Dai Genyou, Director of the Credit Management Bureau at the People's Bank of China, unveiled recently in Shanghai that China would have its individual credit database available at the networked commercial banks and some rural credit cooperatives all around the country by the yearend.

The database, which has pooled 20 million personal credit records, has been in trial operation in interlinked banks in 7 cities such as Beijing, Shenzhen, Chongqing, etc., since December 15, 2004.

Commercial banks can refer to the database for records of debts repayments, credit cards, guarantee and identities of individuals.

This is another important step toward a perfect credit system following a corporate credit registration system in place in 2002.

Experts hope that this would not only help commercial banks improve their risk management, but also promote the awareness of honesty in the whole society.

By People's Daily Online