City Credit Capital review 2026: Former FCA-authorised CFD broker now in creditors' voluntary liquidation
City Credit Capital is a London-based former market-making forex and CFD broker founded in 2001. Formerly authorised by the FCA under FRN 232015, it no longer runs an active trading platform or accepts Mini and Standard accounts after the FCA halted regulated activity in June 2023. It served retail and professional clients across forex, index CFDs, commodity CFDs, and spot metals before entering creditors' voluntary liquidation in July 2024.
What is City Credit Capital?
City Credit Capital is the trading brand of City Credit Capital (UK) Limited, a private company incorporated in 2001. Companies House records company number 04343251 and lists its current status as liquidation. The firm previously operated from London and provided forex and CFD services to retail and professional clients. A CFD, or Contract for Difference, is a derivative that tracks an asset without transferring ownership.
The corporate history extends beyond the later broker brand. Companies House records the original name as Smart Link Financial Services (UK) Limited until October 2002. The same register shows Alfred Tang as a person with significant control in the company's filing history. The firm's last filed group accounts cover the year ending December 2021.
Is City Credit Capital regulated? Verification check
City Credit Capital's regulatory history centers on the FCA (UK Financial Conduct Authority) and firm reference number 232015. The FCA states that the company became authorised in 2004 and provided CFDs to retail and professional clients. On 20 June 2023, the FCA imposed restrictions that stopped regulated activity and required preservation of client money. It also required the firm to close all client positions (source: FCA, 4 July 2023, updated 4 August 2023).
The legal position changed again after administration began on 30 June 2023. Companies House records administration ending on 2 July 2024, followed by creditors' voluntary liquidation on the same date. The Financial Services Compensation Scheme, or FSCS, then listed the firm as Failed on 29 April 2026. That status relates to investment claims and does not represent an active trading authorisation.
What trading platforms are currently available?
Current platform availability is not verified because the company no longer operates as an active broker. FXSharp's prior research found no confirmed MT4 or MT5 server, and MetaQuotes verification was not established. MT4 and MT5 mean MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, two widely used retail trading platforms. No active proprietary platform, mobile application, or live trading server is confirmed for September 2026.
Archived pages can remain accessible after a financial firm stops operating. Their presence does not establish that account opening, trading, or execution services remain available. The FCA's 2023 notice states that client positions were to be closed after regulatory restrictions. Current platform claims therefore require confirmation from the liquidators or the FCA record, not an archived marketing page.
Red flags and warning signs
The strongest risk indicators come from public insolvency and regulator records rather than anonymous online claims. Companies House lists the company as in liquidation, while the FSCS records it as a failed firm. The FCA also documented restrictions on regulated activity before administration (source: FCA, 4 July 2023). These records describe a firm handling creditor and client claims, not a functioning forex broker.
- 30 June 2023: administration began.
- 2 July 2024: creditors' voluntary liquidation began.
- 29 April 2026: FSCS recorded the firm as failed for investments.
- No active trading platform or current account terms are verified.
Minimum deposit
Minimum deposit is N/A for a current trading account because no active account offering is verified. The firm's archived account page still displays historical Mini and Standard account terms. Those pages show a $500 first deposit for Mini and $5,000 for Standard. They are historical terms and do not override the company's liquidation status.
The archived page also lists a 10,000 minimum FX lot size for Mini and 100,000 for Standard. FX means foreign exchange, while a lot is the contract size used to measure a forex position. These archived specifications describe the former product structure. They should not be read as current onboarding terms in 2026.
Is the firm on any regulator warning lists?
The regulator record is more specific than a conventional unauthorised-firm warning. The September 2026 scan did not identify a separate FCA Warning List entry under this exact company name. Instead, the FCA published an administration notice describing restrictions imposed on 20 June 2023. The notice states that the company could no longer conduct regulated activity at that time (source: FCA, 4 July 2023).
The restrictions were later lifted so the joint administrators could perform their legal duties. That change did not restore ordinary retail trading operations. Companies House now records liquidation, while FSCS lists the firm as failed. Those primary records provide the relevant current risk signal for the UK entity.
What do user complaints say?
Public user-review data is too thin to establish a dependable complaint pattern. A current user-aggregate listing showed 3.4/5 from one review during the 24 September 2026 scan. One review is not a meaningful sample for measuring withdrawal, execution, or support quality. No broader verified complaint data was used to infer misconduct.
Regulatory and insolvency documents provide stronger evidence than a single customer rating. The FCA confirmed the 2023 restrictions, while Companies House documents the administration and liquidation timeline. Readers assessing unresolved balances should rely on administrator communications and FSCS eligibility information instead of isolated online reviews.
How to verify the license history yourself
License verification starts with the legal entity, not just the trading brand. Search the FCA register for City Credit Capital (UK) Ltd and reference number 232015. Then compare that result with the FCA's administration notice and any current permissions shown in the register. The exact company name prevents confusion with similarly named businesses.
Next, search Companies House for company number 04343251 and open the insolvency tab. That record shows the administration beginning in June 2023 and creditors' voluntary liquidation beginning in July 2024. Finally, check the FSCS failed-firms list for FRN 232015. The three records together establish the current legal and compensation context.
How does customer support work?
Customer support now sits within an insolvency process rather than a normal broker service model. The archived company website lists +44 20 7614 4600 and an administrative email address. The FCA's administration notice directs affected clients first to the firm's Q&A and then to the joint administrators. That route is different from platform support for active trading accounts.
The FCA named Gary Paul Shankland, Jamie Taylor, and Christopher Andersen as joint administrators in its 2023 notice. Companies House later records liquidators after the move to creditors' voluntary liquidation. Questions about claims, balances, or creditor status therefore belong to the insolvency process. Current response times are not verified.
Where is the firm actually based?
The company's legal base remains London, United Kingdom, according to Companies House. Its current registered office is Langley House, Park Road, East Finchley, London N2 8EY. Before administration, the company used 12th Floor, Heron Tower, 110 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4AY. The address changed in July 2023 after administrators were appointed.
The location history matters because older website pages still show the Bishopsgate address. That historical address was valid for the former operating business. The Companies House register is the stronger source for the current registered office during liquidation. FXSharp could not establish an active overseas retail branch.
Recovery options if you've already deposited
Recovery routes depend on the type of claim and whether compensation rules apply. The FCA states that administrators handle claims and return customer funds where possible. The FSCS lists City Credit Capital (UK) Ltd as Failed for investments from 29 April 2026. FSCS eligibility is claim-specific, so failed-firm status does not guarantee payment for every customer.
Affected clients can preserve account statements, payment records, identification documents, and prior correspondence for the claims process. The insolvency practitioners control creditor submissions during liquidation. Eligible investment claims can also be assessed under FSCS rules. A bank chargeback or civil claim follows separate legal criteria and depends on payment method, dates, and jurisdiction.
The feature table separates historical broker information from what is verified as current in September 2026. A value marked N/A means no active retail trading term applies to the company in liquidation. Historical Mini and Standard account data appears only where it helps explain the former business model.
| Feature | City Credit Capital Information |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2001 |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
| Disclosed regulators | FCA, FRN 232015 |
| Registration verified | Formerly authorised, now failed and in liquidation |
| Trading platforms | No active platform verified |
| Minimum deposit | N/A |
| Maximum leverage | N/A |
| Account types | Historical Mini and Standard accounts |
| Islamic account | Not verified |
| Customer support | Insolvency and administrator contact route |
| Deposit methods | No active deposit methods verified |
Should you avoid City Credit Capital?
City Credit Capital is not presented by current public records as an operating forex broker accepting normal new trading business. Companies House records creditors' voluntary liquidation, and FSCS records the firm as Failed. The FCA documented restrictions and closure of client positions before administration. Archived trading pages therefore do not establish an active account service.
For prospective traders, the relevant distinction is between historical broker information and current legal status. Former FCA authorisation under FRN 232015 is verifiable, but it does not describe today's operating position. Existing clients instead face an insolvency and compensation process. Any current claim should be checked against FCA, Companies House, FSCS, and liquidator records.
Forex and derivative products carry high leverage; some or all invested capital may be lost. This content is for information only, not investment advice. Verify the broker's current regulation status with the relevant authority's official site before any investment decision.
