What is LEI (Legal Entity Identifier)?
A 20-character alphanumeric code issued under the global LEI system and maintained by GLEIF, used to identify legal entities in financial transactions. It encodes the issuing Local Operating Unit, an entity-specific block and two check digits, and must be renewed annually. LEI records are free, global and include the entity's legal name, address and direct parent.
See LEI (Legal Entity Identifier) in Action
Related Terms
Company Registration Number
The permanent identifier a national business register assigns to a legal entity when it is incorporated — a Companies House number in the UK, an SIREN in France, a CVR in Denmark, an organisasjonsnummer in Norway. It never changes when the company is renamed, which makes it the safest key for storing, matching or monitoring a company record.
DUNS Number
A 9-digit identifier assigned by Dun & Bradstreet to individual business locations, widely required by US federal contracting, procurement systems and credit checks. Unlike a registry number it is issued by a private company rather than a government register, so it is not evidence of legal incorporation and can exist for an unregistered branch.
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