Credit Bureau Services

What Credit Bureau Services does

Credit Bureau Services (CBS) is a Nebraska-based, employee-owned credit services firm operating since 1905 from its headquarters in Fremont and a branch in Norfolk. The company serves businesses across healthcare, government, financial services, B2B, and retail with three core service lines: account recovery (pre-collection, full collections, skip tracing, litigation), credit reporting (TransUnion and Equifax single and merged bureau reports, tenant and employment screening), and CheckMate check services (ACCESS point-of-sale verification, ACH-based check recovery, and fraud detection). Its primary product technology stack consists of web-based client portals (CBS Web Connect, Client Connect, PCM Web), integrations with TransUnion and Equifax via subscriber codes, and a community cooperative database shared across member merchants for bad-check writer identification.

The business model blends contingency-based account recovery (fees only on successful collection, with negotiable rates tied to account age, balance, and volume), subscription and per-report credit reporting fees, transaction-based check verification at pennies per check, and usage-based tenant and employment screening. Go-to-market is sales-led through dedicated field representatives who respond to inquiries within one business day, supported by a regional branch presence, industry association memberships (ACA International, CDIA, MDHBA, NCRA), and direct referrals. CBS reports recovery rates double or triple national industry averages across healthcare, government, retail, and credit card segments, and claims to have exceeded $7 million in account listings since 2000.

In January 2021, CBS transitioned to full employee ownership, consolidating a long lineage of acquisitions that began with Credit Bureau of Fremont (1905) and Credit Bureau of Norfolk (1932) and continued through the purchase of Credit Data of Columbus (1970) and Credit Bureau of Grand Island (2007). The company holds certifications under FDCPA, FCRA, HIPAA, and ACA/MDHBA healthcare collection standards, and participates in ACA International's industry benchmarking survey dating to the 1960s. CBS is a privately held corporation with no disclosed revenue, no outside funding, and a headcount in the 11–50 range.

Name

Credit Bureau Services

Legal name

Credit Bureau Services

Website

https://creditpartners.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1905

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Credit Bureau Services is an employee-owned Nebraska credit services firm providing account recovery, credit reporting (TransUnion/Equifax), and check verification to healthcare, government, financial, B2B, and retail clients across the Midwest since 1905.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Fremont

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Account Recovery / Contingency Collections: CBS operates on a contingency basis, charging fees only when successful in collecting accounts. Rates are negotiable based on age, balance, and volume of accounts. The company also offers a Professional Credit Management (PCM) program with no commission cost for pre-collection services.
2. Check Recovery Services: CheckMate program provides check recovery at no cost to members, with revenue generated through membership fees and the community cooperative model. Electronic Check Clearing services provided at low per-transaction costs.
3. Credit Reporting Services: Subscription-based or per-report credit reporting services integrated with TransUnion and Equifax. Services include single bureau reports, dual/merged reports, credit scoring products, and various add-on features.
4. Tenant and Employment Screening: Per-report pricing for tenant screening and pre-employment background checks, available 24/7 through web-based application.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Credit Bureau Services provides accounts receivable management, credit reporting, and check verification/recovery services to businesses across Nebraska. Offerings include pre-collection, full debt collection, skip tracing, litigation support, TransUnion/Equifax credit reports, tenant and employment screening, and the CheckMate community cooperative check verification and recovery program. The company emphasizes local service, certified compliance with FDCPA, FCRA, and HIPAA, and integrated delivery through web-based portals.

Product overview

Credit Bureau Services operates as a full-service credit partner offering three core product lines: (1) Account Recovery Services including pre-collection, full collections, skip tracing, and litigation; (2) Credit Reporting Services covering single/merged credit reports from TransUnion and Equifax, tenant screening, and employment screening; and (3) CheckMate Check Services providing ACCESS verification and check recovery. All services are delivered through client web portals (CBS Web Connect, Client Connect, PCM Web) and are supported by online access to national credit bureaus. The company specializes in healthcare, government, financial services, business-to-business, and retail industry solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CheckMate: Check verification, check recovery, and fraud services for businesses. A community cooperative program designed to help businesses reduce risk, increase profitability, and minimize losses from bad checks.
• Professional Credit Management (PCM)
• CBS Web Connect

Products and services

• Account Recovery Services Full-service debt collection and accounts receivable management for businesses, including pre-collection, full collection, skip tracing, litigation, and account placement. CBS states recovery rates double or triple the national average. Target customers are healthcare, government, financial services, B2B, and retail creditors in Nebraska.
• Credit Reporting Services Full-service consumer reporting agency providing TransUnion and Equifax single bureau reports, dual/merged reports, tenant screening, employment screening, and pre-qualification services for businesses, landlords, and employers.
• CheckMate Check Services Community cooperative check verification, recovery, and fraud services program for businesses. Includes ACCESS point-of-sale verification, ACH-based electronic check clearing, and fraud detection with police cooperation. Designed to help businesses reduce risk, increase profitability, and minimize losses from bad checks.
• Professional Credit Management (PCM) Program Pre-collection program providing cost-effective cash flow improvement and prompt payment from slow-paying accounts while maintaining customer relations. Accounts are processed at no commission cost. Targeted at businesses that want to recover receivables without damaging relationships.
• ACCESS Check Verification Point-of-sale check verification service providing positive identification of check writers against a community database of bad check writers. Available 24/7, costs pennies per check, and is accessible through POS integration.
• Check Recovery Dishonored check collection service using ACH technology and professional collectors. Includes bank authorization, electronic check clearing, and 100% face value remittance. Targeted at businesses seeking to recover bad check losses.
• Fraud Services Fraud detection and prevention services including email alerts for closed, stolen, or forged check writers, police cooperation for fraudulent check activity, and evidence provision for felony prosecution.
• Credit Reports (Single and Dual/Merged Bureau) TransUnion or Equifax single bureau credit reports and dual/merged credit reports accessible via web-based service or in-house application integration. Provides extra protection for credit decisions.
• Pre-Employment Screening Background screening service helping employers verify applicant identity, employment history, credit history, and identify financial stress that may affect job performance.
• Tenant Screening Rental applicant verification service providing credit history, payment activities, and identity verification for landlords and property managers. Available 24/7 through web-based application at one low price with optional add-ons.
• Full Collections Comprehensive debt recovery service with certified collectors trained on FDCPA, FCRA, and healthcare collections, working accounts through all required steps to effect recovery.
• Skip Tracing Location services using latest technology and dedicated full-time staff to find relocated debtors. Also available as a standalone service for in-house collectors.
• Litigation Services Legal action support for accounts where recovery requires court intervention. CBS advances all court costs and legal fees.

Quantifiable outcome

• Healthcare collections recovery rates of 61.7% (non-hospital) and 47.4% (hospitals) vs national averages of 19.3% and 15.7%
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• ACA InternationalcoreOthersACA International is a trade organization of credit and collection professionals providing over one million credit grantors with accounts receivable management services. CBS collectors are certified on FDCPA through ACA's certification program. CBS participates in ACA's general survey of collection agencies since the 1960s.
• Consumer Data Industry Association (CDIA)coreOthersCDIA (formerly Associated Credit Bureaus) represents consumer information companies providing credit and mortgage reports, fraud prevention, tenant/employment screening, and check services. CBS is a long-standing member, with Credit Bureau of Fremont being one of the earlier members when ACB was formed in 1906.
• Medical-Dental-Hospital Business Association (MDHBA)coreOthersMDHBA is a service association of select, quality accounts receivable management companies providing educational programs for healthcare industry members. CBS collectors are certified on healthcare collection through MDHBA. CBS was invited to join MDHBA in 1968.
• National Credit Reporting Association (NCRA)coreOthersNCRA is a national trade organization of consumer reporting agencies providing products and services to credit grantors, employers, and landlords. Members must adhere to NCRA Code of Ethics. CBS collectors and office staff are certified on FCRA through NCRA.
• TransUnioncoreTechnology or IntegrationCBS provides TransUnion credit reports through web-based service or inhouse application integration. CBS uses TransUnion subscriber code system allowing customers to access reports through existing software while receiving local support for disputes.
• EquifaxcoreTechnology or IntegrationCBS provides Equifax credit reports integrated with their service offerings, providing complete customer assistance with credit reports prepared by CBS.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Encore Capital Group: Encore Capital is a publicly traded global specialty finance company that purchases and collects defaulted consumer receivables via its Midland Funding and Midland Credit Management subsidiaries. Comparable as a large-scale contingency collections operator serving banks, credit card issuers, and retail creditors.
• PRA Group: PRA Group is a leading publicly traded debt buyer and collector operating globally across consumer nonperforming loans. Comparable to CBS as a contingency-fee account recovery specialist, but at vastly larger scale, with purchased-portfolio business model layered on top of third-party agency services.
• TransUnion Consumer Credit Reporting (Equifax, Experian as broader peers): TransUnion is one of the three major U.S. nationwide consumer credit bureaus. It is a critical upstream partner (and indirect competitor for direct reporting) for CBS's credit-reporting line; comparable in product offering but vastly larger in scale, geographic reach, and direct enterprise sales motion.
• MicroBilt: MicroBilt is a long-established provider of alternative credit data, identity verification, and risk management tools serving SMB lenders, fintechs, and banks. Comparable to CBS's credit-reporting and screening business as a bureau and data aggregator, though operating nationally with a technology-led, API-driven model.

Direct peers

• CBE Companies: CBE Companies is a privately held, employee-centric third-party collection agency and BPO provider focused on consumer debt recovery, customer contact, and back-office services. Comparable mid-market competitor to CBS in contingency collections, with similar emphasis on certified, compliant operations.
• National Credit Reporting Association (NCRA) member bureaus (e.g., Tracers Information Specialists): Tracers (and similar NCRA-aligned regional consumer reporting agencies) provide credit reports, skip tracing, tenant screening, and employment screening to creditors, landlords, and employers. They are the closest functional peers to CBS's credit reporting and screening line, with comparable reliance on TransUnion/Equifax integrations.
• IC System: IC System is a family-owned, regional third-party collection agency and credit bureau with deep vertical expertise across healthcare, government, retail, and financial services. It is the closest direct peer to CBS in scale, ownership structure (private, independent), and full-service collections-plus-credit-reporting model.
• Coast Professional: Coast Professional is a privately held third-party collection agency specializing in higher education and consumer receivables with a strong customer-service orientation. Comparable mid-market peer with similar full-service, contingent-fee collection model serving regional SMB and enterprise clients.
• Phillips & Cohen Associates: Phillips & Cohen is a privately held specialized collection agency with strong verticals in deceased-account recovery, healthcare, and government receivables. Comparable in regulatory specialization (FDCPA, FCRA, HIPAA) and niche vertical focus that mirrors CBS's healthcare and government practices.
• Transworld Systems: Transworld Systems is a privately held debt collection and credit services firm offering first-party and third-party collections, credit reporting, and business process outsourcing to SMBs and enterprises. Comparable service mix and customer base to CBS, especially in B2B receivables and check recovery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/associated-business-management

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Credit Bureau Services