TransUnion vs Metropol vs CreditInfo: Which CRB Should You Use?
Updated April 2026 • 7 min read
Kenya has three licensed Credit Reference Bureaus — TransUnion Kenya, Metropol CRB, and CreditInfo Kenya. Each holds credit data reported by Kenyan lenders, issues credit reports, and provides clearance certificates. But they differ in consumer features, pricing, mobile access, and reach. This guide helps you decide which to use in different situations.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Feature | TransUnion Kenya | Metropol CRB | CreditInfo Kenya |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ownership | US multinational | Kenyan company | International (Iceland HQ) |
| Consumer portal | transunionkenya.com | metropol.co.ke | creditinfo.co.ke |
| USSD access | No | Yes (*433#) | No |
| Credit report fee | ~KES 650 | ~KES 650 | ~KES 650 |
| Clearance certificate fee | ~KES 2,200 | ~KES 2,200 | ~KES 2,200 |
| Free annual report | Yes (1/year) | Yes (1/year) | Yes (1/year) |
| Credit score range | 200–900 | 200–900 | Available |
| Mobile app | Limited | Yes | No |
| Consumer popularity | Very high | Very high | Moderate |
| Lender coverage | Banks, SACCOs, mobile | Banks, SACCOs, mobile | Banks, some MFIs |
When to Use TransUnion Kenya
Choose TransUnion Kenya when:
- Your bank specifically requires a TransUnion report or clearance certificate
- You are applying for a mortgage or large commercial loan from a TransUnion-integrated bank
- Your employer asks for a TransUnion clearance certificate (some formal sector employers specify this)
- You want a detailed credit history from a well-established international bureau
When to Use Metropol CRB
Choose Metropol when:
- You want quick USSD access via *433# without visiting a portal
- You are a SACCO member (many SACCOs report to Metropol)
- You defaulted on a mobile loan and want to verify your status before repaying
- The lender or employer specifies Metropol
- You want free credit monitoring alerts via SMS
When to Use CreditInfo Kenya
Choose CreditInfo when:
- A tender or employer specifically requires a CreditInfo clearance certificate
- You want to cover all three bureaus for a tender application
- You have credit facilities with lenders that report only to CreditInfo
Do You Need All Three?
For most day-to-day credit checks — confirming you are not listed and can access mobile credit — one bureau is sufficient, and TransUnion or Metropol are most commonly used.
For government tenders, most public procurement guidelines require certificates from all three bureaus to demonstrate overall credit health.
For employment, many employers accept any single certificate from a licensed bureau, but some large corporates may request all three.
Easiest Combined Check: crbcheck.co.ke
Instead of visiting three separate portals and paying three separate fees, you can get a combined view of your CRB status at crbcheck.co.ke for KES 300 via M-Pesa. This is the fastest way to know your current status across bureaus.
Clearance Certificates: Must They Come from a Specific Bureau?
Yes, if the requesting institution specifies a particular bureau. A clearance certificate is issued by one bureau and only reflects that bureau's data. If an institution demands clearance from all three, you need three separate certificates from TransUnion, Metropol, and CreditInfo.
How Your Data Differs Across Bureaus
A single lender may report to only one or two bureaus. This means your credit history at TransUnion may differ from your history at Metropol. Common scenarios:
- Negative listing at Metropol but not TransUnion — the lender only reported to Metropol
- Dispute resolved at one bureau but listing still active at another
- Positive payment history at one bureau not reflected at another
This is precisely why checking all three (or using an aggregator like crbcheck.co.ke) gives you the most accurate picture.