CSN, or common shareholder number

A common shareholder number, or CSN, is a 9-digit identifying number issued by the NZX for shareholders - found at the top of formal NZX documents. A CSN is unique to each shareholder, and shows they’re the legal owner of their shares. Some shareholders may have more than one CSN, but not every NZX investor has a CSN (this may depend on the brokerage); some may have an HN (holder number) if they bought shares through an investing platform rather than through a broker, and possibly a FIN (faster identification number). A CSN and an HN have similar purposes but are not quite the same. Both are unique identifiers used by the NZX. The CSN is common to the NZX, and distinguishes one investor’s holdings from another’s, while the HN specifically identifies a shareholder as the owner of a portfolio of securities. When an NZX shareholder wants to transfer their NZX listed shares to a different platform, they may need a CSN. Learn more about common shareholder numbers (CSN) on MoneyHub.