Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/144292 
Year of Publication: 
2006
Series/Report no.: 
NBB Working Paper No. 78
Publisher: 
National Bank of Belgium, Brussels
Abstract (Translated): 
Since 1 June 2003 the file of the Central Office for Credits to Private Individuals has recorded information relating to all consumer credits and mortgage loans contracted by natural persons for private purposes, as well as any payment defaults resulting from these loans. This registration aims to strengthen the means of preventing the excessive indebtedness of private individuals. In this paper the data of this unique and quasi exhaustive database are thoroughly analysed. Based on the information for the registered credit contracts and the registered persons, firstly a general description of the structure and characteristics of the Belgian private credit market is given. Further, the paper investigates borrowing and payment behavior according to debtor characteristics. The study finds that borrowing patterns, especially as credit portfolio composition is concerned, clearly diverge according to age and residence. Furthermore, striking differences were found for the percentage of loan defaults if these variables were taken into account. In particular, the paper comes to the conclusion that loan defaults aggregated at the regional level show remarkably strong correlations with economic and demographic factors.
Subjects: 
credit bureau
consumer credits
mortgage loans
loan payment defaults
JEL: 
D14
D18
G21
G22
G29
R29
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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