Equifax Gets RBI Nod to Start Credit Information Business
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2009-10/374 · issued 31 Mar 2010 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI has issued a Certificate of Registration to Equifax Credit Information Services Pvt. Ltd., allowing it to commence credit information operations. Banks and financial institutions can now engage with Equifax as a licensed credit bureau.
The rule, in the simplest words
Banks and lenders can now access credit data from Equifax, a licensed credit bureau.
Equifax has been granted a Certificate of Registration by RBI to start credit information business.
Banks and lenders must update their records with Equifax's contact details for future data sharing or queries.
How it plays out — a real example
A credit & lending officer in Mumbai, Mr. Kumar, is excited to integrate Equifax's credit information system into their bank's existing software. This will help them make more informed decisions about lending to customers, reducing the risk of bad loans. With Equifax's data, Mr. Kumar can now access a wider range of credit information, making it easier to assess the creditworthiness of potential borrowers.
What changed
On March 26, 2010, RBI granted Equifax Credit Information Services Pvt. Ltd. a Certificate of Registration to begin credit information business. This was communicated via circular dated March 31, 2010, following a similar registration issued to Experian Credit Information Company of India Pvt. Ltd. earlier that month.
What it means for you
Banks and lenders now have an additional licensed credit bureau to access credit data, which can enhance competition and improve credit assessment. This may lead to better pricing and service options for credit information products.
What you must do
Acknowledge receipt of this circular as instructed.
Update your records with Equifax's contact details for future data sharing or queries.
Prepare your systems to integrate with Equifax for credit information reporting and retrieval.
Review your existing credit bureau agreements to ensure compliance with RBI's licensing framework.
Who it affects
All Scheduled Commercial Banks (excluding RRBs), All India Financial Institutions
❓ Common questions
What is the significance of this Certificate of Registration?
It legally authorizes Equifax to operate as a credit information company in India, meaning banks can share and access credit data through them under RBI's regulatory framework.
Does this affect my bank's existing credit bureau arrangements?
No, existing arrangements with other bureaus remain valid. This simply adds Equifax as a new licensed option for credit information services.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2009-10/374
DBOD.No.DL.BC.83/20.16.042/2009-10
March 31, 2010
Chairmen / Chief Executive Officers,
All Scheduled Commercial Banks (excluding Regional Rural Banks) &
All India Financial Institutions
Dear Sir,
Grant of ‘Certificate of Registration’ -
For commencing business of credit information –
Equifax Credit Information Services Private Ltd.
Please refer to our circular DBOD.No.DL.15214 /20.16.042/2009-10 dated March 04, 2010 advising the issue of ‘Certificate of Registration’ to Experian Credit Information Company of India Private Ltd.
2. We further advise that, on March 26, 2010, we have issued ‘Certificate of Registration’ to Equifax Credit Information Services Private Ltd. to commence the business of credit information. The address of the company is as follows:
Equifax Credit Information Services Pvt. Ltd.
2nd Floor, Centre Point
Junction of S.V.Road & Juhu Road
Santacruz (West)
Mumbai – 400 054
Telephone No.: 022-42375600
Fax No.: 022-42375601
Please acknowledge receipt.
Yours faithfully,
(Vinay Baijal)
Chief General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2009-10/374 · issued 31 Mar 2010. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Prepare your systems to integrate with Equifax for credit information reporting and retrieval.
📜 Compliance
Acknowledge receipt of this circular as instructed.
Update your records with Equifax's contact details for future data sharing or queries.
Review your existing credit bureau agreements to ensure compliance with RBI's licensing framework.
Grouped from the action items above — a single circular may involve more than one team.
Worked example & action-note template
Example: if you are a Compliance officer at a bank this circular applies to (All Scheduled Commercial Banks (excluding RRBs), All India Financial Institutions), your first concrete step on “Equifax Gets RBI Nod to Start Credit Information Business” is: “Acknowledge receipt of this circular as instructed.” (RBI issued this 31 Mar 2010).
Circular: RBI/2009-10/374 -- Equifax Gets RBI Nod to Start Credit Information Business
Issued: 31 Mar 2010
Action required: Acknowledge receipt of this circular as instructed.
Action required: Update your records with Equifax's contact details for future data sharing or queries.
Action required: Prepare your systems to integrate with Equifax for credit information reporting and retrieval.
Action required: Review your existing credit bureau agreements to ensure compliance with RBI's licensing framework.
Owner: ____________ Target date: ____________
Board/committee approval needed? Y / N
Evidence filed in compliance register on: ____________
Built only from this circular’s own published fields — not legal advice; always confirm against the official RBI source.
💬 Banker Discussion
Discuss this circular with fellow bankers — reply, upvote what helps, report what doesn’t belong. Be professional; no client data. Views are the commenter’s own, not BankPulse’s.
BankPulse Compliance Evidence Pack — generated 03 Aug 2026 · status cross-checked against RBI’s official withdrawal register (refreshed weekly). Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=5560&Mode=0 — Plain-English summary by BankPulse (bankpulse.ai), reviewed by our expert reviewer, CA Amit Jain. Independent platform, not affiliated with the Reserve Bank of India; is our own plain-English paraphrase, not RBI’s original wording.
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