Self-administered questionnaire: Web-based

The participating entities are obliged to report their credit positions periodically to the Banco de Portugal who is responsible for centralizing and disseminating the credit information after quality control. The identification of the debtors is cross-checked with other sources, ensuring that the identification exists and is valid.

The Harmonized Central Credit Responsibility Database (HCRC) reports information on the indebtedness of all borrowing firms, except for individual entrepreneurs and foreign firms operating in Portugal without a valid Portuguese Tax Identification Number. Private persons are also excluded from the database. The entities participating in CRC include: banks, saving banks, mutual agricultural credit banks, financial credit institutions, leasing companies, factoring companies, securitization companies, mutual guarantee societies, and financial companies for credit acquisitions.

All credit obligations above the reporting threshold are included, regardless if the credit is in good standing or in situations of non-compliance. The mandatory loan registration thresholds have changed over time. The current mandatory loan registration threshold in Portuguese credit register is 50 euros.