Credit Score in the Philippines: How to Check and Improve Yours

Let's say you're applying for a loan to start a business. You're confident you'd get approved because you’ve met all the qualifications and submitted all the requirements. Your income documents also prove you can repay the loan.

But much to your surprise, the bank denies your application. So you wonder, “What could be wrong?”

Well, banks and other financial institutions just can’t lend money to anyone without basis. They consider a person’s credit score in the Philippines before approving or rejecting a credit card or loan application.

That’s why keeping track of your credit score is crucial. Read on to better understand what credit score is, how it works, and why you need to check yours.

What is a Credit Score and How is It Computed?

Your credit score is a three-digit number representing your creditworthiness or ability to pay off a loan based on the information in your credit report. In short, this number can make or break your finances.

Is there a credit score in the Philippines? There’s no unified or standard system of credit reporting here like what they have in Canada or the U.S. But the Credit Information Corporation is in charge of credit scoring in the Philippines.

Credit bureaus calculate credit scores^[1]based on five criteria. Take note of these factors when improving your credit score:

Credit payment history: How regularly you pay your debts, how much you repay, and whether you've paid on time or not
The amount owed or credit utilization ratio: How much of your credit limit you spend. If you max out your credit card, you're likely to miss your loan repayments in the future and get a lower credit score.
Length of credit history: The average age of your credit card and loan accounts and the length of time since they were used
Types of credit used: Whether you've availed of various credit types such as auto loans, mortgages, and credit cards. This information gives lenders an idea that you can manage different credit types responsibly.
New credit: How often you open new accounts. Applying for multiple credit cards or loans at once can hurt your credit score.

What Factors are Excluded from Your Credit Score?

Contrary to popular belief, the following information is not included when computing your credit score.

Income
Assets
Age
Gender
Affiliations (religion, race, ethnicity, political affiliation, etc.)
Non-credit banking information (savings accounts, checking accounts, investment accounts, debit cards, prepaid cards, and other non-credit bank accounts)

What is a Good Credit Score?

A credit score in the Philippines ranges from 300 to 850, with 850 being the highest rating. The higher your credit score, the better.

Landing in the 650 to 699 or 700 to 759 range is pretty good, too. Anything lower than this is a poor or bad credit score.

Banks, insurance companies, and other financial institutions use the credit score, among other things, to assess a borrower's credit risk.^[2]

What is the Difference Between a Credit Score, Credit Report, and Credit History?

Your credit score, credit report, and credit history are interrelated yet different from each other.

A credit report is a comprehensive summary of all financial transactions, including loans and utility subscriptions. It contains credit information such as balances and missed payments, as well as personal data such as name, TIN and SSS/GSIS number, home address, and employer. It's used as the basis for computing a person's credit score in the Philippines.

Meanwhile, credit history is a record of one's ability to repay debts over the years. It describes how you use credit and how responsible you are as a borrower.

Further reading:

Credit Reporting and Scoring System in the Philippines: How Does It Work?

credit score in the philippines - credit information corporation

Created through Republic Act 9510 or the Credit Information System Act, the Credit Information Corporation (CIC)^[3] is the only centralized registry of credit data in the Philippines. The CIC is authorized to collect, consolidate, and share credit information with all financial institutions in the country.

Banks, cooperatives, insurance firms, and telecom companies submit their clients' credit histories to the CIC, which then collates the information into detailed credit reports. Authorized lenders can access credit reports from the CIC.

The CIC has three accredited credit bureaus or special accessing entities that compute credit scores in the Philippines:

CIBI Information, Inc.
CRIF Philippines
TransUnion Philippines

Why is a Good Credit Score Important?

Banks consider a variety of factors when deciding whether to lend money to someone or not. Apart from the financial information submitted via a loan or credit card application, banks also use a borrower's credit report and credit score to gauge their ability to pay back a debt.

To gain the bank's trust, you must prove your commitment and responsibility to pay back what you owe on time. Use a good credit score in the Philippines as your proof.

Here are more benefits of a good credit score:

1. Easier Approval for Loans or Credit Cards

With a high credit score, you can enjoy easy credit access because lenders will see you as a reliable, trustworthy borrower. Your loan or credit card applications will get approved faster than those with poor credit scores.

Although it doesn’t guarantee loan or credit card approval, a good credit score increases your chances of being approved. Thus, you can send in your application with more confidence.

2. Higher Loan Amounts and Lower Interest Rates

Credit reports enable lenders to make fair and objective decisions when processing loan and credit card applications. If you're found to be creditworthy based on your credit report, you'll qualify for higher loan amounts and credit card limits with lower interest rates. The lower you pay in interest, the more money you’ll save, and the quicker you’ll pay off your dues.

3. Lower Insurance Costs

Your credit score may also affect how much premium you’ll pay for your car or life insurance. You can get a discount on insurance rates with a good credit score, while a bad credit score can cost you higher premiums.

4. Better Deals on Property Leases

The importance of a credit score in the Philippines goes beyond credit cards and loans. It also matters when negotiating better deals, such as renting a property. If you know you have a high credit score, you can use that to negotiate a one-month advance payment rather than the usual two month-deposit.

5. Higher Chances of Getting Hired

Your potential employers may conduct background checks and even avail of the employment history check service from credit bureaus in the Philippines. They may also look specifically at your credit score or credit report to determine how responsible you are as a potential employee.

How to Check Your Credit Score in the Philippines

Filipinos can get their credit report for a minimal fee from either the CIC or one of its accredited credit bureaus.

How to know your credit score in the Philippines, though? To check your credit score, you can get a credit report from CIBI Information Inc., which is currently the only consumer credit report with credit score information.

credit score in the philippines - how to check credit score

Go to the Credit Information Corporation’s website at creditinfo.gov.ph.
Click the Services tab on the homepage and select Get Your Credit Report.
You'll need to present a valid ID (passport, driver's license, etc.) and provide your personal information (full name, birth date, and contact details).
Review the information you entered and confirm your registration.
After receiving the email notification of your successful registration, select your preferred date of appointment and enter the required personal information.
Wait for the confirmation email with the details of your online character verification appointment via Google Meet.
Log in to Google Meet on your scheduled online appointment with the CIBI in-house verifier.
Pay for the credit report through the CIBI payment channels.
CIBI will email your credit report with your credit score.

How to Improve Your Credit Score in the Philippines

Although improving your credit score can’t be achieved overnight, the little things you do today can truly help. It’s never too late, and you can start being responsible with your finances now to benefit from it in the future.

1. Build Good Credit at the Onset

Got your first credit card? Make sure to use it right. Swipe responsibly because your credit card activities make up a considerable chunk of your credit score. It will also be the basis of whether or not you’ll get approved for future loans.

2. Always Pay on Time

Pay your bills, credit cards, or loans early or on the due date. It doesn’t help your credit score if you miss your due dates. Aside from the late fees, your credit score also takes a hit.

To never miss a due date, download your bank’s mobile banking app or a money management app to keep track of your due dates and payments. You can also enroll your bills in an auto-debit arrangement, so you don’t need to pay your bills one by one.

3. Don’t Max Out Your Credit Card

Do you have a six-digit credit limit? Don’t take it as a sign to overspend. If you max out your credit card, you won’t just have a huge credit card bill—you’ll also be flagged as someone at risk of taking on too much debt and having difficulty repaying.

So keep track of your credit card spending and only use it for emergencies or big-ticket items you can pay in 0% interest monthly installments. You can also use it for paying your bills to earn rewards points or cashback, but make sure to pay your bill in full.

4. Avoid Multiple or Successive Loan or Credit Card Applications

The more, the merrier? Not really, especially when it comes to credit card or loan applications. If you get rejected, don’t go to the next bank to apply for another.

Not only does this make you look desperate for credit, but successive applications in a short period can hit your credit score. Space out your loan applications strategically. Better yet, settle your existing loans before applying for a new one.

5. Don’t Default on Credit Cards or Loans

A default occurs when you stop making payments on a debt, like your credit card or a loan. Defaulting on your credit card or loan payments reduces your credit score drastically.

If you fail to pay your credit card or loan for a given period (usually up to 180 days), banks or loan providers will close the account and seize the asset (for secured loans). They will endorse or sell your account to a collections agency.

Credit Score in the Philippines FAQs

1. Can you restart your credit score?

Sadly, you can’t restart or wipe your credit score clean. While you can’t delete records of your financial activities, you can improve your credit score over time to make it good as new.

2. How quickly does your credit score improve?

It depends on your financial situation, commitment, and consistency. It can take anywhere from a month to several years.

3. What is the fastest way to improve my credit score?

Re-establishing a good credit score takes time and careful planning. Pay your credit card or loan balances to boost your credit score. Increase your credit limit by reducing your credit card use, making multiple payments, and paying more than the minimum amount due.

Do this consistently, and you’ll see a positive change in your credit score.

Final Thoughts

Even if you’re not in the market for a credit card or a loan, having a good credit score in the Philippines can have a significant positive impact. A good credit score indicates financial reliability and responsibility, which is why financial institutions, employers, and even landlords frequently check it.

So make it a habit to monitor your credit report and credit score to see if you need to improve them. Doing so will also allow you to correct any errors, raising your chances of getting approved for a housing loan, car loan, personal loan, or credit card.

Sources:

^[1] How to Check and Monitor Your Credit (Time, 2020)
^[2] Credit Risk (Investopedia, 2020)
^[3] Credit Information Corporation (CIC) official website

What is Credit Score in the Philippines and How to Check It?

Venus Zoleta