Branch Office Registration

A working group of regulators which included representatives from FINRA, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) developed the Uniform Branch Office Registration Form (Form BR) to enable firms to register branch offices electronically with FINRA, the NYSE, and states that require branch registration through a single filing with Web CRD. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved the Form BR  and conforming and technical changes to the Form U4 and Form U5 on September 30, 2005 (SEC Exchange Act Release No. 52544). Form BR replaced Schedule E of Form BD, the NYSE Branch Office Application Form, and forms used by states to register branches. Filing the Form BR via Web CRD streamlines the branch registration process for FINRA member firms by:

 

  • Using a single filing to register branch offices with FINRA, the NYSE, and applicable states
  • Providing centralized fee collection
  • Helping firms manage ongoing branch registration and/or reporting responsibilities (e.g., access to branch reports, online work queues, electronic firm notifications, etc.)

 

Form BR and the revised Form U4 (10/2005) and Form U5 (10/2005) became effective on Monday, October 31, 2005.

 

Links to additional branch office registration information:

 

Form BR

 

  • SR-NASD-2005-030 - View the rule change NASD filed with the SEC to establish a Uniform Branch Office Registration Form (Form BR) and to make conforming changes and technical revisions to the Uniform Application for Securities Industry Registration or Transfer (Form U4) and the Uniform Termination Notice for Securities Industry Registration (Form U5).
  • NtM 04-55 - View the notice, in which NASD requested comment on the Proposed Uniform Branch Office Registration Form; the comment period expired September 3, 2004 (Notice Posted on: 08/04/04).

     
  • NtM 05-66 - SEC Approves Uniform Branch Office Registration Form (Form BR) and Conforming and Technical Changes to Forms U4 and U5; Effective Date: October 31, 2005 (Notice Posted on: 10/06/05)

  • SEC Letter - View SEC staff letter granting no-action relief to broker-dealers who file Form BR in lieu of Schedule E of Form BD, in connection with the transition to Form BR.

 

Branch Office Definition

 

  • Listen to a podcast that addresses common questions about the new Branch Office definition and related filing requirements.
    *Note: The podcast is at the bottom of the page.

     

  • NtM 06-25
    Establishment of Branch Office System Processing Fee and Waiver of Branch Office System Processing Fee and Annual Branch Office Registration Fee For One Branch Office Per Member Per Year; Effective Date: July 3, 2006

     

  • NtM 06-12
    Extension of Effective Date of NASD Uniform Branch Office Definition and Certain Form BR and Form U4 Filing Requirements from May 1, 2006 to July 3, 2006 Joint Interpretive Guidance from NASD and the NYSE Relating to Uniform Branch Office Definition Under NASD Rule 3010(g)(2) and NYSE Rule 342.10. Effective Date of Uniform Definition: NASD: July 3, 2006; NYSE: September 9, 2005

     
  • SR-NASD-2006-037 
    NASD has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission an extension of the effective date of amendments to NASD Rule 3010(g)(2)(A) which defines the term "branch office," and related IM-3010-1 which provides guidance on factors to be considered by members when conducting internal inspections of offices ("Uniform Branch Office Definition"), from May 1, 2006 to July 3, 2006.
     
     
  • Uniform Branch Office Definition Approval (Release No. 34-52403; SR-NASD-2003-104) - View the SEC order approving NASD's proposed uniform definition of "branch office" under NASD Rule 3010 (g)(2).

     
  • Uniform Definition of  "Branch Office" under NASD Rule 3010(g)(2)

     
  • NtM 05-67 - SEC Approves Uniform Branch Office Definition and Related Interpretive Material (Notice Posted on: 10/06/05)

  • News Release - NASD, NYSE Regulation, and NASAA Applaud SEC Approval of New, Uniform Definition of "Branch Office" and Centralized Registration System

 

Granting Form BR and/or Form U4 Entitlement Privileges in Web CRD

Account Administrators at firms must separately entitle each firm user responsible for completing and submitting Form BR filings with the new Form BR privilege. Entitlement to the Form BD privilege does not automatically entitle a user to the Form BR privilege. Users entitled to Form BR may also need entitlement to the Form U4 privilege in order to associate the firm's registered individuals to a branch office(s). For more information regarding Web CRD system privileges, visit the FINRA Entitlement Program page.

 

Help & Training

 

 

Related Links for Branch Office Registration Information

 

Last Updated: 6/16/2011