FAQ for lenders
This page contains lenders’ current questions about the Positive credit register. We update the page on a regular basis.
General
Usually yes. Operators that are entitled to use the register’s data are often also obliged to report the loans in their credit stock to the register. The obligation to report data and the right to use the register's data are not interdependent, however: in some cases, an organisation may use the register’s data without being required to submit reports.
Read more about the reporting obligation and the disclosure of data:
It has no effect. After bankruptcy, the reporting of loan data continues as usual. According to law, information about the bankruptcy does not need to be reported to the register.
No, guarantee debts are never reported to the register. However, if a new loan is established for a natural person in order that they could pay the debt, the new loan must be reported to the register. Read more about loans reportable to the register:
The rate and amount of interest (if any) is reported on all loans reportable to the register. Only expenses that are included in the calculation of the effective interest rate are reported to the Positive credit register as interest. Expenses resulting from breaches of contract, such as late-payment interest, are not reported. Read more:
- Reporting data to the Positive credit register, chapter 6.2.4
No, there is no need to distinguish between general and special collateral. In the case of collateral, data fields “Loan includes collateral” and “Type of collateral” are reported. Read more about how to report collateral:
- Reporting data to the Positive credit register, chapter 6.2.1
In the case of a running-account loan, interest and expenses must be reported to the register within two business days of payment, even if there are several due dates in the month. Please note, however, that the amount drawn against a running account is reported only once a month. The amount is reported as it is on the last day of the month.
The Checking loan data API is for this purpose. The lender can check the data on an individual loan using the API. The lender can request data in the API by entering the loan number. The Positive credit register responds to the request through the API. The response message contains:
- up-to-date basic information on the loan
- information on the latest payment transaction, and
- information on any payment delays and termination of the loan.
In the Checking loan data API, the register can disclose only such data that the lender in question has reported to the register.
Yes, it has. On 1 December 2025, some new data fields and new code values will be introduced into credit register extracts, as lenders start reporting their second-stage loans to the register. If a lender has not made the required changes to its system, it may not be able to use credit register extracts from 1 December 2025 onwards. We recommend stakeholder testing: it allows lenders to ensure their systems will work in future also. Read more:
Reporting data in the second stage
The loans reported to the register in the second stage include loans granted to natural persons other than consumers, such as business loans granted to private name entrepreneurs. The loans to be reported and the organisations that are obliged to submit reports are laid down in law.
More information on the loans to be reported to the register:
Yes. The same API production addresses are used in the second stage. Both first-stage loans and second-stage loans can be submitted in the same batch, provided that the same rules are followed as in the first stage: only one report per loan may be included in a batch and the batch may contain only one type of report.
Yes, lenders must report data on all their current second-stage loans between 1 December 2025 and 31 March 2026. In addition, lenders must report data on all new second-stage loans they grant on or after 1 December 2025.
No, lenders must report data on all their current second-stage loans between 1 December 2025 and 31 March 2026. In addition, lenders must report data on all new second-stage loans they grant on or after 1 December 2025.
The processing rules apply to both first-stage and second-stage loans. Note, however, that there are minor differences in the instructions on reporting data, depending on whether the reported loan is a first-stage or second-stage loan. Read the instructions on reporting data in the second stage:
The second-stage changes to the description of the API for reporting loan data enter into force on 1 December 2025. In other words, the second-stage API description now available on the website will be the version used in production starting 1 December 2025. It applies to both first-stage and second-stage loans.
Documentation that enters into force with the second stage:
Valid documentation describing the APIs in production use is available at:
On the Documentation page, you will also find any other upcoming changes in future:
If a business operator withdraws money for themself on a monthly basis, for example, and this is established in the course of credithworthiness assessment, the lender can report the withdrawal as the business operator’s income. The business’s turnover or result is not reported as income data because it is not of a monthly nature. If monthly income has not been established, the income data fields must be left empty. The income data is reported to be 0 only if no income exists in actual fact. You can read more about this in our instructions:
- Reporting data to the Positive credit register, chapter 6.2.1.
In the second stage, “other loan” refers to such loans granted to individuals that are not consumer credits and whose purpose of use is not operation of business. The purpose of use of a loan may be reported to be “other loan” only if no other purpose of use applies.
The reporting of loan data continues as usual. Although the business activities of a business name entrepreneur end, the loan data does not change. The loan is still a credit granted to a natural person other than a consumer, and the borrower's Business ID is not removed from the loan data.
However, if in this situation a completely new consumer credit contract is concluded, the loan that has ended must be reported to the register as ended and the new consumer credit must be reported with a new loan number.
Limited liability companies’ loans are not reported to the register. If a loan is transferred from a business name entrepreneur to a limited liability company, the loan must be reported as ended. If liability for the loan remains with a natural person, the reporting of loan data continues as usual.
Personal guarantees related to loans of legal persons, such as guarantees for limited liability companies’ hire-purchase agreements, are not reported to the register because they are not loans granted to natural persons. Read more about loans reportable to the register:
Yes. If the interest rate is other than the Euribor, the bank’s own reference rate, or fixed interest, the lender reports “other variable rate” as the type of interest.
If no interest is collected on a loan, the type of interest to be selected is “interest-free”. Fixed fees are expenses that are reported either on a new loan report or in connection with a payment transaction.
- If a fee is paid in one go when a loan contract is concluded, it is reported in data field “One-time expenses paid as the loan contract is concluded” on a new loan report. The expense must be based on a loan contract. Read more about reporting one-time expenses:
- Reporting data to the Positive credit register, chapter 6.2.1
- If a fee is split to be paid in connection with monthly repayments, for example, or otherwise in instalments, it is reported in data field “Other loan expenses paid” in connection with the payment transactions. Read more about data reportable in connection with payment transactions:
- Reporting data to the Positive credit register, chapter 6.4
Also view the description of the API for reporting data on loan contracts, and the code values used:
No. Loans granted to a partnership are always reported using shareholders’ personal IDs (personal identity codes). Read more:
- Reporting data to the Positive credit register, chapter 6.2.1
The lender reports the number of debtors that are actually liable for the loan, i.e. the number of shareholders in the partnership. The number may not be smaller than 1. The number of debtors also includes debtors that are not otherwise reported to the register as borrowers. Examples of such debtors include foreign individuals with no Finnish personal identity code, limited liability companies and limited partnerships. Read more:
- Reporting data to the Positive credit register, chapter 6.2.1
No. When a loan is granted for the operation of business, only a Business ID associated with the business in question is reported. Should the borrower also have a Business ID for other business activities, the Business ID is not entered in the debtor's details.
No, loans granted to legal persons, such as general partnerships or limited partnerships, are not reported to the Positive credit register. Only loans granted to natural persons are reported to the register. If a contracting party is a general partnership or a limited partnership, the loan has not been granted to a natural person, not even if the partners are personally liable for the loan.
Yes, the type of collateral is reported by selecting the best suited code value from the list provided. No new types of collateral will be introduced in the second stage. The types of collateral are laid down in the Government decree:
Using data in the second stage
No, they can't. Lenders must be able to receive second-stage loan data from 1 December 2025 onwards. It is not possible to block data on other than consumer credits from the extracts, and therefore there is no transition period for the use of the data.
The register's data will be supplemented with second-stage loan data by the end of March 2026 as lenders granting other than consumer credits report the loans to the register.
No. The register’s data may be used only for granting loans that lenders are obliged to report to the register. In other words, the data may be used only for purposes for which it was requested and only for making credit decisions on loan products reportable to the register. Read more about who can use the register’s data and in what situations:
Lenders can use data on second-stage loans in consumer lending starting 1 December 2025. Data on second-stage loans will be shown on extracts immediately as lenders report it to the register.
Please note, however, that credit register extracts may not be used when granting loans to natural persons other than consumers until 1 April 2026. Also, a separate data permission is needed for this purpose. Read more:
No, they can't. The use of credit register extracts in other than consumer lending starts on 1 April 2026. In addition, the lender must have received a change to its data permission from the Incomes Register Unit. Lenders must request a change by submitting an application for changing the data permission if they also want to use credit register extracts in granting loans to natural persons other than consumers. Read more about the application for changing the data permission in the instructions on how to request a data permission:
- Instructions for lenders on how to request a data permission, chapters 3 and 5
The credit register extract will include some new code values for the loan’s purpose of use and two new data fields.
In the second stage, the data on lump sum loans may contain two new code values:
- “other loan”
- “loan for operation of business”.
Further, data on loans granted to natural persons other than consumers will have two new data fields:
- “borrower’s Business ID”
- “borrower’s business name”.
Check the description of the Credit register extract API at:
Stakeholder testing
You are using the wrong stakeholder testing environment. Second-stage features must be tested in the second-stage stakeholder testing environment.
Read more about the stakeholder testing environments and check their API addresses in the instructions on stakeholder testing:
- Testing instructions for stakeholders, chapter 5.1
Yes. On 1 December 2025, two new data fields and new code values will be introduced into credit register extracts, as lenders start reporting their second-stage loans to the register. If a lender has not made the required changes to its system, it may not be able to use credit register extracts from 1 December 2025 onwards. We recommend stakeholder testing: it allows lenders to ensure their systems will work in future also.
Read more about stakeholder testing on our website: