How To Check CRB Status And Clear Using Batch Number

What Is CRB And How Does It Work?

A Credit Reference Bureau commonly referred to as CRB is a credit information sharing platform whereby borrowers can check CRB status and lenders can obtain accurate details regarding an individual/business credit profile so as to determine the credit risk associated with a particular borrower.

CRB Companies In Kenya

According to the Central Bank Of Kenya (CBK), the governing authority regulating CRBs in Kenya, there are 3 licensed CRB companies in Kenya which borrowers can use to check crb status. They include;

Metropol Kenya

Metropol’s establishment dates back to 1996 whereby it offered business information and credit management services. Ten years later through a partnership with Global Credit Rating (GCR), Metropol adopted additional services such as credit referencing like how to check crb status, ratings and consultancy.

Metropol Contacts are:

1st Floor, Shelter Afrique Centre, Upper Hill, Nairobi
P.O.Box 35331 – 00200, Nairobi
Tel: 020 – 2713575
Email: info@metropol.co.ke

CreditInfo Kenya

CreditInfo Kenya is a subsidiary of the global parent company CreditInfo Group that is available in various continents such as Europe, Middle East and Central Asia. Besides being used to check crb status, CreditInfo Kenya also specializes in credit software, credit scoring and credit risk management consultancy.

CreditInfo Kenya contacts

Park Suites, Suite 12, 2nd Floor, Parklands Road, Nairobi
P.O. Box 38941 – 00623, Nairobi
Tel: +254 – 020 – 3757272
Email: cikinfo@creditinfo.co.ke / consumercare@creditinfo.co.ke

TransUnion Kenya

Transunion Kenya is amongst the subsidiaries of the Johannesburg-based parent company TransUnion which offers informative resources on credit history such as how to check crb status, financial reputation in addition to identity theft protection.

TransUnion Kenya Contacts

CRB Centre, Prosperity House, 2nd Floor, Westlands Road, Nairobi
P.O. Box 46406 – 00100, Nairobi
Tel: +254 – 020 – 3751799/3751360/2/4/5
Email: info@crbafrica.com

Who Can List On CRB?

By Kenyan law, only licensed credit providing facilities are allowed to list on CRB. They include;

i. Commercial banks
ii. Microfinance institutions
iii. Saccos
iv. Digital lenders

Types Of CRB Listings

Upon generation of a credit report, there are various credit-related terms that may not be understood when an individual decides to check crb status and may require interpretation. Such include;

a) Positive listing: this refers to accounts that are not in default
b) Negative listing: this refers to accounts that are in default
c) Green list: this refers to a first time borrower whose account is positively listed
d) Gold list: this refers to a borrower whose account is positively listed
e) Black list: this refers to a borrower whose account is negatively listed with a non-performing loan of 90 days.

Negative Effects Of Being Blacklisted By CRB

To find out which institution has listed you on CRB, you need to check crb status. Some of the consequences of being blacklisted include;
i. Credit score reduction
Ii. Denial of future loans
Iii. Reduction of loan limits
iv. Loss of career opportunities
v. 5-year clearance period

How To Check CRB Status On Phone

Check CRB Status On Phone Via Transunion SMS

Send text SMS to 21272 with your names
Input your national ID number
Reply with CS to check credit status.

Depending on your credit profile, you will receive credit status for each individual account either as GOOD or DEFAULT

Check CRB Status On Phone Via Transunion Nipashe App

Login to the TransUnion Nipashe App
Tap on the ‘Loan Accounts’ tab

Depending on your credit profile, you will receive credit status for each individual account either as GOOD or DEFAULT

Check CRB Status On Phone Via Metropol USSD

Dial *433#
Select option 1: Listing Status
Enter your PIN
Enter zero if not refered by an agent
Enter option 1: Confirm that you want to order for listing status
Choose option 1: MPesa
Enter MPesa PIN

Check CRB Status On Phone Via Metropol Crystobol App

Login to the Crystobol App
Tap on ‘Listing Status’
Enter your Metropol PIN
Select any of the available payment channels below to send the Ksh50 payment.

How To Check CRB Status Online

Check CRB Status Online Via Metropol Web

Login to the Crystobol web portal
Tap on ‘All Services’ link
Select ‘Request listing status’
Click ‘Confirm’ on the payment confirmation pop up to initiate the MPesa Xpress billing option
Proceed to enter MPesa PIN to finalize the transaction.

Alternatively, if the MPesa Xpress option does not initiate, one can use the M-Pesa payment details provided below

Check CRB Status Online Via CreditInfo Web

Unfortunately, CreditInfo Kenya only provides access to credit reports and clearance report services.

How To Apply For CRB Credit Report

The type of information shared within a credit report includes;

i. Individual consumer information – this helps in personal identification and includes details such as name, phone number, physical address, postal codes and other contact info.

ii. Individual consumer employment – this helps in the establishment of an individual’s financial identity and risk management whereby employment type and monthly income gauge a borrower’s loan affordability while updated employer data assist in account matching.

iii. Account information – this helps in the identification of key borrower aspects such as payment patterns, exposure levels as well as account longevity.

iv. Credit application Information – this helps in identifying the frequency of a borrower’s credit appetite whereby excess loan applications may indicate risk and impending exposure

v. Performing loans – this refers to previous/current loans with no prior default history.

vi. Non-Performing loans – this refers to outstanding loans with arrears of more than 90 days.

vii. Performing accounts with default history – this refers to previously defaulted loans that have been offset or are currently being serviced.

Apply For CRB Report Via Transunion

Apply For CRB Report Via Transunion SMS

Text your name to 21272
Proceed to enter your national ID number
You will receive entry notification to the TraunsUnion service Nipashe service
Proceed to reply with CR to check credit report

The Nipashe service entitles an individual to one free annual credit report. To access the report, reply with your email address.

For subsequent credit reports within the same year, a payment of Ksh300 is required to be made to the below details upon which you will receive a notification stating that your credit report is undergoing processing.

Upon completion, you will receive an email from TransUnion Credit Information with an attachment of your credit report in PDF format.

To open the PDF, input your ID number as the password. In a scenario whereby the prefix of your ID number is zero, ignore it and input the preceding numbers.

Within the credit report, there exists personal profile containing various identification details such as; name, ID number, date of birth, postal/physical address, phone number and employment.

In addition, there is also a summary of;

Non performing accounts (denoted with red)
Performing accounts with default history (denoted with yellow)
Performing accounts (denoted with blue)

Furthermore, there is also a list of recent inquiries detailing the inquirer, date of inquiry and inquiry reasons such as personal verification, account opening, loan application etc

Lastly, there is the credit score displayed at the top right page corner which indicates a 3-digit number derived from a math formulae representing the credit risk associated with an individual’s credit profile whereby the higher the credit score, the higher the risk as summarized in the below credit score band.

Apply For CRB Report Via Transunion Nipashe App

Download, install and launch the TransUnion Nipashe App

Enter your names, ID number and mobile number

Read, understand and accept the terms & conditions by selecting the checkbox.

Click ‘Next’ to login

In the app’s dashboard, your rating at the bureau will be displayed.

To use the other TraunsUnion Nipashe features such as loan accounts/credit status, credit report, clearance certificate, credit score etc, proceed and click on ‘Activate’

Enter the verification code sent to your mobile number from TransUnion and click on ‘Verify’ which will direct to the TransUnion credit score page as shown below.

To access the credit report, click on ‘Credit Report’ tab and enter the email address with which you intend to receive the credit report then click on ‘Submit’

Apply For CRB Report Via Metropol

Apply For CRB Report Via Metropol USSD

Dial *433#

Select your desired service from the list of provided options i.e listing status, credit score, credit report, CRB certificate, listing institutions, subscriptions etc

To check credit report,

Select option 3,
Enter PIN,
Enter zero
Enter option 1 to confirm request
Enter option 1 to pay Ksh200 via M-Pesa

Apply For CRB Report Via Metropol Crystobol App

Download, install & launch the Metropol Crystobol app

Click on ‘Get Started’

For new users, click on ‘Sign Up’ to create an account by providing your phone number, email address and national ID number.

On the other hand for continuing users, proceed to enter your phone number and PIN and click on ‘Sign In’

Once logged into the Crystobol dashboard, your credit score indicator will be displayed as shown below depending on your credit profile.

Other services are also displayed such as listing status, Who listed Me, credit report, credit score, CRB certificate, check crb status etc

To get your credit report, send Ksh250 via any of the below payment channels

Apply For CRB Report Via Metropol Web

Navigate to the Metropol Crystobol web application

Click on ‘Sign up for web’

For new users, proceed with registration by providing your basic info such as; national ID number, county code, mobile number. email address etc then complete verification using mobile number and email address

For continuing users, click on ‘Sign In’ and enter your national ID then click ‘Proceed’

Select the email address associated with your Metropol account and tap ‘Sign In’ against it and enter your password

Once logged into the Metropol dashboard, click on ‘All Services’

Apply For CRB Report Via CreditInfo

Navigate to the CreditInfo Kenya credit report page and click on the ‘Personal Credit Report Application’ tab to apply for your credit report.

Alternatively, you can access the credit report application form direct via this link.

Within this form, you will be required to provide details such as; full names as national ID card, national ID number, phone number, email address, consent for CreditInfo to access your information held in the Credit Reference Bureau, photo of national ID and reason for credit report application.

How To Get Cleared From CRB

Getting cleared from CRB generally refers to being whitelisted after having offset all of the non-performing account balances after check crb status.

Despite being removed from CRB, a borrower’s default credit history still remains within the CRB records for a period of five years. However, one can still be able to access loans in the meantime as well as improve credit score.

Typically, the CRB updating duration after clearing a loan may differ depending on a given institution’s policies. Such duration can either be daily, weekly or monthly.

To start the process of manually getting cleared form CRB, an individual is required to first and fore-mostly identify the listing institution via credit report using any of the methods mentioned above.

Upon identification, clear the outstanding balances available on the various non-performing accounts listed with the lender then request a ‘batch number’ for the same.

A batch number refers to a special identification code created by the lender and given to customers in order to update their information in the CRB database.

Clear From CRB Via Transunion

To clear from CRB via TransUnion after check crb status, send the batch number to TransUnion using any of their official social handles which include;

Facebook: @TransUnionKenya OR Twitter: @TransUnionK

Once TransUnion Kenya is in receipt of the batch number, the credit profile shall be updated within 24-48 hours. To verify that this has been done, submit your ID number and phone number and await confirmation.

Clear From CRB Via Metropol

Upon obtaining the batch number, send it to Metropol via any of their official social media channels including:

Facebook: @MetropolCorporationLtd OR Twitter: @MetropolCRB

Once Metropol Kenya is in receipt of the batch number, the credit profile shall be updated within 24-48 hours. To verify that this has been done, submit your ID number and phone number and await confirmation.

Clear From CRB Via CreditInfo

To clear from CRB via CreditInfo, send the batch number to TransUnion using any of their official social handles which include;

Facebook: @CreditInfoKenya OR Twitter: @CreditInfoKenya

Once CreditInfo Kenya is in receipt of the batch number, the credit profile shall be updated within 24-48 hours. To verify that this has been done, submit your ID number and phone number and await confirmation.

How To Apply CRB Clearance Certificate

A CRB clearance certificate is a crucial document, particularly if you have previously been placed on the CRB’s blacklist as a result of loan default.

It serves as tangible evidence that you have paid off any past-due loans and is one of the conditions for employment with the Kenyan government.

The standard price for obtaining a CRB clearance certificate is usually Ksh2,200 across all the CRB institutions.

Below are some of the methods to obtain CRB clearance certificate using each of the three (3) recognized credit reference bureaus in Kenya.

Apply CRB Certificate Via Metropol

Upon successful payment confirmation either via Metropol USSD or Crystobol app, a confirmation SMS containing a link and reference number will be sent from Metropol.

You will be required to click on the link which will direct you to the Crystobol webpage requiring you to sign in with your phone number and reference number provided.

After successful log in, proceed to click on the displayed link on-screen to download your clearance certificate and proceed to open it.

Apply CRB Clearance Certificate Via Metropol USSD

Dial *433#
Select option 4: CRB Certificate
Enter your PIN
Enter zero if not refered by an agent
Enter option 1: Confirm that you want to order for CRB certificate
Choose option 1: MPesa
Enter MPesa PIN

Apply CRB Clearance certificate Via Metropol Crystobol App

Login to the Metropol Crystobol App
Tap on ‘CRB Certificate’ menu
Enter your PIN
Select any of the available payment channels below to send the Ksh2,200 payment.

Apply CRB Clearance Certificate Via Metropol Web

Sign in to Metropol portal account

Under the Quick services menu, click on ‘Request’ button alongside the CRB Certificate OR tap on ‘All Services’ link and select ‘Request CRB Certificate’

Click ‘Confirm’ on the payment confirmation pop up to initiate the MPesa Xpress billing option

Proceed to enter MPesa PIN to finalize the transaction.

Alternatively, if the MPesa Xpress option does not initiate, one can use the M-Pesa payment details provided below

Apply CRB Clearance Certificate Via Metropol Customer Service Centers

Metropol CRB customer service centers are available in Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, Kisumu, Eldoret, Nyeri, Meru and Machakos.

Apply CRB Clearance Certificate Via Metropol Agents

Currently, there are over 250 authorized Metropol agents available countrywide.

Apply CRB Clearance Certificate Via Huduma Center

Currently, there are over 50 Huduma centers nationwide offering Metropol CRB services.

Apply CRB Certificate Via Transunion

Upon successful payment confirmation either via TransUnion SMS or Nipashe app, payment confirmation SMS details are to be sent to cert@transunion.co.ke after which you will be emailed the CRB clearance certificate.

Apply CRB Certificate Via Transunion SMS

Text your full names to 21272
Enter your national ID number
Reply with CC for clearance certificate
You will be required to make payment of Ksh2,200 to the below MPesa payment details;

The TransUnion Nipashe service usually accords one free CRB certificate in a lifetime whereby to access it, simply request for it by replying with your email address.

However, in circumstances of outstanding arrears, an applicant is required to first clear the arrears in-order to qualify for a CRB clearance certificate.

Subsequent CRB clearance certificates requests, often require payment of the above stated fee.

Apply CRB Certificate Via Transunion Nipashe App

Login to the TransUnion Nipashe App
Click on the ‘Clearance Certificate’ menu
Enter your email address and click ‘Submit’
You will be required to make payment of Ksh2,200 to the below M-Pesa payment details;

Apply CRB Certificate Via CreditInfo

Navigate to the CreditInfo Kenya clearance certificate page and click on the ‘Personal Clearance Certificate Application’ tab to apply for your clearance certificate..

Alternatively, you can access the credit report application form direct via this link.

Within this form, you will be required to provide details such as; full names as national ID card, national ID number, phone number, email address, consent for CreditInfo to access your information held in the Credit Reference Bureau, photo of national ID and reason for clearance certificate application.

How To File CRB Dispute

File CRB Dispute Via Metropol

Download the Metropol Individual Credit Report Dispute Form

Fill in the various required sections including; identification & contact details, reason for dispute (erroneous name/Unknown a/c/default history/erroneous balance/erroneous a/c status, delayed update/court order/erroneous charges etc

Depending on the dispute reason selected above, a preferred resolution is required from the claimant in-order to settle the dispute.

Once duly filled, proceed and attach all the supporting documents i.e certified copy of updated credit report and national ID card then send to info@metropol.co.ke

Upon receipt of the claim and supporting documents by Metropol, the latter will liaise with the listing institution and come up with a resolution within a month.

File CRB Dispute Via Transunion

Send an email to the email address Kensupport@transunion.com detailing your dispute.

Alternatively, contact TransUnion via the numbers +254 768262495 , +254 768617074, +254 768253748, +254 706565285

File CRB Dispute Via CreditInfo

Navigate to the CreditInfo Kenya disputes resolution page and click on the ‘File a dispute’ tab to apply for your clearance certificate..

Alternatively, you can access the file dispute form direct via this link.

Accurately fill in the form by providing the necessary details such as credit reference number (located at the top right of credit report), dispute type (incorrect personal info/Unknown A/c/default history/wrong balances/delayed update/fraud etc), ID type & number, full names, email address and phone number.

In addition, provide the name of the listing institution, dispute category and a brief description of the dispute as well as attach supporting documents.

Once the form is completed and submitted, Credit Info will investigate the disputed information in a customer’s credit report within 5 working days of receiving it.