The Credit Bureau (Biroul de Credit, BC) is the private institution that centralises the payment behaviour of Romanians with credit. Founded in 2004 by Romania's largest banks, it operates under NBR supervision, in line with Government Ordinance 99/2006 and Law 677/2001, plus EU Regulation 2016/679 (GDPR). When you apply for a loan at BCR, BT, ING, Raiffeisen or any serious non-bank lender, the first thing the analyst does is a Credit Bureau query.

The system holds nearly 31 million active records for about 6.4 million Romanians with credit history. Per the 2024 BC annual report, p. 31, 73% are positive (loans paid on time), 19% mixed (at least one mild delay), 8% seriously negative. If you fall in the positive third, low rates are open; in the mixed zone, you pay 2-4% APR above average; in the negative 8%, major banks refuse you and non-bank lenders ask for APR above 40%.

What data the Credit Bureau holds

Your basic identity and every loan, active or closed, in the past few years, with monthly payment status. Each entry includes the lender, product type, initial amount, current balance, due date, payment status and delays. Credit cards appear separately. If you signed as co-debtor or guarantor for a family member, that loan appears under both names. NOT in BC: salary, utilities, phone, rent, tax debts (ANAF has its own system).

How to check your report for free

Under GDPR Article 15, you are entitled to one free report per year. Go to birouldecredit.ro/raport-credit, sign electronically with an SMS code, receive the PDF in 5-7 working days. An extra report in the same year costs 11.9 lei.

Retention terms

Positive loans (paid on time) stay 7 years after closure. Negative records stay 4 years after settlement. Inquiries stay 12 months. The clock starts at closure, not at the delay. An open arrears from 2021 keeps showing year after year until you settle.

Wrong record. How to fix

Send a written request to the Credit Bureau (form on birouldecredit.ro, „data dispute” section) AND to the lender. Attach ID copy and proof. Legal response term: 30 days. If confirmed wrong, the lender corrects at source. If 30 days pass without answer, file at ANSPDCP for GDPR and at ANPC for credit.

Negative history. Can I still get a loan?

At major banks (BCR, BT, ING, Raiffeisen) a single 60+ day delay in the past 4 years blocks most personal loan requests above 28,000 lei. At specialised non-bank lenders (Provident, Cetelem, TBI Bank), access stays open but APR on small loans (3,000-15,000 lei) runs 38-78%.

Bogdan Băicu, former TBI Bank credit advisor 2019-2023: "In 2021 a 38-year-old long-haul driver came in with one heavy stain: 87 days late on a 1,640 lei BCR card from 2018. He had paid, but the mark stayed until 2024. BCR and BT refused him flat. At TBI I approved a 17,300 lei loan over 36 months at 41.2% APR. Not cheap, but the only real offer he had."

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