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What is the Centrale des Crédits aux Particuliers?

Central Personal Credit Office

Central Personal Credit Office: Understand How Your Credits Are Tracked in Belgium

The Central Personal Credit Office, managed by the National Bank of Belgium, is a key tool in preventing over-indebtedness. It centralises information on your consumer and mortgage credits and any payment defaults that may affect your borrowing capacity.

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A Central Register at the Heart of Consumer Credit

Discover how the Central Personal Credit Office (Centrale des Crédits aux Particuliers) works and how it can impact your future credit applications in 2026.

  • Overview of all your consumer and mortgage credits
  • Registration of payment delays and defaults
  • Free right of access and correction for every consumer

The Central Personal Credit Office (CCP) is an entity within the National Bank of Belgium whose mission is to prevent over-indebtedness. It does so by providing lenders with reliable information on the credits you already have and on any payment incidents linked to those credits. Before granting you a new loan, banks and credit institutions are required to consult this database to assess your solvency.

For consumers, understanding what is recorded, for how long, and how to exercise your rights with the CCP in 2026 is essential. A well-managed credit record can make all the difference when you apply for new financing, whether for a personal loan, a car loan or a mortgage credit.

Central Personal Credit Office

Below, discover the competencies of the CCP, the distinction between its positive and negative aspects, and the free right of access you have over all the data recorded in your name.

Competencies of the Central Personal Credit Office

The National Bank of Belgium records in the Central Personal Credit Office all data related to consumer credits and mortgage credits taken out for exclusively or predominantly private purposes, as well as notices of collective debt settlement. This allows lenders to obtain a clear, centralised view of your overall credit situation.

Before concluding any new credit contract, the lender is legally required to consult the CCP to verify your financial situation and your solvency. In addition, at least once a year, the lender must reassess your solvency based on a new consultation of the CCP. This annual reassessment is designed to ensure that your level of indebtedness remains compatible with your income and your personal situation.

The CCP’s response to a lender is always aggregated. It only mentions the number of credit contracts and the total amounts recorded in your name, without going into unnecessary detail. Any consumer who takes out a registered consumer or mortgage credit must be formally informed of this registration via a specific clause included in the credit contract.

Positive and Negative Aspects of the Central Personal Credit Office

The Central Personal Credit Office has two distinct dimensions: a positive aspect and a negative aspect. Both are taken into account when a lender assesses your profile. Knowing how they work helps you better understand the decisions taken on your credit applications in 2026.

Positive Aspect: Your Active Credits

The positive aspect of the CCP lists all consumer and mortgage credit contracts you have taken out in Belgium. Every lender is obliged to transmit the data relating to each new credit contract to the CCP within two working days after its conclusion.

These registrations show that you have been granted credit and that the lender has confidence in your solvency. As long as your contracts are honoured, they contribute to building a credible and transparent profile vis-à-vis financial institutions.

In the event of default, the data relating to the credit contract are retained for 3 months and 8 days after the end date of the contract. This period allows the system to maintain a coherent historical record of your credit commitments.

Negative Aspect: Payment Delays and Defaults

The negative aspect of the CCP records payment delays and defaults associated with your credits. A payment default is recorded as soon as the amount due has been outstanding for more than 3 months. This information may significantly influence the lender’s decision on any new credit request.

If you regularise the situation, the CCP does not erase the record immediately. The data are kept for an additional 12 months from the date of regularisation of the credit contract. This period provides lenders with a recent view of your behaviour in the event of payment difficulties.

Being registered in the negative section does not automatically mean that every credit application will be refused, but it remains a strong signal. It is therefore crucial to react quickly in the event of difficulties and, where necessary, to seek advice to avoid long-term negative consequences on your credit record.

Consumer’s Right of Access in 2026

As a consumer — or as a person providing security (guarantor) — you have free, unlimited access to all data recorded in your name with the National Bank of Belgium. You can also request the correction or deletion of any incorrect information, without charge. This right of access ensures that your credit record remains accurate and up to date.

This personal right of access can be exercised in several ways: online, using your electronic identity card, by post, by sending a double-sided copy of your identity card to the National Bank of Belgium, or at the counters of the National Bank, on presentation of your identity card. Whichever method you choose, you retain full control over the information held about you.

Any request for correction or deletion of erroneous data must be accompanied by supporting documents proving the validity of your request (for example, proof of payment, a termination letter, or a settlement agreement). By regularly checking your situation with the CCP in 2026, you ensure that nothing unjustly penalises your access to future credit.

Key Advantages of the Central Personal Credit Office for Borrowers

Although it may seem restrictive at first glance, the Central Personal Credit Office offers several real advantages for consumers. Used correctly, it becomes an ally in preserving your financial stability and protecting you from excessive debt in 2026 and beyond.

Protection Against Over-Indebtedness

By requiring lenders to check your existing credits and payment history, the CCP helps prevent you from taking on excessive debt that would be difficult to manage in the long term.

Transparency of Your Credit Profile

The CCP provides a clear and centralised view of your credits for all lenders. This transparency can play in your favour if you manage your credits responsibly and avoid payment incidents.

Full Control Over Your Data

Through your free right of access and correction, you keep full control over the information stored in your name. You can update or rectify your data to reflect your true financial situation.

FAQ: Central Personal Credit Office and Your Credits

No. Consulting the CCP is a legal obligation for lenders and does not in itself penalise you. What matters is the content of your record: the number of credits, the total outstanding amounts, and the possible presence of negative registrations due to payment defaults.

You should contact the National Bank of Belgium by exercising your right of access and correction. Send the necessary supporting documents (proof of payment, contract termination, etc.) and request the update or deletion of the incorrect information free of charge.

A negative registration is a warning signal for lenders, but it does not automatically mean a refusal. Each institution applies its own risk policy. However, regularising your situation as quickly as possible and providing proof of payment significantly improves your chances in future applications.

Plan Your Next Credit with a Clear Vision of Your CCP Record

Make sure your Central Personal Credit Office data works in your favour before applying for new financing in 2026.

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