Do I Hold Shares with a Registrar or a Broker? How to Tell the Difference.

“I have shares in Barclays.” This sounds simple, but how you hold them determines entirely how you claim missing money.

In the UK, there are two main ways to own shares: Certificated (Direct) and Nominee (Indirect). Understanding which one you are is the key to finding lost assets.

1. “Certificated” (Held with the Registrar)

  • What it is: You are the legal owner. Your name is written on the company’s register.
  • The Evidence: You possess a paper share certificate.
  • Who pays you: The Registrar (Equiniti, Link, etc.) sends dividends directly to your bank or via cheque.
  • The Risk: If you move house and forget to tell the Registrar, your dividends stop. This is where 90% of lost assets are found.
  • Who Divica helps: We specialize in tracing these direct holdings.

2. “Nominee” (Held with a Broker)

  • What it is: You use a platform like Hargreaves Lansdown, AJ Bell, Trading 212, or eToro.
  • The Reality: The Broker’s name is on the company register, not yours. They hold the shares on your behalf.
  • The Evidence: You have a login to an app or website. You do not have paper certificates.
  • Who pays you: The company pays the Broker; the Broker adds cash to your app balance.
  • The Risk: These are rarely “lost” in the traditional sense, unless you forget your login details or the broker shuts down.

3. The “Corporate Sponsored Nominee” (The Hybrid) Sometimes, a company (like Santander or EasyJet) will hold shares for you in a special “Corporate Nominee.”

  • You don’t have a paper certificate.
  • But you do deal with the Registrar (Equiniti/Computershare) directly.
  • These accounts often go dormant because people forget they exist without a paper certificate to remind them.

How to Check Where Your Shares Are

  • Look at your bank statement: Does the dividend credit say “EQ [Company]” (Registrar) or “HL Dividends” (Broker)?
  • Look for paper: Do you have physical certificates? If yes, you are a Direct Shareholder.

If you are a Direct Shareholder… You are responsible for keeping your details up to date. If you haven’t heard from the company in over 12 months, your asset may be at risk of forfeiture. Use Divica to check the registrar details and ensure your holding is secure.