Before 2014, a large corporate borrower could be in default with one bank while another bank, unaware, kept lending to it. Stress stayed hidden in individual loan books until it became too big to ignore.
RBI’s answer was CRILC, the Central Repository of Information on Large Credits. It pools data on every large borrower across reporting lenders, so early signs of stress are visible system-wide.
This guide explains what CRILC is, who reports and when, how SMA categories work, how lenders use the data, and what CRILC is not.
What CRILC Is
CRILC stands for Central Repository of Information on Large Credits. RBI set it up in 2014 under its framework for early recognition of financial distress, prompt steps for resolution, and fair recovery for lenders.
It is a supervisory database. It collects borrower-level credit information from reporting lenders on large exposures, lets RBI monitor concentration and stress, and shares information with lenders on common borrowers so they can act early and together.
Who Reports to CRILC
Reporting obligations cover:
- Scheduled commercial banks
- All-India financial institutions
- Notified NBFCs, which include deposit-taking NBFCs, non-deposit-taking NBFCs with assets of ₹500 crore and above, and NBFC-Factors
- Primary (urban) co-operative banks with total assets of ₹500 crore and above, under their own reporting format
Since November 2025, these obligations sit within RBI’s consolidated, entity-wise directions on credit information reporting and related areas, rather than in scattered circulars.
What Gets Reported and How Often
The core threshold is aggregate exposure of ₹5 crore and above to a borrower, counting fund-based and non-fund-based exposure.
For these borrowers, lenders report credit information, including SMA status. Typical reporting components are:
| Report | Content | Frequency (banks) |
|---|---|---|
| CRILC-Main | Borrower-level exposure, asset classification and SMA status | Monthly |
| Weekly default reporting | Borrowers with ₹5 crore+ exposure that are in default | Weekly |
| Additional returns | Items such as written-off accounts and current account balances in specified formats | As prescribed |
Notified NBFCs and eligible co-operative banks follow their own prescribed frequencies and formats. Confirm current requirements in the applicable directions and supervisory return guidelines.
SMA Categories and Their Meaning
Special Mention Account (SMA) classification flags stress before an account becomes a non-performing asset (NPA).
| Category | For loans other than revolving facilities: overdue period |
|---|---|
| SMA-0 | Up to 30 days |
| SMA-1 | More than 30 and up to 60 days |
| SMA-2 | More than 60 and up to 90 days |
For revolving facilities such as cash credit, SMA-1 and SMA-2 are based on the period the outstanding balance stays above the sanctioned limit or drawing power.
Beyond 90 days overdue, the account generally becomes an NPA. Classification is borrower-level and should be system-driven and updated at day-end, not manually tagged at month-end.
How Lenders Use CRILC Data
CRILC is not just a reporting burden. Lenders draw on it in three ways.
Early warning on common borrowers
A lender can see that a shared large borrower has slipped into SMA or default with another institution. That signal can trigger a review, a covenant check, or a conversation with the borrower before stress spreads.
Collective resolution
Under RBI’s prudential framework for resolution of stressed assets, a borrower’s default with one lender prompts a review, and lenders coordinate resolution plans, typically through an inter-creditor agreement. CRILC visibility is what makes this coordination possible.
Underwriting and exposure decisions
Before lending to a large borrower, a reporting lender can review the borrower’s standing across the system, complementing bureau reports and the borrower’s own disclosures.
CRILC vs Credit Bureaus
| Aspect | CRILC | Credit information companies (bureaus) |
|---|---|---|
| Operator | RBI | Licensed credit information companies |
| Coverage | Large exposures of ₹5 crore and above | All borrowers, retail and commercial |
| Purpose | Supervisory monitoring and early stress detection | Credit assessment and pricing |
| Access | RBI and reporting lenders on common borrowers | Members and individuals for their own reports |
| Borrower access | Not available to borrowers or the public | Individuals and businesses can obtain their reports |
CRILC and bureau data complement each other. Neither replaces the other, and neither replaces the lender’s own analysis of the borrower’s cash flows.
Common Compliance Gaps
- Aggregate exposure errors: Missing non-fund-based exposure or exposure through group entities, so borrowers fall below the threshold in reports.
- Manual SMA tagging: Classifications updated late or inconsistently across systems.
- Weekly default misses: Defaults occurring mid-week not captured in time.
- Data mismatches: Borrower identifiers, PAN, or group mapping inconsistent across reports.
- Slow follow-through: SMA signals from CRILC not linked to any internal action.
RBI has penalised institutions for CRILC reporting deficiencies, so accuracy and timeliness are examined, not assumed.
Use Cases
Corporate banking: A bank’s early-warning team reviews weekly CRILC defaults for common borrowers, and places accounts under enhanced monitoring when another lender reports default.
NBFC wholesale lending: A large NBFC automates aggregate exposure computation, including group entities, so borrowers crossing ₹5 crore are captured in CRILC reporting from the first month.
MSME portfolios: A lender uses system-driven SMA classification across all borrowers, not just CRILC-eligible ones, combining it with bank statement analysis to spot liquidity stress early.
Key Takeaways
- CRILC is RBI’s Central Repository of Information on Large Credits, set up in 2014.
- Banks, AIFIs, notified NBFCs and larger UCBs report borrowers with aggregate exposure of ₹5 crore and above.
- SMA-0, SMA-1 and SMA-2 flag stress at up to 30, 31-60 and 61-90 days overdue.
- Lenders use CRILC for early warning, collective resolution and large-exposure decisions.
- CRILC is a supervisory database, not a credit bureau, and is not accessible to borrowers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all NBFCs report to CRILC?
No. Notified NBFCs report, including deposit-taking NBFCs, non-deposit-taking NBFCs with assets of ₹500 crore and above, and NBFC-Factors.
What does SMA-2 mean in CRILC?
The borrower’s dues have been overdue for more than 60 days and up to 90 days. It is the last SMA stage before an account usually becomes an NPA.
Can a borrower access their CRILC report?
No. CRILC is a supervisory database for RBI and reporting lenders. Borrowers can access their credit bureau reports instead.
What is the CRILC reporting threshold?
Aggregate exposure of ₹5 crore and above to a borrower, including fund-based and non-fund-based exposure.
What is the full form of CRILC?
Central Repository of Information on Large Credits.
Conclusion
CRILC changed large-borrower credit in India by making stress visible across lenders. For reporting institutions, it is both an obligation and an early-warning tool. The value comes from accurate exposure aggregation, system-driven SMA classification, and a clear internal response when CRILC shows a borrower slipping.
Lenders that connect CRILC signals with their own cash-flow analysis act sooner and recover more.
FinEye by BeFiSc gives lenders cash-flow and banking-behaviour insight on business borrowers, so liquidity stress shows up alongside SMA and CRILC signals rather than after them. Book a FinEye demo to see it on your portfolio.
