A CUSIP is a nine-character identifier used for many U.S. and Canadian securities. It identifies an issuer and a specific issue—not a stock ticker, a price, or an investment recommendation. For municipal securities, search the MSRB’s EMMA tools; for other bonds covered by FINRA Bond Facts, search by the bond’s nine-digit CUSIP. Broader identifier and data services are available through CUSIP Global Services (CGS).
What a CUSIP identifies
CUSIP stands for Committee on Uniform Securities Identification Procedures. The SEC’s Investor.gov says CUSIPs identify most financial instruments, including stocks of registered U.S. and Canadian companies, commercial paper, and U.S. government and municipal bonds. The system helps facilitate securities clearance and settlement. Investor.gov’s CUSIP definition describes the identifier’s scope and purpose.
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A CUSIP is not simply a company number: it distinguishes an issue as well as identifying its issuer. A company can therefore have different CUSIPs for separate securities or issues. Nor does a code tell you whether a security is suitable, safe, or likely to perform well; it is an identification tool.
How the nine characters work
CGS describes the standard CUSIP as nine characters: the first six identify the issuer, the next two distinguish the issue, and the ninth is a check character calculated from the preceding eight. CGS’s example is 303075105, identified as FactSet Research Systems Inc. common stock. See CGS’s explanation of CUSIP identifiers.
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- Characters 1–6: issuer identifier.
- Characters 7–8: issue identifier.
- Character 9: check character for the preceding eight characters.
CUSIP, CINS, and ISIN: what is the difference?
These identifiers are related, but they are not interchangeable. CGS describes CINS as a nine-character identifier developed to extend CUSIP coverage internationally; its first character is a country or geographic-region letter. An ISIN has 12 characters. In a CGS ISIN, a CUSIP or CINS appears in positions three through eleven.
| Identifier | Length and structure | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| CUSIP | Nine characters: six for issuer, two for issue, one check character. | Used for many U.S. and Canadian securities. |
| CINS | Nine characters; first character indicates a country or geographic region. | International extension of the CUSIP system. |
| ISIN | Twelve characters. | A CUSIP or CINS appears in positions 3–11 of a CGS ISIN. |
Structure and relationship details are from CGS.
Where to look up a CUSIP
| Your need | Lookup route | What it supports |
|---|---|---|
| Find an individual municipal security | MSRB’s EMMA search tools | The MSRB directs investors to EMMA to look up municipal securities by CUSIP. |
| Research a bond covered by FINRA Bond Facts | FINRA Bond Facts | Search with the bond’s nine-digit CUSIP; municipal-security searches route to EMMA. |
| Find additional bond information, including extended trade history | FINRA Market Data Center | FINRA points to the Market Data Center for additional bond information. |
| Broader identifier or data needs | CGS services | CGS lists CUSIP Access, data services, municipal issuer access, and ISIN and portfolio services; check current access and licensing terms. |
EMMA is the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s Electronic Municipal Market Access system. FINRA’s Bond Facts article is dated January 25, 2019; the current availability and features of online services can change, so check the service itself for current details.
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How to search by CUSIP
- Copy the full identifier accurately. Use the code shown on a brokerage statement, security record, or official document, preserving every letter and digit.
- Choose the lookup by security type. For a municipal security, go to EMMA and use its search tools. For a bond covered by Bond Facts, enter the nine-digit CUSIP in FINRA Bond Facts.
- Check the result against the security description. Compare the issuer and issue details with the source record. If the code is missing, unclear, or returns an unexpected result, ask the broker or issuer to clarify the identifier.
- Use the result as a research lead. Confirm the instrument you meant to find; the CUSIP itself does not assess the investment’s merits.
What a CUSIP lookup can—and cannot—tell you
A lookup can help you locate information associated with a particular security or issue. The official sources describe identification and research functions, but they do not establish that a CUSIP validates an investment or guarantees that a search result contains every detail an investor may need. Review the underlying security information and consult an appropriate financial professional when needed.
CGS describes its own identifier and data services, including coverage across U.S. and Canadian securities and other instruments. Its About page reports “10 M+” CUSIPs for U.S. and Canadian securities, “30 M+” global instruments via CINS, “20 M+” instruments covered by ISINs, and “50+” years of corporate capital change data. CGS does not state a publication year for those figures, which are company-reported rather than independently verified totals. Service features, access, and licensing terms should be confirmed directly with CGS.
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