What is CCRIS, CTOS, credit score and how it affects your future | #LetsTalkMoney | BigPay

If you’re in the market for your first home, you might’ve heard the terms CCRIS, CTOS and credit score being mentioned here and there.

But how do credit scores really work, and how does it affect your ability to get a loan for your home purchase?

Well, no worries - here’s all you need to know about CCRIS, CTOS and credit scores, as well as how to make them work for you in your home-buying process!

Firstly, what is a CCRIS report?

A Central Credit Reference Information System (CCRIS) report is an essential step in getting a loan approved in Malaysia, especially if you’re going for your first home.

Simply put, your CCRIS report is your financial health report card to give loan providers an assessment of your suitability to borrow money from them!

Where does the CCRIS system gather information to generate your CCRIS report? Well, they come from various places where you perform regular monthly transactions with.

These can include:

• Banks

• Insurance providers

• Payment instrument issuers

• Credit leasing companies

• Government agencies

• Private utility companies

Think of it as a big picture of your financial history. Your CCRIS report allows financial institutions (such as the bank where you’re applying for your home loan) to decide whether you’re eligible for a home loan or not.

Okay great, now what’s CTOS?

While CCRIS is a system provided by Bank Negara Malaysia, CTOS is a credit reporting agency that provides credit reporting for individuals and financial institutions.

Similarly to CCRIS, they’re widely used by financial institutions to determine your creditworthiness before determining whether you’re eligible for a loan.

While we often say “What’s your CTOS?”, it’s a shorthanded way of asking about your CTOS score on your MyCTOS Report. Your MyCTOS report is, of course, generated by CTOS themselves.

Your MyCTOS report score is generated from various information sources such as:

• National Registration Department

• Registrar of Societies

• Malaysia Insolvency Department

• Companies Commission Malaysia (CCM)

• Publications of legal proceedings and notices in newspapers and government gazettes

Why do banks need both my CCRIS and MyCTOS reports?

For the banks that you’re applying for your home loan from, your reports should ideally give them confidence that you are financially savvy and well-managed. They will also help with the final credit score that the bank will assign to you.

This allows them to approve your home loan as you’re indicated as a person who pays back monthly dues and debts dutifully without any problems!

How do I get my final credit score?

While both your CCRIS and MyCTOS reports give a good indicator of your financial history and money management, it's important to note that the reports themselves are not your final credit score.

Your final credit score is determined solely by the bank or lender that you’re applying for the loan from.

This is important to remember as they assess every borrower based on a wider range of factors apart from your CCRIS and MyCTOS reports. That said, your CCRIS and MyCTOS reports do contribute a major part to that assessment.

They will also look for positive behaviours such as:

• Regular and timely bill or debt payments: This is the most important factor when it comes to determining your credit score, so make sure you pay them on time!

• Amount owed monthly: Banks tend to have a negative impression on credit cards or loans that are at the maximum limit, which can indicate poor money management on your end!

• Length and pattern of credit history: The longer your history of using credit facilities (such as a loan or credit card), the better.

• The types of loans you’re holding: This is how banks assess your usage and management of credit and loans. Home loans and car loans are often classified as secured loans, while credit cards and personal loans are considered unsecured loans. A good mix of these loans that are well-managed is great for your final credit score.

  
  

For a fee, you can get a more detailed and comprehensive report, and for a limited time you can get RM5 OFF using the code 5BIGPAY*!

Click here to get your CTOS report.

*Terms and conditions apply.

How will this affect my homebuying future?

If you're like most people, your ability to secure a loan from a bank will be the final hurdle to your home-purchasing journey. This means that if your CCRIS, MyCTOS and eventual credit score aren't favourable to a bank, your loan application will be rejected and you'll be unable to secure the property.

It's also important to remember that a loan application rejection will show on your CCRIS reports for the next 12 months!

However, it's known that different banks and financial institutions have different ways of assessing your credit score, so keep a positive note, speak to more banks and weigh your options!

Even if you're not financially ready for your first home, it's incredibly useful to understand the mechanics behind how banks assess your financial credibility and for you to work on improving them. While you're at it, it's also important to master the skill of knowing how to budget right, avoid the pitfalls of bad debt or even mastering the core money skills that will set you for life!

If you're interested to learn more about all things financial wellbeing and how-tos, leave a comment below and we'll get right back to you!