The Tribune

BY FAY SIMMONS

TRIBUNE Business Reporter

jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

THE CENTRAL Bank’s Governor yesterday said The Bahamas' first-ever credit bureau remains in its start-up phase but is already helping borrowers strengthen their credit profiles and negotiate better loan terms

John Rolle, speaking at the regulator’s half-year economic briefing, said commercial bank lending continues to accelerate amid improving economic conditions. He said the credit bureau continues to onboard new reporting entities and expand the information available to lenders, while providing consumers with a clearer picture of their credit histories.

"I would say it's been very positive, but to some extent we still feel as if we're in start-up mode with the credit bureau," he said. "There's still a lot of onboarding going on, and we're trying to make certain that we get all of these interested entities onboarded."

Mr Rolle said the system is already producing benefits for both financial institutions and borrowers. "It's already starting to help institutions as well as borrowers," he added.

"It does help borrowers because, for once, a borrower can tell, in a consolidated fashion, what information exists on their credit history and, in the process, clean up any inaccuracies in the records."

Mr Rolle said the credit bureau ultimately gives consumers a stronger ability to demonstrate their creditworthiness when seeking financing.

"It's beneficial for borrowers and it's really intended to empower them, particularly now that they can provide more factual evidence of their creditworthiness and, in many cases, use that to negotiate better interest rates,” he added.

The Governor's comments came as the Central Bank reported continued strengthening in bank lending during the first half of the year.

According to the Central Bank's latest economic review, private sector lending expanded at a modestly faster pace, supported by stronger consumer borrowing and a near doubling in commercial lending. 

Mr Rolle noted that many commercial loans have been directed towards financing major energy sector investments.

"We don't have a very granular view of who those borrowers are, but in many cases they tend to be larger businesses," he said. "In the recent year or so, a significant chunk of lending has also been mobilised to finance some of these energy projects."

The banking sector's asset quality also continued to improve, with delinquent loans declining over the past year.

The Central Bank estimates the ratio of non-performing loans fell by about one percentage point from June 2025 to approximately 4.4 percent, reflecting fewer private sector loans more than three months in arrears and continued management of delinquent accounts by commercial banks.

Mr Rolle said the Central Bank also intends to continue expanding participation in both the credit bureau and the domestic financial system more broadly as part of efforts to improve credit access and strengthen lending decisions.