What the bank checks
When you apply, the issuer pulls your report from one or more of India's four RBI-licensed credit information companies (CICs): TransUnion CIBIL, Experian, Equifax and CRIF High Mark. It looks at:
- Your score. CIBIL scores run from 300 to 900. Banks set their own cut-offs and don't publish them, but scores in the mid-700s and above are generally treated as strong.
- Repayment history. Late EMIs and card dues weigh more than anything else.
- How much of your limits you use. Running cards close to the limit reads as stress, even if you pay on time.
- Recent enquiries. Every application leaves a hard enquiry on your report.
- Income and existing limits. These come from your application and documents, not from the report.
Get your free report
RBI rules require every CIC to give you one free full credit report, including your score, once each calendar year. Ask each of the four bureaus separately on its own website. Use the bureau's official site, not a link from a message.
Since 1 January 2025, RBI has required lenders to report your credit data to the bureaus at least every fortnight, so a payment you made two weeks ago should usually show up within a month.
Fix errors before you apply
Look for loans or cards you don't recognise, closed accounts still marked open, and wrong late-payment flags. Raise a dispute with the bureau that shows the error. The bureau checks with the lender and corrects the record.
Under RBI's framework in force since April 2024, if the lender and the bureau together take more than 30 days to resolve your complaint, you're owed compensation of ₹100 for every day of delay.
Apply for one card at a time
Several applications in a few weeks pile up hard enquiries, and a lender reading your report can't tell shopping around from desperation. Pick the one card that fits your spending, apply, finish the KYC and wait for the decision before trying another.
If you have no credit history
With no loans or cards on record, many issuers have nothing to score. Two common ways in:
- A card from your salary-account bank. Existing customers often get pre-approved offers in net banking or the bank's app.
- A card secured against a fixed deposit. Several banks issue a card with a limit tied to an FD. Pay it in full for six to twelve months and you'll have a history to apply with.