You have come to borrow some money from your bank.

Maybe you are trying to build/buy a house, start your own company, take advantage of an opportunity to expand your business, whatever the goal. When you meet with the bank loan officer, having filled all necessary forms, after all the pleasantries, she drops her head on the papers before her and what is she checking? Your credit. She checks your credit to know if they can trust or believe you when you say you will pay back.

At this point, your words don’t count, your fine face doesn’t matter, your sugarcoated-smooth-talker personae won’t wash.  it’s your credit she’s staring at, it’s your credit that’s speaking to her.

And guess what, she’s not looking at the credit of the past seven days or one month, she’s checking your history, your records, your pattern through the years.

If your credit is not convincing, she looks up at you, poker-faced, her voice void of any emotion and delivers the heart-breaking news – Sir, we are sorry, we would not be able to grant you the loan you’re applying for. And that is the verdict.

Why are you upset when I ask for time to go through ‘the records’ to see your patterns?

Why are you angry because I check your ‘credit history’ before deciding to commit to you?

Why tag me unspiritual if I choose to trust your patterns more than your sweet promissory notes?

And why look at me like that because I say I am not able to ‘loan’ you my life?

Hey, It’s God who won’t consult your past before blessing you. I am still on the journey of becoming like Him. For now, all I see is your ‘credit history’, and I am sorry ‘we can’t grant you this loan.’ I can’t sign these papers. I’m sorry.

Can we fix this pattern first? Can we chill and make some cool ‘credit’ moves? And don’t get me wrong, I’m not asking for the type Nigerians make when they transfer some huge amount into their account just so they are granted a visa. I’m asking for consistent deposits, credible transactions, sustainable business deals that would pan over a period of time – A credible Pattern. I mean, can you make an effort and create some new credit history?

You know, that the loan bank officer said No the first time doesn’t mean it’s forever, you know. When you probably come again, and they see different, it’s not impossible she might smile an easy Yes. But in the meantime, please do something about this ‘credit history.’