Personal Credit Report in China: How to Check and Protect It

In China, almost every loan application, from credit cards to car loans and mortgages, involves a check of your personal credit report. The main report is kept by the Credit Reference Center of the People's Bank of China (中国人民银行征信中心). Keeping it clean can mean the difference between getting a mortgage at a good rate and being turned down. This guide explains what your personal credit report in China contains, how to check it, what hurts your credit and how to correct errors.

What the credit report contains

Your report records your identity details, your credit cards and loans, credit limits and balances, and, most importantly, your repayment history, including any overdue payments. It also shows guarantees you have given for other people's loans, and who has looked at your report recently. Some public records, such as court judgments related to debts, can appear too. The report does not give a simple numerical score; lenders read the details and apply their own criteria.

How to check your credit report

You can check your own report through the Credit Reference Center's online platform, through many banks' mobile apps and online banking, or at self-service machines and counters at bank branches and People's Bank of China offices. Individuals can get their own report free of charge a limited number of times each year, with a small fee for additional requests. Checking your own report does not harm your credit. You will need your national ID and, for online checks, to verify your identity.

What hurts your credit

The most damaging entries are overdue payments, especially repeated or long overdue ones. Even small amounts, such as an annual card fee you forgot, can be recorded as overdue. Negative records generally remain for five years from the date the overdue debt is settled. Too many credit enquiries in a short period, which can happen when you apply for many cards or online loans, can also make banks cautious. Guaranteeing someone else's loan means their default can affect you.

Why your credit report matters for a mortgage

Banks look closely at the last two years of repayment history before approving a mortgage. A clean record can help you qualify for a better rate and a higher loan amount, while recent overdue payments may lead to refusal or a higher rate. Because mortgage rates are tied to the loan prime rate plus a spread, a better credit profile can reduce that spread. Our guide to the loan prime rate explains how mortgage rates are set, and our loan calculator shows how the rate changes your monthly payment.

Habits that build good credit

Set up automatic repayment for credit cards and loans, and pay at least the minimum on time, ideally the full balance. Close cards you do not use rather than letting fees go unpaid. Be selective with online loan apps, since many report to the credit system. Before applying for a mortgage, check your report a few months in advance to fix any problems. If you use the housing provident fund for a loan, the fund centre will also check your credit record.

Correcting errors

If something is wrong, such as a loan you never took or an overdue record that is not yours, you can file an objection with the Credit Reference Center or the lender that reported it. They must investigate and respond within a set period. Be wary of companies that charge to "repair" or delete accurate negative records; genuine information cannot be removed early.

Protecting your identity

Identity theft can lead to loans in your name that damage your credit. Do not share your ID card, bank card details or verification codes, and be cautious about photographing your ID for unknown apps. Checking your report regularly helps you spot problems early.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I check my credit report in China?

Through the PBOC Credit Reference Center's online platform, many banks' apps, or self-service machines at bank branches.

Your personal credit report in China: how to check and protect it