What is an LOU?

A Local Operating Unit (LOU) is an organisation that GLEIF has accredited to issue LEIs and maintain their reference data. LOUs are the operational layer of the LEI system: GLEIF sets the standard and runs the global index, while LOUs do the day-to-day work of validating and publishing records.

Every LEI carries its issuer in plain sight — the first four characters are the LOU's prefix. On LEIatlas, the entity page decodes this, and the “Managing LOU” field links to the LOU's own page listing every LEI it manages.

An LOU is itself a legal entity with its own LEI, so you can look it up like any other. Well-known issuers include Bloomberg, the London Stock Exchange's LEI service, and national numbering agencies.