Credit records

What CCRIS and CTOS show a lender, how late payments affect your next application, and how to work out your debt service ratio (DSR) before you apply.

4 guides, about 37 minutes of reading

Start here9 min readWill borrowing affect my CCRIS and CTOS? A plain guideIt explains what CCRIS and CTOS are and how to read them, which you'll need for the guides on arrears and DSR.Read this guide first

What you'll learn

Before lending, a lender looks at your credit record and at how much of your income already goes to debt. These guides explain what CCRIS and CTOS show, how to read the 12-month repayment row in your own report, and how long late payments stay visible.

You'll learn how to work out your debt service ratio (DSR) and work backwards to a sensible loan amount, what to do if you have arrears today, and how lenders assess salaried applicants such as civil servants. They also explain why no one can legally "clean" your record for a fee.

All guides in Credit records

Credit records9 min read

Personal loans for civil servants (penjawat awam): what to know

Civil servants are among the steadiest earners in Malaysia, and lenders of every kind compete for them. This guide explains how AXAI Credit assesses a civil servant's application, why we don't offer salary-deduction (potongan gaji / Angkasa) financing, how that kind of financing works elsewhere and what to weigh before choosing it, the scams aimed at penjawat awam, and a worked RM example of how much a typical take-home pay can comfortably support.

Credit records10 min read

I have late payments in CCRIS. Can I still borrow?

Late payments in your CCRIS report don't automatically shut every door, but they do change how lenders see you. Here is how to read the repayment row in your own report, what lenders look at, a worked RM example of catching up on arrears before applying, a 90-day plan to improve your record, and why you should never pay anyone to "clean" it.

Credit records9 min read

Debt service ratio (DSR) explained: how much of your income goes to debt?

Your debt service ratio, or DSR, is one of the first numbers a lender looks at when you apply for a loan. It shows how much of your monthly income is already committed to repaying debt. This guide explains what counts and what doesn't, how to calculate your own DSR in a few minutes with a worked RM example, how to work backwards to a sensible loan amount, the mistakes that make people's DSR look better on paper than in real life, and practical ways to bring it down before you apply.

Key terms

The words that come up most in these guides. Each one opens the full explanation in our glossary.

Open the full glossary

Useful tools and pages

Put what you've read to work with your own numbers, or check the details that apply to your loan.

Common questions on this topic

See all FAQs

When is my credit record checked?

Using our calculators or sending an enquiry doesn't check your credit record. When you submit an application, our licensed lending partner checks CCRIS/CTOS with your consent before your offer is confirmed. Our Loan terms page explains CCRIS and CTOS in more detail.

I have arrears in CCRIS. Can I still apply?

You can apply. Lenders look at how recent and how serious the arrears are, and whether you've caught up, so one late payment months ago is very different from several missed payments now. Before applying, get your free CCRIS report from Bank Negara Malaysia so you know what it shows, and bring any arrears up to date if you can. Being upfront with your adviser helps. Our blog post 'I have late payments in CCRIS. Can I still borrow?' goes into more detail.

How much can I comfortably borrow?

It depends on your income and what you already repay each month. Our Affordability calculator under Calculators shows a comfortable amount by keeping all your repayments within 40% of take-home pay. For example, if you take home RM 4,000 and already repay RM 900, it suggests about RM 15,500 over 24 months. That's a cautious guide, not our approval rule.

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Work out your monthly repayment first with our calculator. Your adviser confirms your rate before you sign, and applying doesn't commit you to borrow.

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