstly, it depends on the type of loan you choose, fixed or floating interest personal loan. Further, it alters based on how well you qualify for the loan as per the lender’s personal loan eligibility criteria. Typically, these criteria are based on your age, income, profession and credit score. But first, take a look at the ongoing personal loan interest rates in the country so that you can make a wise borrowing decision. Present Personal Loan Interest Rates in India Interest rates on loans are linked to the repo rate. An increase in the repo rate increases loan interest rates and vice versa. Recently, the RBI cut the repo rate by 25 bps for the third time this year, and currently, it stands at 5.75%. Further, the weighted average interest rate on loans rose from 10.38% in January to 10.42% in April, indicating negligible movement. However, experts opine that you can expect more rate cuts in the coming months as the RBI has moved from a neutral to accommodative monetary policy stance. Now that you know of the broader factors that affect your personal loan interest rate, take a look at 3 important factors that are specific to your financial profile. Your Credit Score Your credit score is a reflection of your creditworthiness and past repayment behavior. A good score of 750 and above implies that you have repaid all your past debts on time. Thus, lenders categorize you as a low-risk applicant and offer competitive interest rates on a personal loan. Conversely, a score lower than 750 shows that you carry some amount of risk. He ce, you may have to pay a higher interest rate or settle for a low loan amount. Your Income A high income means that you are capable of repaying the personal loan on time, and this reduces the lender’s risk. As a result, they are likely to charge you a lower personal loan interest rate. In contrast, if your income seems insufficient, you are more likely to default and may not have the resources to repay the loan in full. As this poses a high risk to the lender and it has no collateral to fall back on, you have to pay a greater amount as interest. Your Relationship With The Lender If you have an existing business relationship with your lender and have displayed responsible credit behavior, in the interest of retaining you as a customer, the lender may offer you a competitive interest rate. Now that you know the factors that determine your personal loan interest rate, work towards securing the loan on competitive terms. To ensure this, compare lenders and their offerings before applying for a personal loan in order to bag the best deal. For instance, genuine lenders like Bajaj Finance have simple personal loan eligibility criteria and minimum documentation so you can qualify for a loan easily. Once approved, you can access up to Rs.25 lakh personal loan at a nominal interest rate and repay it over a flexible tenor spanning 12 to 60 months. Further, you can avail this loan on a Flexi facility that lets you withdraw on the go and pay interest only on the amount utilized. Additionally, you can pay interest-only EMIs throughout the tenor and repay the principal only when the tenor is up. This way, you can manage your finances and save up to 45% on EMIs. To view tailor-made deals and avail an online personal loan in a single step, check your pre-approved personal loan offer from Bajaj Finserv right away. Read Also: Why Personal Lenders Like SkyCap Financial Provide A Better Lending Experience Lining Up For A Loan – How To Secure A Good Loan

Ways To Apply For A Personal Loan & The Reasons To Opt For This Loan.

In the present-day’s scenario, you may come across instances of unanticipated expenses. Going for an instant loan is the simplest way to tide over such a crisis. This kind of financial help does not include any security or collateral but comes with a high rate of interest and charges. For instance, suppose you opt for availing an HDFC personal loan through its website, now as it is instant in nature you will find that the loan’s rate will be higher than its regular counterpart. And to check the HDFC personal loan status, you may have to call on the bank or email to understand where your application is stuck. Once approved, you will receive a monthly HDFC personal loan statement denoting how much you must pay monthly and how much amount on your personal loan is outstanding. Read On To Know How You Can Apply For An Instant Personal Loan! What Are Instant Loans? A quick loan is a kind of credit that permits you to avail of a loan in a short time period with minimal steps. Through this, you can get instant funds in your bank at a rate of interest that is competitive with rates levied by other loan sources. Instant loans may extremely be helpful in scenarios of the immediate requirement of funds like medical payments, tuition fees, marriage-linked expenses, and a few instant buys. However, you can even opt for such loans in the case when you need to make a one-time payment and want to repay the same back in EMI form like in the scenario of a vacation or when purchasing a bike. What Are The Reasons For Availing Of A Personal Loan? 1. Professional or educational expenditures At times you might have to buy a laptop or have an awaiting assessment coming up for which you may require incurring additional expenses. An instant personal loan can assist you with such expenditures. 2. Healthcare exigencies There may be times when you may witness healthcare exigencies and require immediate funds. Insurance policies might not cover every healthcare process. Few treatments and diseases that you may require are not covered by such policies. An instant loan for a healthcare exigency is one of the best solutions in such cases. You can use the loan fund to pay for any healthcare expenses or therapies you may require. 3. Going on a trip Traveling to different places might often refresh your soul and assist you to break through the monotony of regular activities. Making daily savings for such holiday plans where you can aspire to build a good and healthy amount to make payment for the trip is always a good wise decision. However, making advance reservations for these expenses, especially hotels, and flights, can assist you to save a considerable amount of funds, hence lowering your thorough travel expense. To make such kind of advance payments, you can opt for an instant personal loan for travel and pay back the loan with savings later. 4. Clear your credit card dues A personal loan can come across as a good medium to clear off your high card dues as interest rates on a personal loan are considerably lower in the range of anywhere between 10 percent and 24 percent per annum compared to credit card finance charges of anywhere between 24 percent and 54 percent per annum. Thus, you might consider availing of a low-interest personal loan to repay your credit card dues. However, there are even credit risks involved. For example, availing of a personal loan can result in more debt. So, use the same only if you have no other financial choices, like the opening of a balance transfer credit card option. 5. Improving credit score A personal loan may assist you to increase your credit score. However, the crucial thing to consider here is timely repayments. Every time you successfully pay your debt timely, you will view that your score will stabilize and ameliorate over time. 6. Wedding expenditures Wedding is a big deal in India, and many tend to splurge a great lot of money on wedding festivities. Marriage expenditures can sometimes run beyond the budget owing to the desire to celebrate in an extravagant manner possible. In place of being financially stressed owing to this, you can avail of a personal loan to cover your wedding expenses and then pay back the loan in a monthly manner. However, being prudent financially during any celebration is a very wise habit. Availing of a loan to celebrate might seem simple but making repayment timely, especially when the family expands might be tough. What Are The Important Things You Must Know About Loans? Here are some of the important things you must be aware of regarding instant loans before you place an application for such kinds of financial help – A. High credit score – Having a high credit score of 750 and above will assist you to get quick approvals. Individuals who maintain a high score will even get a low rate of interest and favorable loan tenure. B. Processing charges – Many financial institutions levy a processing charge while processing the loan. You can check out the fees and charges before applying and then accordingly decide. C. Compare The Rate Of Interest Of Distinct Financial Institutions – It is important to compare the rate of interest offered by various lenders. It will assist you as a borrower in taking more efficient decisions that is in alignment with your repayment potential. D. Simple EMI repayments – Many of the online platforms provide easy EMI repayments for the loan – these permit you as a borrower to repay the money in comfortable, small amounts. E. Minimal documentation – Unlike traditional loans, instant loans include minimal or zero paperwork and can be taken up from the convenience and comfort of your home. F. Free early closure – Few platforms even provide free early loan closures i.e., you can pay back the amount earlier than the tenure you had selected initially, permitting you to not repay any further interest constituent. Read Also: Choosing a Mortgage Broker for Your Home Loan Application Get Fast Access to Car Title Loan during Bad Times How Do Construction Loans Work? Bridging Loans Explained

All About The Legal Entity Identifier: A Mandate Of The Future!

It All Started With Wrigley’s: