Get Cusip Number

A CUSIP is a nine-character alphanumeric code that identifies a North American financial security. CUSIP is an abbreviation and stands for Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures. This is a committee of the American Bankers Association which was founded in July 1964.

You can also find the numbers on a brokerage's official statements sent to clients, or on physical stock or bond certificates, if you own them. Certain bond CUSIPs may also be obtained through the Municipal Securities Rule making Board (MSRB) via the Electronic Municipal Market Access (EMMA) system.

The CUSIP number is only used in the US and Canada, but financial markets across the world work on the same principles and hence all securities need a distinct identification number. The International Securities Identification Number or ISIN is an alphanumeric code that is used to identify securities across the globe.

CUSIPs may be 6-digit (company specific), 8-digit (issue specific), or a 9- digit (includes check digit). Most databases use the 6- or 9-digit CUSIP.

Making money by owning CUSIPs First, S&P, now Factset, charges securities issuers a fee, typically about $280 per CUSIP number, to obtain CUSIP numbers for its securities.

Look up the CUSIP number on Fidelity Investment's website (free) or, for a fee, access Standard & Poor's website. Companies specializing in tracing old stock certificates can do the research for you for a fee.

A CUSIP number is 9-character alphanumeric code that identifies a North American security for the purposes of facilitating clearing and settlement of trades. Similar to a person's social security number, a CUSIP number acts as an identifier and gives certain information about the security.