Any advertisements from local, regional, or national financial services firms (banks, securities firms, exchanges, mutual funds, asset management companies, and investment advisory firms) are eligible. Insurance companies may submit advertisements for financial products and services, but not for property, casualty, life, or health insurance. The competition is open to all professionals in financial services marketing communications. Entries may be submitted by agencies, companies, or marketing organizations worldwide, but must have been published or aired in English during the calendar year.

The FCS Portfolio Awards honors the best creative solutions to marketing and advertising challenges in financial services, an industry that spends over $2 billion a year on advertising. Since its inception in 1995, the FCS Portfolio Awards have become a major annual event, with 500 industry executives attending every year since 1996.