What is the Central Credit Register?
The Central Credit Register is a database that stores personal and credit information on loans of €500 or more. It is operated by the Central Bank of Ireland under the Credit Reporting Act 2013. The Central Bank has contracted with CRIF Ireland Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of CRIF Italy S.p.A. to operate the Central Credit Register on its behalf.
The Central Credit Register supports the Central Bank’s obligations and functions, including consumer protection, supervising the financial sector and ensuring financial stability. More information on uses of Central Credit Register data is here.
Lenders submit personal and credit information on existing loans for €500 or more to the Central Credit Register. Lenders also submit personal and credit information on loan applications for €2,000 or more. From 1 February 2025, lenders must submit personal and credit information for legally enforceable guaranteed loans entered into on or after 1 February 2025. See list of lenders here.
The Central Credit Register processes this data to build and maintain an accurate and up-to-date credit report for each borrower. View a sample credit report on our publications page.
The Central Credit Register provides credit reports to borrowers and lenders on request. A "footprint" is recorded each time a credit report is issued to a lender or a borrower.
Find out how to apply for your credit report or exercise any of your rights, free of charge.
No other person such as your spouse/partner, friend, relative, a person for whom you have provided a loan guarantee, or a person who has provided a loan guarantee for you, employer, financial advisor or landlord can obtain your credit report without your consent. Such a person is called a third party.
If you wish to give your consent to a third party, or if you are acting as a third party, read our third party factsheet before submitting a request for a credit report.
Lenders must request your credit report if you have applied for a loan of €2,000 or more in your own name.
Lenders also have the right to request your credit report if you have:
- applied for a loan less than €2,000 in your own name;
- offered to provide a guarantee for a loan to another person of €500 or greater, from 1 February 2025;
- asked for a re-structure of your existing loan or a loan you have guaranteed;
- arrears on your existing loan or a loan you have guaranteed;
- breached the limit on your credit card or overdraft or on one that you have guaranteed.
The Central Credit Register does not:
- decide if a loan is approved or not – the lender makes that decision
- calculate a credit score on credit reports.
The Central Bank owns the information held on the Central Credit Register and is a data controller under the Data Protection Acts. Read our Data Protection Statement.
Browse this website for more information about the Central Credit Register or read our factsheets.