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Microsoft Advertising Network policies

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16 August 2023

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Finance

Online fraud is a serious problem and often involves financial services. We provide these policies to help your ads meet approval and protect consumers and businesses from being victimized. In addition to these policies, advertisers who promote financial products and services must ensure they comply with all applicable local laws and regulatory requirements. All ads must be fair and clear; ads cannot be misleading, fraudulent, deceptive. These polices apply to all forms of currency including physical and virtual currency. Advertisers purchasing financial service related keywords and advertising aggregated content for third-party financial services (including providing links to the websites) must agree to ensure that their partners comply with all policies.

Disallowed financial products and services

Advertising for the following products and services is not permitted:

  • Non-regulated binary options (regulated binary options may be allowed with review). 
  • Financial products or services designed to facilitate illegal purposes, e.g., to avoid applicable taxes, or money laundering.
  • Ponzi schemes, pyramid schemes, or other legally questionable business opportunities, particularly if returns on investment rely solely on adding participants to the scheme or the consumer must pay a subscription fee or buy a specific product to join, and the value proposition of doing so is undefined.
  • Marijuana, pot stocks.
  • Chain letters or offerings that imply that non-participation might result in loss or bad fortune.
  • Employment on income: Content that facilitates and/or promotes any “employment on income” opportunity which requires payment.
  • Services that “guarantee” financial return.
  • Services that “guarantee” foreclosure prevention.
  • Specific stocks, bonds, commodities, mutual funds, or other investment vehicles, including initial public offerings and “tips” on such products and services.
  • Penny auctions, also known as bidding fee auctions, are not allowed.
  • Penny stock advertising.

Credit Report Advisors

  • Advertising cannot be misleading, or use tactics or functionality intended solely to drive conversions.

Country/Region Specific Restrictions

Albania
  • Adverting for personal loans must include the following:
    • Loan rate and if it is fixed or variable, as well as the cost related particulars.
    • Total amount of the loan.
    • The annual rate or effective interest rate.
    • Term of the loan contract (if applicable).
    • Any advance or cash payment required.
    • Total amount that will be paid by the consumer at the expiration of the loan period.
Algeria
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
American Samoa
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
Antigua and Barbuda
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
Argentina
  • Advertising is prohibited for the sale of credit cards, debit cards, stocks, bonds, securities, and other financial items unless this is done by companies duly authorized to do so.
Armenia
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
Aruba
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
Azerbaijan
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
Bahamas
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
Bahrain
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
Bangladesh
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
Barbados
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
Belize
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
Benin
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
Bolivia
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
Bosnia-Herzegovinia
  • Advertising that includes an interest rate or other reference information based on which the cost of the service is expressed must include the prescribed information for the product or service such as the type of product, amount and variability of interest rate, currency, all costs, etc. If products are tied to ancillary services additional rules may apply.
Botswana
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
Brazil
  • Advertising is prohibited for the sale of credit cards, debit cards, stocks, bonds, securities, and other financial items unless this is done by companies duly authorized to do so.
Brunei Darussalam
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
Bulgaria
  • Advertisers who do not hold a license for banking activity may not advertise banking products or use the word “bank”, any word which signifies banking activities, or any derivatives of these terms any language.
  • Advertising for banks must comply with the requirements of Bulgarian Bank Deposit Guarantee Act.
  • Pension insurance companies:
    • Cannot advertise any product or service they do not provide at the moment, such as a future return on investment.
    • Cannot organize any lotteries.
    • Advertising and written information materials
      • Must be prepared in Bulgarian, and when accompanied by a foreign translation, correspond completely to the text in Bulgarian.
      • Must be written in an understandable way.
      • Must contain accurate and up-to-date information about the pension insurance company and the supplementary pension insurance funds managed by it and the conditions for insurance in them.
      • Contain the indicators and periods for the numerical data indicated in them.
      • Contain the source where the information can be compared or obtained in full, when references to documents, research results, or statistical information are used.
      • Cannot contain self-assessment for the company or supplementary funds managed by it, such as “biggest”, “best”, “leader”, or similar expressions.
      • May contain quotations or references to publications only if there is no doubt as to their authenticity.
    • Advertising for securities must comply with the requirements of the Bulgarian Public Offering of Securities act.
      • Advertisers without the necessary license or authorization cannot:
        • Use the words "investment undertaking", "common fund", "mutual fund", "investment fund", "sovereign wealth fund" (national investment fund), "national investment undertaking", "national common fund" or other equivalent words in any language.
        • Denote pursuit of actions for management of a collective investment scheme.
        • Denote performing activities of alternative investment fund management.
        • Denote performance of activities as investment intermediary.
  • Advertisers without the necessary license or authorization cannot use the word “insurance” or "reinsurance", or other equivalent words in any language.
  • The insurer must identify itself as an insurer and the insurance intermediary or ancillary insurance intermediary must identify itself as an intermediary of the respective type.
    • This does not apply to intermediaries carrying out activities in the Republic of Bulgaria under the conditions of right of establishment or freedom of providing services.
  • Advertisers for insurance covered by the system for guarantee of insurance receivables may not advertise guarantee of insurance receivables in amounts exceeding those stipulated in the law.
  • Any ad for credit related to immovable property that includes an interest rate or figures related to the cost of the credit must include all required information such as the identify of the creditor or credit intermediary, the total amount of credit, the duration of the agreement, for example, in a clear, concise manner.
Burkina Faso
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
Cameroon
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
Canada
  • Short-term loan advertisers must be a member of the Canadian Payday Loan Association (CPLA).
Central African Republic
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
Chile
  • Advertising is prohibited for the sale of credit cards, debit cards, stocks, bonds, securities, and other financial items unless this is done by companies duly authorized to do so.
Colombia
  • Advertising is prohibited for the sale of credit cards, debit cards, stocks, bonds, securities, and other financial items unless this is done by companies duly authorized to do so.
Comoros
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
Cook Islands
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
Costa Rica
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
Cote d'Ivoire
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
Croatia
  • Ads must provide a complete, accurate, clear, and true description of the insurance product, the prescribed obligations, the projection yield and possibility of loss, and a description of the risks arising from such a product.
  • Facts must be supported by credible evidence.
Czech Republic
  • Any ad for credit related to immovable property that includes an interest rate or figures related to the cost of the credit must include the following in a clear, concise manner.
    • Identity of the creditor or credit intermediary.
    • Any requirements for securing the loan.
    • Interest rate and explicit indication if it is fixed, variable, or a combination of both, as well as detailed information about all charges included in the total cost of the credit.
    • Total amount of the credit.
    • The annual percentage rate of the charge.
    • Duration of the credit agreement.
    • Amount of the payments and total amount payable by the consumer.
    • Number of payments.
    • Warning regarding any possible fluctuations in the exchange rate of the foreign currency and how it may affect the amount of the total paid by the consumer.
    • If ancillary services are required to obtain credit and the cost associated with that service cannot be determined upfront, the ad shall state in a clear, prominent way that the consumer needs to enter into the agreement for the provision of ancillary services.
Democratic Republic of Congo
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
Djibouti
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
Dominica
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
Dominican Republic
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
Ecuador
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
Egypt
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
El Salvador
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
Eritrea
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
Estonia
  • Advertising for financial products and services must contain an invitation to examine the terms and conditions, and to consult an expert as needed.
  • If ancillary services are required to obtain credit and the cost associated with that service cannot be determined upfront, the ad shall state in a clear, prominent way that the consumer needs to enter into the agreement for the provision of ancillary services near the annual percentage rate of charge.
  • If the interest rate is displayed, an explicit indication if it is fixed, variable, or a combination of both, as well as detailed information about all charges included in the total cost of the credit.
  • For residential property, in addition to the above:
    • Ad must contain the identity of the creditor or credit intermediary.
    • Indication that the ad is related to credit that is secured by a mortgage related to immovable property or comparable security where applicable.
    • Warning regarding any possible fluctuations in the exchange rate of the foreign currency and how it may affect the amount of the total paid by the consumer where applicable.
  • Advertising for trustees in a bankruptcy is not allowed.
Ethiopia
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
European Union
  • Advertising for binary options is not allowed in the European Union.
  • Advertising concerning credit agreements must include all information specified in Article 4 of the Consumer Credit Act including for example, the total amount of credit, the borrowing rate, and the duration of the agreement, the total amount due by the consumer. The information must be clear, understandable, and easily visible, and accompanied by a representative example (where required).
  • Any additional requirements or conditions must be clearly called out.
  • Credit agreements that are secured by a mortgage or otherwise relate to immovable residential property must be fair, clear, and not misleading, and must avoid creating false expectations to the availability or cost of credit.
  • Insurance undertakings, including any intermediaries which manufacture any insurance product for sale to customers, must maintain, operate, and review a process for the approval of each insurance product, or significant adaptations of an existing insurance product before it is marketed or distributed to consumers.
  • Investment firms which manufacture financial instruments for sale to clients must maintain, operate and review a process for the approval of each financial instrument and significant adaptations of an existing financial instruments before it is marketed or distributed to consumers.
Faroe Islands
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
Fiji
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
Gabon
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
Georgia
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
Greece
  • Advertisements for investment firms must declare that they are subject to the supervision of the Hellenic Capital Market Commission and include their licensing number.
Greenland
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
Grenada
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
Guam
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
Guatemala
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
Guinea
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
Guinea-Bissau
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
Guyana
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
Haiti
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
Honduras
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
Hong Kong
  • Advertising for financial products must adhere to local requirements. Advertising for loans must contain the registration number either in the ad copy or on the landing page.
Iceland
  • Advertising for pension funds must provide correct and detailed information on their activities and services in the ad.
  • Advertising for personal loans must include information listed in Act No. 33/2013 on Consumer Loans such as the cost of the loan, interest rate, etc.
Iraq
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
Ireland
  • Advertisers who promote financial products and services and who are based in the Republic of Ireland must be registered with the Financial Regulator.
  • Advertisers who promote financial products and services and who are not based in the Republic of Ireland must have passported authorization from another EU/EEA Member State in order to offer services in the Republic of Ireland and be authorized by the Irish or another EU/EEA Member State.
Israel
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
Jamaica
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
Japan
  • Advertising for personal loans must include the following:
    • Name and registration number of the lender
    • Interest rate
    • Means
    • Periods
    • Number of payments
  • Advertising for annuities must include the following:
    • Name and registration number of the annuity insurer
    • Considerations payable by customers
    • Possible risks
Kyrgyzstan
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
Latvia
  • Advertisers for financial products and services must have the required authorization/license to offer their services in Latvia.
  • Advertising for personal loans is not allowed.
  • Advertising for insurance in connection with market-linked life insurance contract cannot include information regarding the guaranteed profit or the level of profitability in the future.
    • When referring to the insurance return in relation to a market-linked life insurance contract, the ad must contain information that the past return does not guarantee a similar return in the future.
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
Lesotho
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
Libya
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
Lithuania
  • Advertising for credit in the form of deferred payment for a specific good or service, must include the cash price and the amount of any advance payment.
  • If ancillary services are required to obtain credit and the cost associated with that service cannot be determined upfront, the ad shall state in a clear, prominent way that the consumer needs to enter into the agreement for the provision of ancillary services near the annual percentage rate of charge.
  • If the interest rate of a product is displayed, an explicit indication if it is fixed, variable, or a combination of both, as well as detailed information about all charges included in the total cost of the credit.
  • Advertising for life insurance must list all variables used for the calculation of payments.
Luxembourg
  • Advertising for credit agreements for consumers cannot:
    • Be aimed at inducing customers who are unable to repay their debts to resort to loans.
    • Aimed at enhancing the ease or speed of obtaining a loan.
    • Indicate that the amount of credit is made available in cash.
    • Suggest that the loan improves the consumers financial situation or budget.
    • Indicate that a credit or credit operation consisting of consolidation of previous credits may be made without information making it possible to assess the financial situation of the borrower.
  • Mention favorable raters without indicating specific requirements or restrictions for obtaining that rate.
Macao SAR
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
Madagascar
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
Malawi
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
Malaysia
  • Advertisers may not promote collective investment schemes, insurance products, stock trading. Additionally, all bank products and services must be registered in the market where they are advertised.
Maldives
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
Marshall Islands
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
Mauritania
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
Mauritius
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
Mexico
  • Advertising is prohibited for the sale of credit cards, debit cards, stocks, bonds, securities, and other financial items unless this is done by companies duly authorized to do so.
Moldova
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
Mongolia
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
Montenegro
  • Advertising for deposits or credit and leasing transactions that contains the interest rate or numerical data relating to the price or income should include a clear example of:
    • Type of cash deposit, loan, or leasing object.
    • Amount and variability of the annual nominal interest rate.
    • Effective interest rate.
    • The currency, and time period that is contracted.
    • Criteria for indexing cash deposit, loan, or leasing.
    • Total amount of cash deposit, loan, or lease.
    • All costs to the borrower.
  • If ancillary services are required and the cost associated with that service cannot be determined upfront, the ad shall state in a clear, prominent way that the consumer needs to enter into the agreement for the provision of ancillary services near the effective interest rate.
Namibia
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
Nauru
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
Nepal
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
Netherlands
  • Advertisers must comply with all regulations as set out by the Authoriteit Financiële Markten (AFM).
Niger
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
Nigeria
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
Niue
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
North Macedonia
  • Advertising for consumer loans that contain the interest rate or numerical data relating to the cost of credit should include a clear example of:
    • Borrowing rate together with any charges included in the cost of the loan.
    • Total amount of credit.
    • Annual percentage rate of charge.
    • Duration of the credit agreement (if applicable).
    • In the case of a credit in form of deferred payment for a specific good or service, the cash price and the amount of any advance payment.
    • Total amount payable by the consumer and the number of installments (if applicable).
Northern Mariana Islands
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
Oman
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
Pakistan
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
Palau
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
Panama
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
Paraguay
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
Peru
  • Advertising is prohibited for the sale of credit cards, debit cards, stocks, bonds, securities, and other financial items unless this is done by companies duly authorized to do so.
Philippines
  • All bank products and services must be registered in the market where they are advertised.
Poland
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertisers must comply with all advertising guidelines issued by the Polish Financial Supervision Authority.
Portugal
  • Financial products and services may only be advertised by entities authorized by Banco de Portugal.
  • Information needed for a correct assessment of the characteristics that credit institutions highlight of the advertised financial product or service cannot be concealed or omitted. This applies to ads regarding annuities, credit cards, and other financial products.
  • Advertising for complex speculative financial products is restricted, the following is not allowed.
    • Advertising of financial products and services without a clear explanation of the nature of their nature or purpose.
    • Omission or concealment of conditions allowing access to advertised promotions.
    • Omission or concealment of conditions allowing the customer to obtain a reduction in the number of instalments of a loan.
    • Omission or concealment of charges must be borne in return for advantages to which the customer has access.
  • Ads for loans must contain information on the quality, conditions, rates, risks, and advantages of loan-related products.
  • Marketing of deposits to non-professional investors in connection with the purchase of financial instruments, insurance contracts, and other financial savings or investment products which do not always guarantee the capital invested is prohibited.
  • Advertising for insurance products must include the mandatory reference “Does not waive the consultation of contractual and pre-contractual information legally required” and link to the page where the legally required information can be found.
Puerto Rico
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
Qatar
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
Republic of Congo
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
Romania
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
Rwanda
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
Saint Kitts and Nevis
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
Saint Lucia
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
Samoa
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
Saudi Arabia
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
Senegal
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
Serbia
  • Ads for deposit and loan services or leasing operations where interest rate or any figures related to price or income are shown, the advertiser must clearly and precisely, by means of a representative example:
    • Type of deposit/loan/leasing object.
    • Level and variability of the annual nominal interest rate.
    • Effective interest rate.
    • Currency in which deposit/loan/leasing is agreed.
    • Period for which the deposit/loan/leasing is agreed.
    • Criteria for deposit deposit/loan/leasing indexation.
    • Total amount of deposit or loan.
    • All costs payable by the consumer.
  • In addition to the above list, ads for leasing must also specify:
    • Gross purchase value of the leasing object, the amount of front payment, and the amount of net financing.
  • Number and amount of rental instalments, as well as the period in which they are due (monthly, quarterly, annually, etc).
Seychelles
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
Sierra Leone
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
Singapore
  • All bank products and services must be registered in the market where they are advertised.
Slovakia
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising by a financial agent of a consumer loan must state in the ad the scope of their powers, in particular, whether they work exclusively with one or more creditors.
Somalia
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
South Africa
  • Financial products and services may only be advertised by registered Financial Service Providers.
  • An advertisement of the availability of credit, or of goods or services purchased on credit must comply with the National Credit Act (NCA).
  • A direct solicitation may not contain the expressions “loan guaranteed”, “pre-approved” or similar statements except when the credit granted is not subject to any credit assessment after acceptance by the consumer.
Sri Lanka
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
Suriname
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
Tajikistan
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
Tanzania
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
The Gambia
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
Togo
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
Tokelau
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
Tonga
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
Trinidad and Tobago
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
Tunisia
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
Turkey
  • Advertising that includes interest and premium rates must indicate these rates accurately, and conditions that might affect the total amount of the loan must be stated.
  • If interest and premium rates are included in ads for credit services, monthly and annual percentage value of the total cost of the credit must be clearly indicated in the ad.
  • Advertising for credit services cannot deceive customers about the elements of credit type and maturity, required guarantees or other necessary features looked for, or repayment conditions.
  • Investment institutions must acquire a license from the Captial Markets Board (“CMB”) in order to advertise capital markets instruments and follow all applicable regulations.
    • Ads must not include any absolute guarantees on return and must be objective.
    • Ads must be consistent with the offer and must be clear of misstatement or misleading information.
    • Capital markets institutions must not use expressions such as “the best”, “the safest”, “the most preferred”, or “top-grossing” in their advertisements.
    • Numeric data utilized in ads is limited to the data published or approved by the competent authority.
  • Advertising for insurance products must follow restrictions in Article 25 of the Regulation on the Establishment and Operating Rules of the Insurance Companies and the Reassurance Companies, dated August 24th, 2007, numbered 26623.
Tuvalu
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
Uganda
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
United Arab Emirates
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
United Kingdom

Advertisers must comply with the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (“FSMA”) and the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial
Promotion) Order 2005.

  • Any advertiser carrying out a regulated activity under FSMA must be authorized by the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) including, without limitation:
    • Mortgage providers, brokers and advisors
    • Investment businesses
    • Insurance providers, brokers and advisors
    • Secured loans providers, brokers and advisors
    • Deposit takers (banks)
  • Consumer credit firms must also be authorized by the FCA to carry out consumer credit activities.
  • Advertisements must adhere to policies that are set out by regulators with regards to advertisement creative, including but not limited to the following:
    • Any inducement to invest must make clear that the value of investments is variable and can go down as well as up.
    • Ad copy that includes a specific interest rate must also include text indicating that this is the typical APR. If the typical APR interest rate is included in the ad copy, the interest rate must be immediately followed by the text "(typical APR)."
United States

Specific policies and restrictions are applicable to all advertising for financial products and services (i.e., banking/investment/money management products and services, loans, mortgage foreclosure prevention/protection, insurance products, etc.). As an advertiser, you are solely responsible for ensuring that your website, advertisements, and advertisement landing pages conform to all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulatory requirements and regulatory guidance.

All advertising for financial services and products must include all disclosures required by applicable federal, state and local law. These may include, without limitation:

  • material restrictions on use or availability of the advertised products or services
  • risk factors
  • qualifications
  • fees, costs and expenses
  • implications for non-payment (e.g., fees, collection practices, etc.)
  • genuine and current contact information or physical address (no PO Box) for the business being promoted.

In addition, use in an advertisement of certain terms and conditions (e.g., “2.99% APR” for loan financing) may require disclosure of additional significant terms and conditions in the advertisement relating to the product or service. If permitted by applicable law, all necessary disclosure must at a minimum appear on the advertising landing page. Additionally, all advertisements must comply with the Misleading messaging policies and Privacy and data protection policies.

Personal Loans

For the purpose of this policy, personal loans are those where an individual or organization lends money on a nonrecurring basis to an individual consumer. Some examples of these types of loans are payday loans, pawnshops, and title loans. Lending for the purchase of a fixed asset or for educational purposes, such as a student loan or a car loan is not included in this policy. This policy applies to direct loan providers, lead generators, and those who connect lenders and consumers. For all Personal Loans:

  • Minimum and maximum period for repayment must be clearly stated
  • The maximum APR must be provided (for purposes of this policy, APR considers all fees associated with the personal loan, including interest, initiation or late fees, or any fees related to the loan)
  • The total cost of the loan to the consumer, including all applicable fees must be disclosed
  • Loans cannot have an APR that exceeds 36% including all applicable costs and fees
  • Full repayment cannot be required in fewer than 60 days

Short-term loan advertisers must be members of at least one of the following associations: The Community Financial Services Association of America (CFSA), Financial Service Centers of America (FiSCA), or The Online Lenders Alliance (OLA).

Deceptive Advertisements

In addition to specific disclosure requirements, deceptive acts or practices in connection with the offering of consumer financial products or services are prohibited. An advertisement is deceptive if is discloses information, or omits material information, in such a way as to be misleading to a reasonable consumer. Material terms (i.e., terms that are likely to affect a consumer’s choice of, or conduct regarding, the product or service) must be disclosed prominently, in a manner that a reasonable consumer will notice, and in close proximity with claims that such terms modify. For example, stating that a car loan is available for no money down but disclosing additional regulatory costs in fine print or buried within other disclosures can be deceptive. In addition, it can be deceptive to misrepresent the terms of a loan, either by misstating the nature of the term (e.g., fixed versus variable interest rate) or through inequitable comparisons with other loan products.

Advertisements for certain financial products and services can raise appreciable compliance concerns and may attract heightened scrutiny. Such products and services may include, but are not limited to:

  • Automobile lending
  • Payday and other small-dollar credit (i.e., traditionally this has encompassed retail financial products that allow consumers to easily borrow small amounts of cash in return for their pledge of a check dated for the next payday as collateral. This may include short-term, low balance loans with high finance charges intended to help cover a consumer’s cash-flow shortages, usually requiring a consumer to give electronic access to their bank accounts)
  • Debt settlement and debt relief (i.e., services to help renegotiate, settle or change terms of a borrower’s debt to a creditor or a debt collector)
  • Credit and fraud monitoring, identity theft protection services (e.g., services that provide alerts to potentially fraudulent activity or that offer credit reports)
  • Credit cards targeted at students, military, and consumers with poor credit profiles (e.g., secured credit cards)
  • Virtual currencies
  • Brokerage services, stocks and bonds, futures, options trading services or other investment products and services

 

 

United States Virgin Islands
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
Uruguay
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
Vanuatu
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
Venezuela
  • Advertising is prohibited for the sale of credit cards, debit cards, stocks, bonds, securities, and other financial items unless this is done by companies duly authorized to do so.
Vietnam
  • Advertising for debt collection services is not permitted.
Yemen
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
Zambia
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
Zimbabwe
  • Advertising for securities is not allowed.
  • Advertising for financial products and services may be considered with pre-approval only. To be considered, advertisers must have the required authorization/license to offer their services and provide proof of this authorization upon request.

Cryptocurrency and Related Products

Cryptocurrencies and cryptocurrency related products including, but not limited to initial coin offerings, and cryptocurrency wallets are prohibited. Cryptocurrency exchanges that meet specific criteria may be allowed with pre-approval in the United States. To apply for pre-approval, please complete this application form.

Country/Region Restrictions

United States
  • Advertisers must comply with all regulations and licensing requirements for the specific locations where their ads will be serving. 
    • If there are regulations or licensing requirements that an advertiser does not meet for a location such as a specific state, the advertiser must exclude that state from their targeting.
  • Advertiser must be first party/brand owner.
    • Affiliate advertisers are not allowed.
  • Advertising will be allowed for exchanges.
    • Initial coin offerings, wallets, coin tumbling, and similar products/services are not allowed.
      • Wallet services that are part of an exchange offering may be allowed with pre-approval.
    • Cryptocurrency investment or training programs /plans are not allowed.
    • Margin trading, promotional giveaways, and sweepstakes are not allowed.
    • Decentralized exchanges and decentralized finance (DeFi companies) are not allowed.
  • Domains must have been established for a minimum of 18 months.
  • Advertisers must clearly disclose the risks of investing in virtual currencies in either the ad or the landing page, and must not represent such investments as safe or risk free.
  • A unique Manager Account (CID) is required for approved cryptocurrency exchanges.
    • If disallowed content or mixed content is loaded to the account, permission to serve cryptocurrency related ads may be removed.
    • If reputation or policy concerns are raised, permission to serve cryptocurrency related ads may be removed.

AUDIENCE

  • Advertising for cryptocurrency exchanges is not allowed.

DISPLAY

  • Advertising for cryptocurrency exchanges is not allowed.

NATIVE

  • Advertising for cryptocurrency exchanges is not allowed.