07
July
2021
|
10:00
Europe/Amsterdam

TransUnion CIBIL and CSC Partnership Benefits 1.5 Lakh Consumers in First Year

72% of credit-conscious consumers now hail from small towns and cities

44% of consumers checking their CIBIL Score and Credit Report at a CSC showed a score improvement within six month

MUMBAI, July 7, 2021: TransUnion CIBIL and Digital India’s Common Service Centers (CSCs) have celebrated the first year of their partnership by providing over 150,000 consumers, primarily from rural India, with easy access to their CIBIL Score and Credit Report. Announced in July 2020, the collaboration helps consumers check their CIBIL Score and Report at Common Service Centers (CSCs).

Fostering trust through consumer awareness across rural India

Aimed at increasing credit consciousness in rural and semi-urban areas, 72%* of the consumers who accessed their CIBIL Score and Credit Report at the CSCs hailed from non-tier 1, 2, and 3 cities. The pan-India partnership saw the largest count of consumers opting to check their CIBIL Score and Reports come from the north-zone (33%), while the east, west and south zones contributed 27%, 25% and 15%, respectively.

While 81% of these consumers had a 3-digit numeric CIBIL Score, 19% were not eligible for a CIBIL Score as they may not have any credit history on the consumer bureau. Additionally, out of those who were eligible for a 3-digit numeric CIBIL Score, 62% had a Score of 720+; 18% had a score ranging from 680-719 and 20% had a score between 300 and 679. The average CIBIL Score was 721.

Demographic analysis revealed that 68% of these consumers were Millennials (born 1982 - 1996), 22% were non-Millennials (this includes Gen X and older), while 9% were Gen Z (born after 1996).

Table 1.1 – Regional split of consumer base

Region

Percentage of the total consumer base checking CIBIL Score and Reports via CSC

Average CIBIL Score

North

33%

724

South

15%

724

East

27%

716

West

25%

720

Empowered consumers can transact with confidence

This pioneer collaboration has enabled consumers to access their credit profiles, understand the importance of their CIBIL Scores and Credit Reports, and empowered them to utilize formal credit opportunities. State-level data analysis indicated that the highest number of consumers who used this facility came from Uttar Pradesh (16%), followed by Maharashtra (12%) and Haryana (7%).

Table 1.2 – Top 5 states of credit consumers who opted for their CIBIL Scores and Credit Reports from CSCs

Top 5 states

Percentage of the total consumer base

Uttar Pradesh

16%

Maharashtra

12%

Haryana

7%

Bihar

6%

West Bengal

5%

Others

54%

Credit profile awareness directly proportional to improvement in CIBIL Score

Speaking on these findings, Sujata Ahlawat, Vice President and Head, Direct-to-Consumer Interactive, TransUnion CIBIL, said: “TransUnion CIBIL and CSC are focused on building credit awareness to drive the financial inclusion of every consumer across the country. Through this collaboration, we aim to reach out to the last-mile consumers in regional and rural areas, providing them with easy access to their CIBIL Scores and Credit Reports at their local CSCs. Within just one year of its operation, we have seen an increase in consumer awareness as well as how consumers are using these opportunities to meet their financial requirements.”

Insights show that consumers have worked towards improving their credit profile within six months of checking their CIBIL Score and Credit Report, with 44% of respondents showcasing an improvement in their CIBIL Score, out of which 46% improved their score by more than 20 points. This improvement in credit behaviour may be attributed to consumers adopting more credit-conscious habits such as paying their credit dues on time, availing credit opportunities with care and monitoring their credit report and score regularly.

Table 1.3 – Improved CIBIL Scores within 6 months of first checking

Improvement in CIBIL Score (points)

Percentage of consumers who improved their score

1-10

31%

11-20

23%

>20

46%

 

 

This indicates that a large percentage of consumers who access their score are aware of the importance of their credit profiles and the role of their CIBIL Score and Credit Report in helping them get access to credit, and how improving it can lead to wider financial opportunities.

Insights on action taken by consumers within 90 days of checking their credit profile showed that 26% of all consumers went on to apply for a new credit line, while 39% of them went on to enquire for a loan or credit card.

Insights based on product type show that there is a marked preference in demand for personal loans and consumer-durable loans across age groups and regions.

Table 1.6 – Product preferences in different age groups

Product

Gen-Z

Mill

Non-Mill

Grand Total

Personal Loan

45%

34%

21%

32%

Consumer Durable Loan

22%

21%

16%

20%

Gold Loan

3%

9%

18%

11%

Credit Card

9%

10%

8%

9%

Others

21%

26%

36%

27%

Grand Total

100%

100%

100%

100%

“The type of credit being availed by consumers in rural and semi-urban regions showcases their evolving needs and requirements. This data also reflects the growth of India’s credit market which now provides access to various credit opportunities, across both secured and unsecured products, even in non-tier 1, 2 and 3 cities, towns and villages”, explains Sujata.

Growth in credit activity as an indicator of financial wellbeing

Commenting on the growth seen in credit consciousness and awareness at the grassroots level, Dr Dinesh Tyagi, MD, CSC e-Governance Services India said: “Low awareness about credit health in rural communities has been a cause of concern as these consumers are unable to access the financial opportunities that come with having a good CIBIL Score. Our joint effort is aimed at bridging this gap and helping rural consumers become financially confident and credit-savvy. It gives us immense happiness to see the fruits of this collaboration come alive.”

“Increased credit consciousness leads to positive credit behavior as consumers understand the impact of their credit activity on their CIBIL Score and access to finance. With many credit institutions offering better terms and conditions and lower rates of interest for borrowers with a higher CIBIL score, it is advantageous for consumers to monitor and maintain a healthy credit profile. TransUnion CIBIL is committed to ensuring that each consumer is reliably and safely represented in the marketplace so that they can access economic opportunities easily,” concludes Sujata.

>> Visit your nearest Common Service Center to get your CIBIL Score and Report today.

>> Learn more about the CIBIL Score and Report at www.cibil.com

*All statistics are for the period July 2020 to March 2021.

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About TransUnion CIBIL

India’s pioneer information and insights company, TransUnion CIBIL makes trust possible in the modern economy. We do this by providing a comprehensive picture of each person so they can be reliably and safely represented in the marketplace. As a result, businesses and consumers can transact with confidence and achieve great things. We call this Information for Good. ® TransUnion CIBIL provides solutions that help create economic opportunity, great experiences and personal empowerment for millions of people in India. We serve the financial sector as well as MSMEs, corporate and individual consumers. Our customers in India include banks, financial institutions, NBFCs, housing finance companies, microfinance companies and insurance firms.

About TransUnion CIBIL – Consumer Interactive

Consumer Interactive is the direct-to-consumer division of TransUnion CIBIL, India’s largest credit information company with one of the country’s most comprehensive collections of consumer information. Our mission is to help Indian consumers access and understand the opportunities that lead to a higher quality of life by providing them with the means to appreciate and manage their credit. This is achieved through a confluence of data and internet-based tools that provide consumers the most accessible, accurate credit information and promote financial literacy, inclusion and protection. We believe in the power of information to help individuals make better and smarter decisions so they can achieve their personal financial goals while contributing to the development of a stronger economy.

We call this Information for Good. www.cibil.com

About Common Service Centers

Common Services Centers (CSCs) are a strategic cornerstone of the Digital India programme. They are the access points for delivery of various digital services to villages in India, thereby contributing to a digitally and financially inclusive society. CSCs are more than service delivery points in rural India. They are positioned as change agents, promoting rural entrepreneurship and building rural capacities and livelihoods. They are enablers of community participation and collective action for engendering social change through a bottom-up approach with key focus on the rural citizen.

CSC e- Governance Service India Limited is a Special Purpose Vehicle (CSC SPV) incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956 by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, to monitor the implementation of Common Services Centers Scheme (CSCs). It provides a centralized collaborative framework for delivery to services to citizens through CSCs, besides ensuring systematic viability and sustainability of system.