Credit Reference Agencies

Sharing of SME data with Credit Reference Agencies

Objective of Small and Medium Sized Business (Credit Information) Regulations 2015

Opening up access to credit data held by the big banks will increase the reliability of credit scores, enabling alternative finance providers to make better-informed decisions about finance provision to smaller businesses.

When the policy is enabled, designated banks will be required to share information about their SME customers with other lenders through designated Credit Reference Agencies (CRA) and to require CRAs to provide equal access to the data they hold where the lender in question has the permission of the SME and where that lender is willing to share the data it has on its own credit facilities.

The government announced at the 2015 Autumn Statement that it planned to designate Experian, Equifax and Creditsafe as the first three designated CRAs. In March 2019, the government announced Dun & Bradstreet as the fourth designated CRA.


The process for applications from Credit Reference Agencies to apply for designation is currently closed.

For reference, the documents for the process are available on our call for information and request for proposals page.

 

The business finance guide - English version - guide to finance options The business finance guide - Welsh version - guide to finance options
The English and Welsh language editions of the Business Finance Guide are downloadable from the Guide’s dedicated website. This resource also contains videos and additional content about finance options, including equity finance.