China to Wipe Bad-Debt Records in Bid to Revive Consumer Credit

China's central bank is rolling out a policy to hide default records for individuals with small, pandemic-era debts, a targeted move to repair household balance sheets and reignite the consumer spending crucial for the country's economic recovery.

The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) announced Monday the measure applies to borrowers with a single overdue debt of up to 10,000 yuan (US$1,421), incurred between 2020 and 2025. If the debt is fully repaid by March 31 of next year, the delinquency record will be hidden from their official credit reports.

The policy, set to be implemented in phases from 2026, will be administered automatically by the central bank's credit reference center, meaning individuals won't need to apply. "The policy was introduced to help pandemic-hit borrowers, who are actively repaying their loans, rebuild their credit swiftly," the PBOC said in a statement, directly addressing the pandemic's lingering economic fallout.

PBOC Deputy Governor Zou Lan noted at a press briefing that many affected borrowers have already settled their debts, but the negative marks remain on their credit files, acting as a barrier to accessing new loans. This initiative, he said, supports growth by "invigorating grass-roots economic activity."

Investor Risk: The policy could obscure the true creditworthiness of a segment of the population, making it harder for lenders to accurately assess risk. While it might spur short-term loan growth, it could also lead to a higher rate of non-performing loans down the line if underlying repayment capacity hasn't genuinely improved.