What Is a CDR Representative and How Can It Help You Scale Into Australia?

Introduction

Expanding into a new market always comes with barriers: regulation, infrastructure, compliance, and time. For international fintechs and global platforms eyeing the Australian market, one of the fastest and most compliant ways to launch is through the CDR Representative model.

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Understanding the CDR Representative Model

Under Australia’s CDR framework, only Accredited Data Recipients (ADRs) are permitted to access and use consumer data. However, the regulatory system also offers a streamlined participation option: the CDR Representative model.

A CDR Representative is a business that operates under the authorisation and compliance infrastructure of an already-accredited entity, known as a CDR Principal. The CDR Principal takes on the regulatory obligations, while the Representative gets access to the data and tools needed to build compliant, consumer-facing products.

For a full breakdown of the model, visit the CDR Participant Pathways page.

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Why This Model Matters for Scaling Into Australia

1. No Need for Full Accreditation

Accreditation can be time-consuming and costly. It requires demonstrating compliance with technical, privacy, and security standards, as well as maintaining insurance and audit trails.

As a Representative, you skip the accreditation process and rely on your CDR Principal’s existing licence.

2. Faster Go-To-Market

The CDR Representative model allows you to access data and go live in a matter of weeks rather than months. This is ideal for:

• Product validation
• Proof of concept
• Market expansion

3. Ideal for International Entrants

You do not need to be an Australian entity to operate as a CDR Representative. The model is specifically designed to lower the barrier for global firms to engage with Australian consumer data safely.

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How the CDR Representative Model Works in Practice

Here’s a typical flow:

1. A consumer grants consent to your product or platform.
2. That consent is recorded and managed by your CDR Principal (e.g. Fiskil).
3. You access the data via your Principal’s API infrastructure.
4. You build value-added services such as credit assessments, spending insights, or switching tools.

All data access is logged and governed by the CDR rules, with security and compliance obligations held by your CDR Principal.

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Use Cases for International Fintechs and Platforms

• Global banks offering multi-market personal finance tools
• Lending platforms accessing bank data for Australian customers
• BNPL or embedded finance apps looking to assess customer affordability
• Open energy switching services that rely on real usage data

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How Fiskil Helps You Launch Faster

Fiskil is a CDR Principal offering API infrastructure and representative onboarding for global fintechs.

With Fiskil, you get:

• Immediate access to real-time data from 140+ Australian banks and energy providers
• Support for consent flows, privacy compliance, and security
• Full API documentation and developer tools
• A trusted pathway to operate in Australia under the CDR framework

Contact us to learn how to become a CDR Representative and scale into Australia, the compliant way.

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Further Reading

• CDR Participant Pathways
• ACCC CDR Accreditation Overview