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By Jason Lim, REN 84424 · IQI Realty · Checked on 12 November 2026
Before you apply for a home loan in Malaysia, download your own CCRIS report from Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) and read it line by line. It lists your loans, credit cards and recent credit applications, with 12 months of repayment conduct for each account, and Malaysian lenders check it when they assess you. You can view it online through eCCRIS at no fee, and fixing a mistake before you apply is far easier than explaining it after a rejection. Not financial advice.
Quick answer
- What CCRIS is: Bank Negara’s Central Credit Reference Information System, a factual record that lenders report into. BNM says it is not a blacklist, and BNM does not score you or decide on loans.
- What it shows: your outstanding loans and cards, pending or approved credit applications from the last 12 months, any special attention accounts, and a 12-month repayment record for each account.
- How to get it: through BNM’s eCCRIS portal at no fee (as of November 2026), or at a CCRIS kiosk in an AKPK office. Your bank cannot give it to you.
- Other reports: lenders may also use registered credit reporting agencies, which need your consent to see your CCRIS data.
- Errors: only the reporting lender can correct them; BNM can step in if you have documents.
- Foreign buyers: if you have never borrowed in Malaysia, your CCRIS record will be thin or empty, so banks lean on your income documents and home-country records instead.
What CCRIS is, and what it is not
CCRIS is run by Bank Negara Malaysia, which has collected credit information since 1982. Each month, banks, Islamic banks, development financial institutions, card issuers, credit leasing companies, some insurers and certain government agencies report the credit they have given and how borrowers are repaying it.
Three points cause the most confusion:
- It is not a blacklist. BNM states plainly that CCRIS does not list “bad” borrowers. It records facts, good and bad.
- BNM does not rate you. There is no BNM credit score. Each lender reads the record and applies its own credit policy.
- It is one input among several. Income, debt service ratio (DSR) and the property matter too. A clean report does not mean automatic approval, and one late payment does not mean automatic rejection.
What is in your CCRIS report
| Part of the report | What it shows | What a bank looks for |
|---|---|---|
| Borrower profile | Name, identity or passport number, date of birth, address | That it matches your application |
| Outstanding credit | Each loan, card or overdraft: type, limit, balance, monthly instalment, whether it is in your name alone or joint, and a 12-month repayment row | Your total commitments and whether you pay on time |
| Special attention accounts | Impaired accounts a lender is monitoring closely or trying to recover | The most serious warning sign on a report |
| Applications for credit | Applications pending or approved in the last 12 months; rejected applications are not shown | Whether you are taking on new debt that is not yet in your instalments |
| Legal status | Whether legal action has been taken on an account | Unresolved disputes or recovery action |
Lenders read the repayment row first: for each of the last 12 months it shows how many instalments were in arrears, so a run of zeros means you paid on time. Past arrears stay visible in that window even after you catch up.
How to get your own CCRIS report in 2026
| Channel | How it works | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| eCCRIS (online) | Register once, then view your report any time, with no limit on how often | Online self-registration currently works only for Malaysians with a MyKad and internet banking. Others register at an AKPK kiosk or through BNMLINK. |
| CCRIS kiosks at AKPK offices | Walk in, verify your identity and get the report or register for eCCRIS | AKPK is BNM’s credit counselling agency, with offices nationwide. |
| BNMLINK and BNMTELELINK | BNM’s public contact channels. You can submit the CCRIS / eCCRIS application form through them. | BNMLINK is in Kuala Lumpur and opens 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays. |
Only the person the report is about can get it, with narrow exceptions for companies and estates. If anyone offers, for a fee, to “clear” your CCRIS record, walk away: no third party can delete accurate entries.
Registered credit reporting agencies and your consent
Lenders often also check a private credit reporting agency. These must be registered under the Credit Reporting Agencies Act 2010 with the Registrar Office at the Ministry of Finance, which said in October 2026 that ten agencies had renewed registration to 14 September 2027. Operating without registration can mean a fine of up to RM1 million, three years’ jail, or both.
- Consent. A registered agency may access your CCRIS data only with your prior consent and BNM’s approval; banks usually ask you to sign this consent with the application. You can refuse, but the Registrar warns the lender may then stop processing it.
- Your own copy. You can ask each registered agency for your report to check it. Agencies may charge a fee per report.
- Settled debts. If an agency still shows a debt you have paid, give it a copy of the settlement letter from the lender so it can update your record.
- Bankruptcy. The Act stops agencies from disclosing bankruptcy status more than two years after the date of discharge.
Where the PDPA fits in
The Personal Data Protection Act 2010 (PDPA) covers how your bank handles your application data: it must give you a written notice of the purposes (section 7), and you can ask for a copy of your data, for a prescribed fee, or for corrections (sections 30 and 34). Data processed for a credit reporting business falls under the Credit Reporting Agencies Act instead, and the PDPA does not apply to the federal government, so CCRIS sits under central bank law.
Common problems that hurt a home loan application
- Late payments in the last 12 months. Even one overdue instalment on a car loan or card shows. Bring every account up to date; the record improves month by month.
- PTPTN arrears. In July 2019 BNM said PTPTN borrowers listed in CCRIS should not be blocked from financing a first home, but that each bank decides. Get your repayments current and keep the receipts.
- High credit card balances. Card debt adds to the commitments banks count in your DSR. Paying balances down, or closing cards you do not use, can help, but do it early: lenders report each month and updates appear by the 10th of the following month.
- Being a guarantor. If you guaranteed a relative’s or a business loan and that borrower defaults, the lender can call on you. Tell the bank about guarantees you have given, and check how they appear on your reports.
- Many new applications. Pending and approved applications from the last 12 months are visible, so new card or personal loan applications just before a home loan make a bank ask whether more debt is coming. Avoid them in the months before you apply.
- Joint accounts. A joint loan shows on both borrowers’ records, so a co-borrower’s late payments affect you too. See my guide to joint home loans.
- Special attention accounts or legal action. Resolve these first. If repayments are hard, talk to the lender and to AKPK, which counsels at no charge; see missed home loan payments.
How long records stay
| Record | How long it shows | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Repayment conduct on each CCRIS account | The last 12 months; past arrears stay visible in that window after you settle them | BNM CCRIS page and FAQ |
| Credit applications in CCRIS | Pending and approved applications from the last 12 months; rejected ones do not appear | BNM CCRIS FAQ |
| A loan you have fully settled | The lender must update it by its next reporting date, not later than the 10th of the following month | BNM CCRIS FAQ |
| Bankruptcy status held by a registered agency | Cannot be disclosed more than two years after discharge | Ministry of Finance, Registrar’s FAQ |
Getting ready to buy in JB?
Tell me your budget, the area you like and when you plan to apply for a loan. I’ll shortlist homes that fit and share the documents banks usually ask buyers for, so you can prepare while you view.
WhatsApp JasonFixing an error on your report
- Download and check two to three months before you apply. Compare every account with your statements, and collect settlement letters for loans you have paid off.
- Wrong personal details. Use the “Verify” function in eCCRIS and attach supporting documents, such as a copy of your MyKad.
- Wrong account details. Write to the lender that reported it, with proof. BNM’s FAQ estimates up to 14 working days for feedback.
- If the lender does not act. Lenders must correct wrong information within a reasonable time. BNM does not change data itself, but it can intervene at your request when you show documents.
- A genuine dispute. If you dispute interest or charges, the loan stays on the record while it is outstanding, but you can ask BNM for a “Special Name” tag so that lenders must request your report from BNM during credit checks.
- Agency reports. Send the agency the lender’s letter; complaints go to the Registrar Office at the Ministry of Finance.
What banks look at alongside your credit report
- Debt service ratio. Your monthly debt repayments, including the new instalment, divided by the income the bank accepts. BNM sets no single DSR cap; banks use their own. See why housing loans get rejected and how DSR works.
- Income. Payslips, EPF and tax records; business owners need more (see the self-employed guide).
- The property and its valuation. The bank lends against the lower of price and valuation; see when the valuation is lower than the price.
- How many housing loans you already have. BNM caps financing at 70% from the third outstanding housing loan; see my second home loan guide.
- Your age and the tenure. See home loan tenure and age limits.
Size your budget with how much house you can afford and the home loan calculator, and once approved, read the bank’s letter of offer clause by clause. My JB home loan guide for 2026 covers the wider process.
Foreign and Singapore-based buyers
CCRIS only holds credit reported by Malaysian lenders. With no Malaysian loan or card, your report will be thin or empty. That is not a black mark, but the bank then relies on your payslips, tax returns, bank statements and, where available, a home-country credit report.
- Expats already borrowing in Malaysia. Your Malaysian cards and loans are reported too. Without a MyKad, register for eCCRIS at an AKPK kiosk or through BNMLINK.
- Singapore-based buyers. Your Singapore borrowing will not show in CCRIS, but Malaysian lenders still ask about all your commitments, including any home loan in Singapore. See financing a JB property from Singapore.
- Buyers from Indonesia, India, China and elsewhere. Which lenders consider non-resident borrowers, and on what terms, is covered in my guide to home loans for foreigners in Malaysia. A Malaysian account helps; see opening a bank account as a foreigner.
Where to buy once your finances are ready
- Mount Austin: popular with young families.
- Skudai, Tampoi and Kempas: established areas with many subsale homes.
- Tebrau, Setia Indah and Molek: mature neighbourhoods near malls and schools.
- Kulai and Senai: lower entry prices near the airport and industrial parks.
- JB Sentral and Bukit Chagar: city-centre condos near the RTS Link station.
Compare them on my JB property map.
More Johor living guides: First home in JB · Using EPF to buy a house · How the OPR moves your instalment · Refinancing a home loan
Frequently asked questions
How do I check my CCRIS report?
Register for Bank Negara’s eCCRIS portal and view it online at no fee. Malaysians with a MyKad and internet banking register online; others register at an AKPK kiosk or through BNMLINK.
Is CCRIS a blacklist?
No. Bank Negara says CCRIS is a factual record of loans and repayments, not a blacklist. It does not score borrowers; each bank applies its own credit policy.
How long do late payments stay on CCRIS?
CCRIS shows 12 months of repayment conduct for each account, and past arrears stay visible within that window even after you settle them. Keeping every account up to date improves the record month by month.
Can I get a home loan with PTPTN arrears?
Possibly. In July 2019 Bank Negara said PTPTN borrowers listed in CCRIS should not be blocked from financing a first home, but each bank decides. Bring the repayments up to date and keep the receipts before you apply.
How do I correct a wrong entry on my credit report?
Flag wrong personal details through eCCRIS with documents. Wrong account details must be corrected by the reporting lender, so write to it with proof; Bank Negara can intervene if you provide documents.
Do foreigners have a CCRIS record?
Only if they have borrowed from a Malaysian lender. Otherwise the record is thin or empty, and banks rely on income documents, bank statements and, where available, a home-country credit report.
Planning to buy with a home loan?
Tell me your budget, the areas you like and when you expect to apply for financing. I will shortlist homes that fit, with recorded and asking prices. I don’t arrange loans or give financial advice. You can also book an appointment for viewings, or a Zoom consultation if you are abroad.
Sources: Bank Negara Malaysia, Central Credit Reference Information System (CCRIS), accessed November 2026; Bank Negara Malaysia, CCRIS and eCCRIS FAQ, accessed November 2026; Ministry of Finance, Registrar Office of Credit Reporting Agencies, FAQ, accessed November 2026; Ministry of Finance (Bernama), “10 credit reporting agencies renew registration for 2026-2027”, 20 October 2026; PDP Commissioner, Personal Data Protection Act 2010 (Act 709), reprint as at 15 September 2026, sections 3, 4, 7, 30, 31 and 34; The Star (Bernama), on PTPTN borrowers listed in CCRIS and first-home loans, 11 July 2019
Jason Lim, REN 84424, IQI Realty Sdn. Bhd. E (1) 1584/6. General information checked on 12 November 2026, not financial or legal advice. Credit reporting rules and access channels change; confirm with Bank Negara Malaysia (BNMLINK), AKPK, the Registrar Office of Credit Reporting Agencies and your bank before you apply.