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Metro2 Onboarding Guide

In order to create accurate and compliant Metro 2® files, each account needs certain information. Some fields are always required; others are required only if your account meets certain conditions (like delinquencies or bankruptcies). Below is an overview of the commonly needed fields, along with why each is important, how it's typically formatted, and the typical or allowed values.

1. Consumer Account Number

Label in Your System

Account Number, Loan ID, or Customer ID

Required or Optional

Required

Why It Matters

Ensures uniqueness and no duplication in reporting.

Format

Up to 30 alphanumeric characters.

Important Notes

  • Keep it consistent across monthly reporting.
  • If this number changes, you typically must report an L1 Segment to tie old and new numbers.

2. Identification Number

Label in Your System

Furnisher ID, Internal Code, Subscriber ID

Required or Optional

Required

Why It Matters

Identifies you (or the current owner/holder) as the furnisher.

Format

Up to 20 alphanumeric characters.

3. Portfolio Type (Field 8)

Label in Your System

Account Category, Loan Type

Required or Optional

Required

Why It Matters

Defines how credit is extended or how the debt is structured.

Common Values

I= Installment (auto loans, personal loans)
R= Revolving (credit cards)
O= Open (utility/charge accounts paid in full)
C= Line of Credit (personal/home equity lines)
M= Mortgage (real estate-secured)

4. Account Type

Required or Optional

Required

Quick Tips for Selecting the Account Type

Match the Underlying Product:

Pick the code that best describes the loan's structure (mortgage vs. line of credit vs. installment, etc.).

Government-Backed Loans:

If a loan is guaranteed or insured by a government agency, use relevant codes like 66, 67, 68, or 69.

Utilities:

Typically 92 for utilities and 4D for telecom/cellular.

Collections:

For a third-party collection agency, code 48.

Leases:

Leases sometimes are 13 or 3A (auto lease).

Consolidated or Debt Consolidation:

Various codes exist (37, 75, or 91). Consult your compliance or reference documentation for the best fit.

See full specifications for complete list of account type codes.

5. Date Opened (Field 10)

Label in Your System

Origination Date, Date Account Opened

Required or Optional

Required

Why It Matters

Reflects age of the account and timeline.

Format

MMDDYYYY

6. Highest Credit or Original Loan Amount (Field 12)

Label in Your System

Loan Principal, Highest Balance

Required or Optional

Required

Format

9 digits (zero-padded).

Typical Values

  • Installment/mortgage: original loan amount.
  • Revolving: highest balance used.

7. Terms Duration (Field 13)

Required or Optional

Optional (but recommended)

Why It Matters

Summarizes repayment length (e.g., how many payments).

8. Terms Frequency (Field 14)

Required or Optional

Optional (but recommended)

Why It Matters

Indicates how often payments are due (monthly, weekly, etc.).

9. Scheduled Monthly Payment Amount (Field 15)

Required or Optional

Usually required if account is in repayment

Why It Matters

The agreed-upon monthly payment for the current period.

10. Account Status Code (Field 17A)

Label in Your System

Delinquency Bucket or Status

Required or Optional

Required

Why It Matters

Tells if the account is current, delinquent, charge-off, etc.

Common Values

11= Current
13= Paid or closed/zero balance
71= 30–179 days past due
78= Charge-off

11. Payment Rating (Field 17B)

Label in Your System

Final Month's Delinquency

Required or Optional

Required for certain "final" statuses (e.g., 13 or 65).

Why It Matters

Conveys how overdue the account was in the final reported month, if it's now paid/closed.

Common Values

0= current in final month
1–5= 30–150 days delinquent in final month
6= 180 days or more past due in final month

12. Payment History Profile (Field 18)

Label in Your System

24-Month Payment History

Required or Optional

Required

Why It Matters

Shows 24-month performance track record.

Format

24 characters (left to right = oldest to newest)

Examples

000000000000000000000000

= always current for 24 months

000033210000000000000000

= shows some 30–120 day lates

Additional Important Fields

13. Special Comment (Field 19)

Examples: CO = Loan Modified, AS = Account closed due to refinance

Required or Optional: Often optional unless certain conditions apply

Adds narrative about special account conditions or arrangements.

14. Compliance Condition Code (Field 20)

Label: Dispute Condition, Account Close Reason, etc.

Allowed Values (examples):

AC= Account closed at consumer's request
XB= Consumer disputes the account directly
blank= Remove a previously reported code

15. Current Balance (Field 21)

Format: 9 digits (zero-padded)

Required or Optional: Required

Total owed on the account.

16. Amount Past Due (Field 22)

Format: 9 digits

Required or Optional: Optional

The portion that is 30+ days overdue.

17. Date of Account Information (Field 24)

Format: MMDDYYYY

Required or Optional: Required

"As of" date for the reported data.

18. Date of First Delinquency (Field 25)

Label: FCRA Compliance/Date of First Delinquency

Required or Optional: Required if reporting any delinquency or charge-off

Used by CRAs for purge rules (negative data typically stays 7 years from this date).

19. Date Closed (Field 26)

Format: MMDDYYYY

Required or Optional: Optional

If the account is closed or paid off.

20. Date of Last Payment (Field 27)

Format: MMDDYYYY

Required or Optional: Required if a payment was received this period

21. Consumer Name & Identification

CRAs match the correct consumer by name + SSN + DOB.

Required Fields

  • First Name: 20 chars
  • Middle Name: 20 chars
  • Surname: 25 chars
  • SSN: 9 digits (if available)
  • DOB: MMDDYYYY (if available)

Address Fields

  • First Line: 32 chars
  • Second Line: 32 chars
  • City: 20 chars
  • State: 2 chars
  • ZIP: 9 digits
  • Telephone: 10 digits

22. ECOA Code

Required or Optional: Required

Relationship of the consumer to the account.

Common Values:

1= Individual
2= Joint
X= Maker (with co-maker)

23. Consumer Information Indicator (Field 38)

Required or Optional: Optional

For special legal conditions like bankruptcy.

24. Country Code (Field 39)

Format: 2-letter country abbreviation (e.g., US)

Required or Optional: Optional if address is US-based

25. Other Segments or Fields

J1/J2 Segments

If there are multiple consumers on an account, or additional addresses.

K Segments

If you're not the original creditor (e.g., debt buyer or collection agency).

L1 Segments

If the Account Number changes.

N1 Segments

If you wish to report employment information.

Quick Reference Summary

Consumer Identification

Surname, First Name, SSN, DOB, Address, Phone

Account Identification

Account Number, Portfolio Type, Account Type, Date Opened

Payment & Status Fields

Scheduled Payment, Account Status, Current/Delinquent Balances, Payment History, Date of First Delinquency

Closing/Ending Fields

Date Closed, Payment Rating (if Paid), ECOA Code, Additional Comments (Special/Compliance Condition)

Ready to Start Metro2 Reporting?

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