RBI's Credit Reporting Overhaul: What the Weekly Mandate Means for NBFCs

Introduction

Credit information reporting is moving from a monthly task to a near-real-time discipline. The Reserve Bank of India's Amendment Directions issued in December 2025 mandate weekly credit reporting. This takes effect on July 1, 2026.

The new framework requires NBFCs to report credit information four times every month instead of twice. The operational burden increases, but so does the quality of the credit ecosystem. Lenders with strong data infrastructure will gain competitive advantages. Those with legacy systems face significant challenges.

The question for NBFC leadership is how quickly can they get their systems, workflows, and teams ready.

What Changed: From Fortnightly to Weekly Reporting

The New Reporting Schedule

NBFCs previously reported credit information twice a month. The new directions establish four reference dates:

• 9th of the month

• 16th of the month

• 23rd of the month

• Last day of the month

Two Types of Submissions

Full file submissions are required by the 5th of the following month. These files cover data as of the last day of each month. They must include all active accounts and all accounts where the borrower relationship ended since the last reporting date.

Incremental reporting applies to the other three dates. NBFCs have four calendar days from each reference date to submit these files. Incremental accounts include:

• New accounts opened since the last reporting date

• Accounts where the borrower relationship ended

• Accounts with changes due to borrower actions (repayments, balance changes, demographic updates, changes to guarantors or ownership)

• Accounts where interest or principal instalments are overdue

• Accounts with changes only in days past due

Additional Requirements

The amendment introduces mandatory reporting of Central KYC (CKYC) numbers wherever available.

Rectification timelines have tightened. NBFCs must correct rejected data and resubmit it before or along with the next reporting date.

CICs will report non-compliant NBFCs to the RBI via the DAKSH portal twice yearly. This creates both regulatory and reputational exposure.

Why This Matters: The Strategic Implications

The shift to weekly reporting is not simply about regulatory compliance. It changes the quality and timeliness of credit information across the financial system.

Better Data Quality

More frequent updates mean credit profiles reflect borrower behavior faster. A borrower who repays on time will see that reflected within days, not weeks. Similarly, early signs of stress surface sooner. This benefits both lenders and borrowers.

Improved Credit Decisions

Better data quality translates into better credit decisions. Underwriting models become more accurate when they work with fresher information. Risk assessment improves when portfolios are monitored with near-real-time inputs. Fraud detection becomes more effective when anomalies are flagged quickly.

Competitive Advantage

NBFCs that can manage weekly reporting efficiently will have access to better risk intelligence. They will respond faster to changes in borrower behavior. They can adjust credit limits dynamically and cross-sell with confidence.

Systemic Benefits

The move toward real-time credit data reduces information asymmetry. Lenders across the market work with more consistent and current data. This strengthens the overall credit ecosystem and improves consumer protection.

The Operational Challenge

The operational impact of weekly reporting cannot be understated. NBFCs will face a tripling of data extraction, validation, and submission workloads.

Key Pressure Points

Data Quality Risks: With four submissions each month, errors and inconsistencies will multiply quickly. A data field that was incorrectly mapped will now cause rejections four times as often. The cost of poor data governance rises sharply.

Integration Complexity: Each of the four CICs may have slightly different formats, validation rules, or submission protocols. NBFCs must ensure their systems can handle these variations reliably and at higher frequency.

Legacy System Constraints: Many mid-sized NBFCs still rely on older loan management systems. These were not designed for frequent, automated bureau reporting. Manual interventions will break down under the new timelines.

Resource Strain: Credit operations teams that previously managed bureau reporting twice a month now need to coordinate four times as often. Rectification cycles, error tracking, and reconciliation tasks will demand more time and attention.

Compliance Exposure: The RBI's decision to publicly track non-compliance through DAKSH means that institutions failing to meet deadlines will face regulatory scrutiny and reputational damage.

What NBFCs Should Do Now

With six months remaining before the July 2026 deadline, NBFCs should begin preparation immediately.

Audit and Assess

• Map how credit data flows from origination to bureau submission

• Identify manual steps and data quality issues

• Verify systems can connect with each CIC and meet new timelines

Automate Core Processes

• Automate data extraction, transformation, validation, and submission

• Build systems that identify incremental accounts per RBI's definition

• Enable automatic flagging of overdue accounts

• Generate submission files without manual intervention

Strengthen Controls

• Build dashboards for submission status, rejection rates, and timelines

• Show which accounts were rejected and what actions are required

• Establish CKYC number collection workflows

• Coordinate between operations, compliance, and technology teams

Prepare Teams

• Train operations teams on new timelines and incremental account definitions

• Clarify roles and responsibilities

• Run parallel testing before July 2026

How OneFin's Infrastructure Supports This Transition

OneFin's platform is built on principles that align with the demands of weekly credit reporting.

Core Architectural Strengths

Modular, API-Native Design: The platform adapts to regulatory requirements without complete system overhauls. This flexibility matters when dealing with multiple CICs.

Centralized Data Architecture: OneFin maintains transaction-level detail across the lending lifecycle. This is essential when defining incremental accounts based on borrower actions and balance changes.

Low-Code Configurability: NBFCs can adjust reporting logic, validation rules, and submission schedules as requirements change. Workflows adapt to different bureau specifications.

Integration Readiness: The API-first design connects with credit bureaus and external data sources. This provides the foundation for weekly reporting cycles.

Audit and Compliance Tracking: Built-in logging records every data submission, rectification, and system change.

OneFin works with lending institutions to configure systems that align with RBI mandates while supporting operational requirements. 

Conclusion

The shift to weekly credit reporting is part of a broader trend toward real-time data and transparency. NBFCs that act early will avoid compliance failures.

The real opportunity goes beyond compliance. Better data quality means better credit decisions. Faster reporting means faster underwriting. More accurate borrower profiles mean lower defaults.

Technology infrastructure matters more than ever. NBFCs that invest in flexible, API-native systems will be better positioned for this transition and future regulatory changes.

OneFin provides the infrastructure that helps NBFCs turn regulatory pressure into competitive advantage. With the right foundation, weekly credit reporting becomes a stepping stone toward more efficient and resilient lending operations.

To know more about OneFin, schedule a Demo.