Kredietbepaling

Kredietbepaling is the process by which a lender evaluates the creditworthiness of a borrower. It is used in banking, finance, and consumer lending to decide whether to grant credit and at what terms. The assessment typically includes a review of the borrower’s financial history, income, assets, liabilities and payment behavior.

Key components of kredietbepaling are: identification of the borrower’s income sources and stability of employment; calculation of debt‑to‑income ratios; analysis of existing debts and repayment history; and verification of collateral or guarantees if required. In many jurisdictions, credit bureaus provide credit reports and credit scores that summarise past borrowing and repayment patterns. Lenders may also assess qualitative factors such as business plans for self‑employed applicants or the purpose of the loan.

Legally, kredietbepaling must comply with transparency and fairness regulations. In the European Union, the Consumer Credit Directive and the General Data Protection Regulation require that borrowers receive clear information about the criteria used, and that the assessment process does not discriminate. In the Netherlands, the Wet op het financieel toezicht (Wft) and the Ga-bewuwaard regel on good practice of credit assessment provide specific guidelines.

The outcome of kredietbepaling is a decision to approve, decline or conditionally approve a credit request, along with terms such as interest rate, repayment period and collateral. Proper kredietbepaling reduces credit risk for lenders and helps consumers avoid over‑indebtedness. It also supports financial stability by preventing systematic over‑extension of credit.