Abu Dhabi: Etihad Credit Bureau (ECB) has expanded the UAE's credit reporting framework by incorporating micro-loan account data into credit reports, further broadening the range of financial commitments captured within the country's credit ecosystem.Under the initiative, micro-loan data from providers such as CashNow, submitted by Botim Finance (formerly Quantix), will now form part of UAE credit reports.The development follows ECB's recent inclusion of Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) and other short-term credit products in credit reporting, reflecting the growing role of digital finance solutions in the UAE.According to the bureau, the addition of micro-loan information enhances the completeness and relevance of credit reports by providing authorised financial institutions with a more comprehensive picture of an individual's financial obligations.The update covers both existing and new CashNow customers and includes relevant historical account information.Supporting informed lending decisionsEtihad Credit Bureau said the expanded data set will help banks, lenders and authorised entities strengthen credit assessment and risk-management processes by offering greater visibility into consumers' financial commitments.Brian Gambin, Director of Partnerships at Etihad Credit Bureau, said the UAE's financial landscape continues to evolve as consumers access credit through a wider range of products and digital channels."Following our recent inclusion of Buy Now, Pay Later data, the commencement of micro-loan data submissions such as CashNow from Botim Finance marks another important step in broadening the information captured within UAE credit reports," Gambin said."This provides participating financial institutions and authorised entities with a more comprehensive view of consumers' financial commitments, supporting informed decision-making across the financial system."More than one million customer profilesDr Tariq BinHendi, CEO of Botim and CEO and Board Member of Astra Tech, said the collaboration supports efforts to strengthen the UAE's financial infrastructure and promote responsible access to credit.He revealed that since the second quarter of 2025, Botim Finance has submitted micro-loan account data linked to more than one million CashNow customer profiles to Etihad Credit Bureau.BinHendi said the initiative helps bring more residents into the formal credit reporting ecosystem through a regulated digital credit channel."Credit reporting and scoring are not only tools for assessing risk; they also create a pathway to financial participation," he said."For CashNow users, timely repayment can become part of their formal credit history, helping individuals strengthen their credit profiles over time and access a wider range of regulated financial services."The latest move forms part of Etihad Credit Bureau's ongoing efforts to enhance transparency, support responsible lending and strengthen the UAE's evolving financial services sector.
