What Is a CSCS Account Number and How to Find It

A CSCS account number identifies the account holding your Nigerian shares with one stockbroker at the Central Securities Clearing System. Find it on your CSCS statement beside the broker's name, or ask that broker. It differs from your Clearing House Number (CHN): the CHN identifies you as an investor, while each broker-linked CSCS account has its own account number.

CSCS Account Number vs CHN

The CHN identifies you as an investor and stays the same whichever broker you use. The CSCS account number identifies one account under that CHN, tied to one broker, so an investor who has used two brokers has one CHN and two CSCS account numbers. In everyday use the two are often treated as one number, and for an investor with a single broker the difference rarely matters. It matters when you move shares between brokers or sell: the instruction goes to the broker whose CSCS account holds the shares.

How the Account Is Opened

When you open an account with a licensed Nigerian stockbroker or investment platform, the broker opens a CSCS account for you and either links it to your existing CHN or, if you are new to the market, obtains a CHN for you. Shares bought through that broker settle into that CSCS account, in your name.

How to Find Your CSCS Account Number

There are several ways to find your CSCS account number and CHN: (1) Check your broker or platform — the numbers are displayed in your account profile on most licensed Nigerian stockbroker platforms and investment apps. (2) Check your CSCS statement — a CSCS portfolio statement (which your broker can generate) shows your CHN at the top and each CSCS account next to the broker's name. (3) Check your dividend warrants or registrar correspondence — your CHN or CSCS account number may appear on dividend warrants, e-dividend confirmation letters, and corporate action notices from registrars. (4) Contact your broker directly — provide your name and ID and your broker can look up your CHN in the CSCS system.

How to Get a CSCS Account Number If You Do Not Have One

A CHN is created automatically when you open an account with any SEC-licensed Nigerian stockbroker or investment platform. You do not apply for a CSCS account separately — it is created as part of the brokerage account opening process. If you have never invested through a licensed Nigerian broker, you will not have a CSCS account yet. Opening a brokerage account and making your first investment will create one.

What to Provide When Asking for Your CSCS Number

Ask the stockbroker that opened your account to locate the number using your full registered name and its identity-verification process. If your details have changed, mention former names or older contact details so the broker can distinguish an existing account from a new registration. Do not publish your CSCS number or identity documents in a public forum.

Why You Need Your CHN to Find Lost Shares

When a Find My Shares search is conducted, the CSCS can be queried with your CHN to identify all holdings registered under that account. If your CHN is unknown — which is common for investors who bought shares many years ago through brokers that no longer exist — a structured search using your name, date of birth, and address history can locate the account and any associated holdings.

Can You Have More Than One CSCS Account?

In principle, each investor should have one CSCS account. In practice, some investors ended up with multiple CSCS accounts because they used different brokers over the years and a new CHN was created each time rather than using an existing one. If you suspect you have multiple CSCS accounts, a Find My Shares search can identify all accounts and holdings registered across your name and personal details.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a CSCS account?

A CSCS account is an electronic account held with the Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) — the central depository that holds all shares traded on the Nigerian Exchange. It is opened automatically when you register with a licensed stockbroker, and every share you buy is recorded in this account.

What does CHN mean?

CHN stands for Clearing House Number. It is the unique identifier assigned to your CSCS account, linking together every shareholding you hold across all Nigerian listed companies under a single reference number.

Is my CHN the same as my shareholder reference number?

Not necessarily. Your CHN is your CSCS-level account number. Each company's registrar may also assign you a separate shareholder reference number specific to that company. The CHN is the overarching number that ties together all your holdings across all companies.

What if I cannot find my CHN anywhere?

Contact your stockbroker with your full name, ID, and BVN. They can look up your CHN from the CSCS system. If you no longer have a broker, a Find My Shares search conducted by Shares Saver can trace your account using your name, date of birth, and address history.

Does every Nigerian shareholder have a CHN?

Every investor who has bought shares through a licensed Nigerian stockbroker has a CSCS account and CHN. Shares bought through informal channels or held only as paper certificates without CSCS registration may not be in the CSCS yet — they would need to be dematerialised first.

Can I use my CSCS number to check my shares?

Yes. Your stockbroker can use your CHN to retrieve your CSCS-linked portfolio information, and registered investors can use it when setting up or using e-CSCS online access. Identity verification may still be required before account details are released.

Is a CSCS number issued by a company registrar?

No. The CSCS assigns the CHN as part of the depository account opened through a stockbroker. A company registrar may keep a separate shareholder reference for that company, so check which number a form or enquiry is asking for.