According to the People's Bank of China (PBC) Huaihua Branch, the first batch of "Eco-Credit Score Loans" were successfully launched in Jingzhou Miao and Dong Autonomous County this past April. Three households in Gantang and Aoshang Towns have become the first beneficiaries, securing a total of 250,000 yuan in loans, which includes an additional 150,000 yuan granted based on their ecological credit scores.
"I never expected that these green protection and eco-friendly farming practices could be converted into credit scores, and then into real, tangible loan amounts," said Mr. Wu, an excited beneficiary who just secured a loan from the Jingzhou Rural Commercial Bank.
The "Eco-Credit Score Loan" is an innovative initiative by the PBC Huaihua Branch to explore how credit reporting can facilitate the realization of ecological product value. The bank quantifies indicators such as forest property rights certificates, energy-saving facilities, afforestation activities, and ecological protection records into eco-credit scores, which are then added to borrowers' credit limits. This establishes a financing model featuring "eco-asset collateral plus eco-credit accounts empowered by the credit system," effectively bridging the gap to convert "ecological resources into credit assets and then into loan funds."
Located in southwestern Hunan, Huaihua boasts a forest coverage rate exceeding 70%. For a long time, however, farmers' green protection efforts were difficult to quantify or use as collateral, making it hard to translate this ecological advantage into financial benefits. In October 2025, the PBC Huaihua Branch took the lead in drafting the "Work Plan for Empowering Ecological Product Value Realization through Credit Reporting in Huaihua," taking the lead in the province to establish an eco-credit scoring account system. It also guided the Jingzhou Rural Commercial Bank to introduce the supporting "Eco-Credit Score Loan" Management Measures.
To ensure the pilot program was launched scientifically and methodically, the PBC Huaihua Branch conducted multiple research meetings with the Municipal Development and Reform Commission, the Municipal Data Bureau, and the Jingzhou County Government. They also made a special trip to the People's Bank of China Tongren Branch in Guizhou Province to study mature, established practices. During the rollout, the branch guided the Jingzhou Rural Commercial Bank to establish a "baseline metrics plus dynamic adjustments" scoring model. Initial scores are determined by foundational data such as forest property certificates, woodland acreage, and crop types. These scores are then dynamically updated based on the farmer's daily ecological protection efforts and sustainable farming practices, ensuring that the scoring assessment is precise and applied on a household-by-household basis.
By mid-May, over 1,000 households in Jingzhou Miao and Dong Autonomous County had completed the collection of their real-name information, leading to the establishment of dedicated eco-credit score profiles. The successful issuance of the first three loans marked a breakthrough where the product, credit lines, and actual funding were all successfully rolled out.
A relevant official from the PBC Huaihua Branch stated that, moving forward, they will comprehensively summarize the pilot experience and continue to deepen the construction of the rural credit system. Efforts will be made to constantly broaden the application scenarios for eco-credit scores, promoting the organic integration of realizing the value of ecological products with rural revitalization, ensuring that more farmers benefit from the "invaluable assests" generated by their "green waters and lush mountains."
(Translated by Feng Tao)