Understanding CUSIP Numbers and Their Importance

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CUSIP numbers are a unique series of nine alphanumeric characters used to identify securities traded in the United States and Canada.

They were created by S&P Global Market Intelligence, formerly known as S&P Global, to provide a standardized way of identifying securities.

CUSIP numbers are assigned to stocks, bonds, and other securities to help with trading and settlement processes.

The first six characters of a CUSIP number identify the issuer, while the last three characters identify the specific security.

The CUSIP number is used to help prevent errors in trading and to ensure that the correct securities are bought and sold.

CUSIP numbers are also used to track the ownership of securities and to provide a record of transactions.

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Understanding CUSIP Numbers

A CUSIP number is a nine-digit alphanumeric code used to identify securities, such as stocks, bonds, and other financial instruments.

CUSIP numbers are assigned by the CUSIP Service Bureau, which is operated by the American Bankers Association. They are used by banks, brokerages, and other financial institutions to identify and track securities in their systems.

You can find CUSIP numbers on official statements, such as confirmations of purchase or periodic financial statements, or through various securities dealers. A dummy CUSIP is a temporary, nine-character placeholder used internally by a company until its official CUSIP number is assigned.

How Numbers Work

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CUSIP numbers are a unique identifier for securities, similar to a serial number. They are made up of nine digits, which are automatically generated.

The first six alphanumeric characters, known as the base or CUSIP-6, identify the issuer of the security. This is like a name tag that tells you who the issuer is.

The seventh and eighth digits identify the type of security, such as equity, debt, or other. This helps distinguish between different types of securities.

Here's a breakdown of the different types of securities that are identified by CUSIP numbers:

CUSIP numbers are generated automatically, including the ninth digit, which is a check digit. This helps ensure the accuracy and integrity of the identifier.

What Does a Number Reveal?

A CUSIP number is like a serial number, made up of nine digits, with the first six alphanumeric characters identifying the issuer.

The seventh and eighth digits identify the type of security, such as a corporate bond or common stock. This information is crucial for facilitating trades and settlements.

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A CUSIP number can tell you the exact type of security it references and who issued it. This is because the unique identifier is specific to each issuer and security type.

CUSIP Global Services creates around 1,000 to 2,000 new identifiers each day, making it an essential tool for the financial industry.

Here's a breakdown of what a CUSIP number can reveal about a security:

CUSIP numbers are used for various securities, including common stock, corporate bonds, and derivatives. They're an essential tool for investors, traders, and financial institutions.

A CUSIP number is a unique identifier that distinguishes securities, making it easier to facilitate trades and settlements.

Securities Identification

A CUSIP number is a unique identifier attached to listed stocks and bonds, providing a standardized method for identifying securities to facilitate the clearance and settlement of trading market transactions.

CUSIP numbers are used by banks, brokerages, and other financial institutions to identify and track securities in their systems, and they are also used to facilitate the clearing and settlement of trades.

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Each CUSIP number is unique to a specific security, and it is assigned by the CUSIP Service Bureau, which is operated by the American Bankers Association.

CUSIP numbers can be found on the front of a bond certificate, and they can also be found in various databases and other sources of information about securities.

Here's a breakdown of how CUSIP numbers are structured:

  • The first six alphanumeric characters are known as the base or CUSIP-6, which identifies the issuer
  • The seventh and eighth digits identify the type of security
  • The ninth digit is a check digit that is automatically generated

CUSIP numbers are used to identify a wide range of global financial instruments, including equity and debt issues, derivatives, hedge funds, listed options, and certain non-security global financial instruments such as syndicated loans, for the US and Canada.

CUSIP vs. Other Identifiers

CUSIP is not the only identifier used by CUSIP Global Services. ISIN and CINS are two other important identifiers they offer.

ISIN numbers are used to identify securities, but CUSIP numbers are more commonly used for this purpose. CUSIP numbers provide a standardized method for identifying securities, which is crucial for facilitating the clearance and settlement of trading market transactions.

CUSIP numbers are primarily used by brokerage and clearing firms to ensure that transactions are properly settled and recorded.

Explore further: Isin vs Cusip

History

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The CUSIP system has a rich history that dates back to 1964, when the financial markets were dealing with a securities settlement paper crunch on Wall Street.

It was a chaotic time, with stock markets having to close early on some days just to allow back-office processing to keep pace. The New York Clearing House Association approached the ABA to develop a more efficient system for the trading, clearing, and settlement of securities trades by uniquely identifying all current and future securities.

By 1968, the CUSIP system was unveiled with the first publication of the CUSIP directory, marking a significant milestone in the development of the system.

Over the years, the CUSIP system has grown in coverage, including government, municipal, and international securities, as well as initial public offerings, preferred stock, and US and Canadian listed options.

Today, the CGS database contains identifiers for over 62 million financial instruments and entities, making it a valuable resource for the financial industry.

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The CUSIP system operates with insight and guidance from the industry-appointed CUSIP Board of Trustees, which is made up of senior-level operations and data executives from major banks and other financial institutions.

The system has also been recognized internationally, with a formal agreement reached in 2011 to create a low-cost, low-value feed of certain US ISINs for use by market participants in the European Economic Area.

CUSIP also reserves special characters for use with private placement numbers (PPNs) used by the insurance industry, demonstrating its adaptability to the evolving needs of the financial sector.

ISIN vs. CINS

ISIN and CINS are two important identifiers used alongside CUSIP by CUSIP Global Services. ISIN and CINS are used for international securities identification.

ISIN stands for International Securities Identification Number, a 12-character alphanumeric code that identifies a security. It's used to identify securities traded in multiple countries.

CUSIP Global Services also uses CINS, which stands for Canadian Securities Information Processor identifier. CINS is used to identify securities traded on the Canadian market.

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Based Identifiers

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CUSIP-based identifiers are a game-changer for the financial industry. They enable holders, analysts, and brokers to rapidly identify and access issue-specific data.

These identifiers support the accurate and efficient clearance and settlement of financial instruments. They also process associated with income payments made during the lifecycle of an issue.

CUSIP-based identifiers are a universally recognized identifier for financial instruments. CUSIPs are 9-character identifiers that capture an issue's important differentiating characteristics within a common structure.

Here are some of the benefits of CUSIP-based identifiers:

  • Holders, analysts, and brokers can rapidly identify and access issue-specific data
  • Custodians and sub-custodians can easily communicate on securities transactions
  • Depositories can accurately manage transactions and examine historical data

Private Issuer Numbers

Private Issuer Numbers are reserved for internal use, and can be identified by their Issuer Number ending in "990" through "999".

The Standard specifies that Issue Numbers "90" through "99" and "9A" through "9Y" are reserved for private use, potentially in combination with non-private-use Issuer Numbers.

These reserved Issue Numbers can be used in combination with non-private-use Issuer Numbers.

Here's a breakdown of the reserved Issue Numbers:

CUSIP Lookup and Usage

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You can find a CUSIP number on a brokerage's official statements sent to clients, or on physical stock or bond certificates if you own them. It's also available through the Municipal Securities Rule-Making Board via the Electronic Municipal Market Access system.

CUSIP numbers are typically found on the front of a bond certificate, and they can also be found in various databases and other sources of information about securities. This makes it easy to access issue-specific data.

To locate a CUSIP number, you can request a stock quote on a broker's website, which often will include the CUSIP.

CUSIP numbers are used by banks, brokerages, and other financial institutions to identify and track securities in their systems. They are also used to facilitate the clearing and settlement of trades.

A CUSIP number is a nine-digit alphanumeric code that is used to identify securities, such as stocks, bonds, and other financial instruments.

Credit: youtube.com, CUSIP Lookup Example

CUSIP numbers are unique identifiers attached to listed stocks and bonds. They provide a standardized method for identifying securities to facilitate the clearance and settlement of trading market transactions.

Here are some ways to look up a CUSIP number:

  • Request a stock quote on a broker's website
  • Find the numbers on a brokerage's official statements sent to clients
  • Obtain it through the Municipal Securities Rule-Making Board via the Electronic Municipal Market Access system
  • Check physical stock or bond certificates if you own them

CUSIP Components and Examples

A CUSIP number is made up of nine characters, with the first six identifying the issuer of the security.

The first six digits of a CUSIP code represent the issuer, with New York City having over five different issuer codes. This is because New York City issues a large amount of debt to finance various infrastructure projects.

The next two digits identify the exact security and the maturity date of the bonds. The final digit is a check digit, which is an automatically generated checksum to ensure the accuracy of the CUSIP number.

If a borrower like New York City issues another type of bond, the CUSIP would start with the same six digits, but the last three digits will be different to identify the specific security.

Format

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A CUSIP is a nine-character alphanumeric code that uniquely identifies an issuer. The first six characters are known as the base, or CUSIP-6, and they are assigned alphabetically from a series that includes deliberately built-in gaps for future expansion.

The last three characters of the issuer code can be letters, providing more room for expansion. Issuer numbers 990 to 999 and 99A to 99Z in each group of 1,000 numbers are reserved for internal use.

The 7th and 8th digit identify the exact issue, with numbers used for equities and letters used for fixed income. For discount commercial paper, the first issue character is generated by taking the letter code of the maturity month and the second issue character is the day of the maturity date.

Here's a breakdown of the issue number format:

The 9th digit is an automatically generated check digit using the "Modulus 10 Double Add Double" technique based on the Luhn algorithm.

Components

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The first six digits of a CUSIP code represent the issuer of the security. This can be seen in the example of New York City, which has more than five different issuer codes.

New York City is a major issuer of bonds, using them to finance various infrastructure projects. This is evident from the fact that it has over five different issuer codes.

The next two digits after the first six identify the exact security and the maturity date of the bonds. This can be observed in the example of the New York City Transitional Finance Authority Revenue Subordinated Future Tax Secured Subordinated Series C 1 bond.

The final digit of the CUSIP code serves as a check digit to ensure the accuracy of the number. This is an automatically generated checksum.

If a borrower issues a large amount of debt, they can have more than one set of six digit codes. This is the case with New York City, which has multiple issuer codes.

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Private Issue Numbers

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Private Issue Numbers are a unique aspect of CUSIPs, and it's essential to understand how they work. CUSIPs with Issuer Numbers ending in "990" through "999" are considered privately assigned identifiers.

These numbers are reserved for internal use only and won't be assigned by the Registration Authority. The CUSIP::has_private_issuer() method can detect this case.

Private Issuer Numbers can also be identified by looking for specific patterns in the CUSIP. Issue Numbers "90" through "99" and "9A" through "9Y" are reserved for private use. This can be in combination with non-private-use Issuer Numbers.

Here's a breakdown of the regions associated with each code:

Note that the meaning of "and" in the phrase "5th and 6th position" is unclear from the text of the standard.

International CUSIP System

The CUSIP International Numbering System, or CINS, is a way to identify securities from outside North America. It was introduced in 1989 to accommodate non-North American issues.

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A CUSIP with a letter in the first position is a CINS number, and that letter identifies the country or geographic region of the issuer. This is a key difference between CINS and conventional CUSIPs.

You can use the CUSIP::is_cins() method to tell if a CUSIP is a CINS number, and the CUSIP::cins_country_code() method to extract the CINS Country Code. This is useful for working with CINS identifiers.

In 1991, CINS became the only allowed way to issue CUSIP identifiers for non-North American securities. This means that if you're working with securities from outside North America, you'll need to use the CINS system.

CUSIP numbers starting with the letters I, O, and Z are not actually used as country codes, but the CUSIP system still reports them as CINS numbers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is your social security number a CUSIP number?

No, your social security number is not a CUSIP number, as CUSIP numbers are used to identify securities, not personal identification numbers. Learn more about the difference between CUSIP numbers and social security numbers.

Tasha Kautzer

Senior Writer

Tasha Kautzer is a versatile and accomplished writer with a diverse portfolio of articles. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, she has successfully covered a wide range of topics, from the lives of notable individuals to the achievements of esteemed institutions. Her work spans the globe, delving into the realms of Norwegian billionaires, the Royal Norwegian Naval Academy, and the experiences of Norwegian emigrants to the United States.

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