If you’ve ever applied for a loan or credit card, you know the question: “What’s your CIBIL score?” Until now, checking your score was a slow process.
Even after paying EMIs on time, it could take up to two weeks for your score to reflect your actions.
That’s about to change.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced that starting April 1, 2026, credit scores will be updated every seven days.
This means your financial behavior—good or bad—will show up much faster, benefiting both banks and customers.
How Credit Score Updates Will Change
Currently, credit information companies (CICs) like TransUnion CIBIL and Experian update data every 15 days.
From April 2026:
Credit scores will be updated weekly.
Data will refresh five times a month on fixed dates: 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th, and the last day of the month.
No more delays—your actions will immediately impact your score.
How the New System Works
The RBI has also streamlined how banks and NBFCs report credit data:
Monthly Full Submission:
Banks submit complete credit data of all accounts (active or recently closed) by the 3rd of the next month.
Weekly Updates:
Only new changes are reported mid-month, including:
New loans or credit cards
EMI payments or defaults
Changes in account details or status
Banks must report this to CICs within 2 days.
RBI Oversight:
If banks fail to submit data on time, CICs report it to RBI via the DAKSH portal twice a year (March 31 and September 30).
This ensures banks stay accountable and the system remains accurate.
What This Means for You
If you pay on time:
Your good behavior will quickly boost your credit score.
Loan approvals and credit card applications will become easier.
You may get lower interest rates.
If you miss payments:
Even a single late EMI will show up quickly.
Loans may be rejected or come with higher interest rates.
Mistakes no longer stay hidden—they’ll be reflected almost immediately.
Benefits for Banks and NBFCs
Banks get the latest credit score data before approving loans.
Risk of fraud and defaults is reduced.
Lending becomes more responsible and transparent.
Understanding Your Credit Score
A credit score is a three-digit number (300–900) that measures your reliability in repaying loans:
300–550: Weak
550–650: Average
650–750: Good
750–900: Very good
It’s based on factors like:
Timely EMI and card payments
Total debt
Credit history and usage
You can check your CIBIL score once a year for free on the CIBIL website or through many banks and fintech apps.
The Bottom Line
Starting April 2026, every EMI and payment date will matter more than ever.
The RBI’s new rule makes the credit system faster, stricter, and more transparent.
Good financial habits will be rewarded sooner, while late payments will be reflected immediately.
For anyone planning loans or credit cards in the future, staying disciplined with payments is now more important than ever.
