Specialized in credit information systems (SIC), business information, and credit management solutions, CRIF provides companies, banks, financial institutions, confidiums, and insurance providers with qualified support across every stage of the customer relationship lifecycle. With continuous innovation at the core of its development, CRIF’s integrated solutions help organizations anticipate market trends, enhance business performance, reduce credit and business risks, prevent fraud, and optimize operational processes, all while managing costs effectively and supporting broader ESG compliance requirements where applicable.
With nearly 6,000 professionals across more than 70 companies within the Group, CRIF today supports over 82,000 businesses, 10,500 banks and financial institutions, 1,000 insurance companies, and 1,000,000 consumers in more than 50 countries.
Its solutions also assist organizations in performing accurate regulatory compliance assessments, ensuring that decision-making processes align with evolving industry standards.
Established in Bologna in 1988, CRIF has built a strong global presence, operating across four continents. It is the market leader in Italy for retail credit solutions and stands as the leading group in continental Europe in the banking credit information sector. Globally, CRIF ranks among the top providers of integrated business and commercial information, as well as credit and marketing management services. Through strategic investments in innovation, technology, and information security, CRIF has positioned itself as a leader in the development and management of advanced information and rating systems worldwide, further strengthening its role in supporting ESG compliance and comprehensive regulatory compliance assessments across diverse markets.
Commitment to sustainable development
Drawing on decades of experience, CRIF has assumed a central role in promoting sustainable business practices. It offers models, tools, and services that support the integration of ESG factors into procurement strategies and risk management frameworks. These services assist companies in meeting ESG compliance requirements and help demonstrate accountability to investors, regulators, and consumers.
Through standardized, digital, and globally scalable tools, CRIF enables organizations to measure their ESG performance and communicate progress transparently. These tools are particularly valuable for companies that need to demonstrate both ESG compliance and alignment with long-term sustainability goals.
CRIF itself has integrated sustainability into its corporate strategy, embedding environmental and social responsibility into its policies and processes. This internal commitment further underscores CRIF’s aim to drive sustainable growth for clients and contribute meaningfully to global sustainability efforts.
The methodology of CRIF Ratings
Synesgy benefits from the expertise of CRIF Ratings, a CRIF Group company, which aligns with globally recognized sustainability frameworks, including the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Since 2020, CRIF Ratings has enhanced its methodology to incorporate environmental and social dimensions into credit ratings. Synesgy’s ESG Assessment, developed in collaboration with CRIF Ratings, is among the most credible ESG platforms, and as of 2024, is officially certified by GRI.
The Synesgy platform enables organizations to evaluate the environmental, social, and governance sustainability of companies around the world. It generates reliable ESG scores based on globally accepted standards, ensuring comparability and transparency. These assessments also support regulatory compliance assessments by aligning with both international and local ESG regulations and best practices.
The TranspArEEnS Project
CRIF is a partner in the European project TranspArEEnS (Mainstreaming Transparent Assessment Of Energy Efficiency In Environmental Social Governance Ratings), led by Ca' Foscari University of Venice and funded with €1.5 million by the European Commission. The project aims to enhance sustainable investment, particularly by small and medium enterprises, by developing a standardized, rigorous model for assessing ESG compliance. This initiative supports the ecological transition while promoting inclusivity and transparency in ESG evaluations.
A global presence
Synesgy’s platform and methodology enable companies to assess ESG performance consistently and obtain sustainability scores aligned with global benchmarks. These tools are designed to reflect both international frameworks and regulatory compliance assessments, ensuring relevance across jurisdictions.
In key global markets, Synesgy has adapted its methodologies and tools to reflect local contexts, regulations, and industry-specific ESG requirements. Countries where this localization is active include: Italy, UAE, Germany, France, Spain, the United States, Brazil, Japan, and South Africa.
Safety and Certifications
CRIF pursues major investments annually to ensure the highest standards of information security and quality of solutions.
A list of certifications obtained can be found on the CRIF website: