The register’s data can now also be used in business lending
4/1/2026Lenders can now also use the Positive credit register’s data in business lending if they have a data permission entitling them to do so.
What is this all about?
Lenders report all consumer credits and loans comparable to them to the register. In addition, lenders have been reporting loans granted to business name entrepreneurs and agricultural or forestry operators for their business activities to the register since December 2025. Data on all loans reported to the register has been available for use in consumer lending, immediately after reporting, since the launch of the register.
“Starting on 1 April this year, lenders can also use the register’s data for purposes of business lending. Previously, the register’s data was used only when an individual applied for a consumer credit, such as a new credit card, a home loan or a flexible credit, for example,” explains Anna-Riikka Forstén, Primary SME at the Positive credit register.
An example of business lending is when an agricultural operator applies for a loan to buy a new tractor, for example, or when a business name entrepreneur applies for a loan for new tools. From now on, a lender can request a credit register extract about a business name entrepreneur’s data when the entrepreneur applies for a loan for business activities. Previously, a credit register extract could be requested only in they applied for a consumer credit. However, the lender will need a separate data permission to access the data.
“We should remember that not all lenders have applied for a data permission for using the register’s data in business lending. If a lender does not have an appropriate data permission, they cannot request a credit register extract about the entrepreneur’s data when the entrepreneur applies for a loan to buy equipment, for example. Without a data permission, the lender does not receive any data about the individual from our register,” says Forstén.
How does this affect private individuals?
The change affects business name entrepreneurs and agricultural or forestry operators only when they apply for a loan for their business activities and the lender has the required data permission. If you are not a business name entrepreneur or an agricultural or forestry operator, the change does not affect you in any way.
If you are a business name entrepreneur or an agricultural or forestry operator, lenders may request a credit register extract about your data in future when you apply for a new loan for your business activities.
“However, lenders are not required to use the register’s data in business lending. They can grant a business loan to a business name entrepreneur, for example, without requesting data from the register,” Forstén explains.
A private individual can always view all data reported on them to the register by logging in to the Positive credit register’s e-service. All credit register extracts requested by lenders in the past five years can also be viewed in the e-service.
The register’s objectives and benefits are taking shape
The objective of the Positive credit register is to prevent households from taking on too much debt and to help individuals control their finances. The register also aims to improve lenders’ ability to assess loan applicants’ creditworthiness. The more comprehensive information the register contains, the more useful the information is to both individuals and lenders.
“In future, the lender can also better assess a loan applicant’s overall financial situation in business lending if they choose to make use of the register’s data,” says Forstén.
Further, households gained a more comprehensive view of their loans when loans granted to business name entrepreneurs and agricultural or forestry operators for their business activities started to be reported to the register in December 2025.
Previously, business name entrepreneurs, for example, did not have a comprehensive view of all their loans because business loans were not shown in the register’s e-service. Now they can better keep track of their debts as business loans are also in the register,” says Forstén.
A private individual’s view of their finances and debts will further improve when apartment-specific credit liabilities relating to housing company loans will be introduced into the register in April 2027. The data will be transmitted to the register directly from the Residential and Commercial Property Information System of the National Land Survey of Finland. Authorities will also gain a better view of the total amount of loans that Finnish households have. Further, lenders’ ability to assess individuals’ creditworthiness will improve.