Compare Bonds Ltd – Central Bank of Ireland Issues Warning on Unauthorised Firm

What Changed

• - The CBI has added Compare Bonds Ltd to its public list of unauthorised firms under section 53 of the Central Bank (Supervision and Enforcement) Act 2013, confirming it is not authorised to operate as an investment business firm or investment firm i
• The warning identifies specific digital identifiers associated with the unauthorised firm, including the website `http://www.comparebondrates.eu/` and the email domain `bondratecompare.com`, which should be treated as high‑risk indicators in screenin
• The publication continues the CBI’s recent thematic focus on “comparison website” style investment scams, following earlier warnings on entities such as Bond Rate Compare / Compare Bonds Ltd, EU Rates Compare and similar “EU bonds” comparison brands.
• The notice reiterates that the CBI operates a central reporting channel for unauthorised firms, including a dedicated telephone line and online reporting facility, underscoring expectations that regulated firms will escalate suspected scams promptly.
• The warning is an enforcement‑related action aimed at investor protection and market integrity, signalling that regulated firms must not treat introductions, leads or referrals from Compare Bonds Ltd (or associated sites and domains) as legitimate re

Suggested Considerations

• Screen all existing and prospective introducers, lead generators, comparison sites and affiliates against the CBI’s unauthorised firms list, and immediately block or off‑board any relationship linked to Compare Bonds Ltd, Bond Rate Compare or the domains and websites identified.
• Update internal fraud‑risk, KYC and onboarding procedures to include explicit checks for CBI unauthorised‑firm warnings for any third party that sources or routes investment or deposit business, especially where “comparison”, “bond”, “EU rates” or similar branding is used.
• Instruct front‑office, sales and relationship‑management staff not to accept introductions, leads or client referrals from Compare Bonds Ltd or any entity using the websites or email domains cited in the CBI warning.
• Enhance transaction‑monitoring and case‑management workflows to flag and investigate payments, transfers or instructions referencing Compare Bonds Ltd, comparebondrates.eu, bondratecompare.com, or similarly branded entities previously named in CBI warnings.
• Review and, where necessary, update customer‑facing scam warnings and disclosures (websites, apps, terms, and client communications) to highlight the risk of “comparison website” investment scams and to direct customers to the CBI’s unauthorised firm register.
• Implement or reinforce a formal process to check CBI warning notices (and other EEA regulators’ warning lists) on at least a monthly basis and whenever onboarding a new introducer, intermediary or comparison‑site partner.

Key Dates

Who is Affected