What is a Chinese credit report?
A Chinese credit report records an individual’s credit history for lending and other financial checks in China. It is similar to Australian credit reporting, although the structure and data sources differ. Borrowers may obtain their report to support an application for credit in Australia, including home or asset finance.
Important: A Chinese credit report forms only part of your overall responsible lending assessment. You must verify its relevance and authenticity and consider all other required documents.
How credit reporting works in China
The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) oversees the national credit reporting system. It operates through the China Credit Reference Center (CCRC), which collects and maintains data from lending institutions across China.
The CCRC is one of the world’s largest credit databases, covering more than 850 million consumers and nearly 20 million businesses. It updates its records weekly and provides credit data to lenders, employers and government agencies in China.
How clients obtain a Chinese credit report
Clients may access their Chinese credit report in one of the following ways:
In person at any People’s Bank of China branch across China’s 31 provincial cities
Online through the CCRC credit inquiry website (currently available only in Chinese)
Clients generally request these reports for lending, employment screening, rental applications or other background checks. You may review the report as part of your loan assessment, but only with the client’s consent.
Tip: If the client provides an online report, ask them to explain how it was obtained and confirm that it is the most recent version.
Key sections of a Chinese credit report
Chinese credit reports generally include four sections.
Basic information
This section includes personal identification such as full name, ID type, ID number and marital status. Use this section to confirm identity details and ensure the report matches your client.
Credit payment information
This is the core of the report and includes information on personal loans, credit cards, mortgage loans, guarantees and other active or closed credit facilities. Review this section for repayment behaviour, overdue accounts and total exposure.
Public records
This section contains information from public authorities, including court judgments, enforcement actions, tax arrears and administrative penalties. Use this information to understand any credit risk indicators.
Query records
This section lists enquiries made by credit providers over the previous two years. A high volume of recent enquiries can indicate increased credit activity or potential credit stress.
Using a Chinese credit report in your assessment
When assessing a client who provides a Chinese credit report:
Confirm the client sourced the report themselves and authorised you to view it.
Verify that it is the most current version.
Cross-check identification details against other documents.
Review repayment history, defaults and recent enquiries.
Treat it as one component of your overall assessment.
Document how the report was used in your notes in Mercury.
Important: Always follow NCCP obligations and your licence requirements. If you are unsure how to interpret a foreign credit report, seek clarification from your Partnership Manager or Compliance.
Need help?
If you need help assessing a Chinese credit report or understanding how it applies to NCCP obligations, contact your Partnership Manager or email [email protected].