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Early in my career, I gained a lot of knowledge about credit. But when I moved to the United States from Brazil, establishing credit was a challenge. I worked part-time in a credit card company call center during college. I come from a humble family, and through helping customers, I learned the ins and outs about credit and money management. But all the solid credit history I built up in my home country didn’t transfer to the U.S. When I immigrated, I had to pay upfront for everything from utilities to a cellphone and it made me feel at a disadvantage. Thanks to Experian Boost®i, our feature that allows you to build credit without debt, and responsible management of debt, my FICO® Scoreii quickly rose to reflect my true creditworthiness. But I’ll never forget how it felt to be invisible when it came to the credit system. Being seen is the first step to equitable access to financial tools. Now that Experian conveniently offers Experian credit reports in Spanish onlineiii, consumers who prefer to access information in Spanish will be able to directly comprehend their credit profile so they can feel empowered. Understanding your credit report is a critical component for your ability to make informed decisions about your finances. As the executive sponsor of our Juntos Employee Resource Group (ERG) and someone who was new to credit in the U.S., I know first-hand that being seen is the first step in a journey towards financial wellness. To help you be informed, Experian also has a Spanish-language credit e-book and articles at the Ask Experian blog. Learn more about my financial health journey and my colleague's through #ExperianStories. i Results will vary. Not all payments are boost-eligible. Some users may not receive an improved score or approval odds. Not all lenders use Experian credit files, and not all lenders use scores impacted by Experian Boost®. Learn more. ii Credit score calculated based on FICO® Score 8 model. Your lender or insurer may use a different FICO® Score than FICO® Score 8, or another type of credit score altogether. Learn more. iii Only Experian credit reports are available in Spanish. All other services associated with an Experian membership are available in English only. English fluency is required for full access to Experian’s products. 

Ball pits, a video game and a neon-pink house might not be what typically comes to mind when you think of our mission of financial inclusion. But that’s some of the ways Experian spent its summer sharing resources and information to empower underserved communities. FINANCIAL INCLUSION AND INNOVATION   The mild weather ushered-in summer early in the City of Brotherly Love, where we joined the Allen Iverson Roundball Classic to launch B.A.L.L. (Be A Legacy Leader) for Life.  It was our second year as the exclusive financial literacy partner. In partnership with the National Urban League, we introduced this program to the athletes and their families participating in the all-star weekend. We also created a gamified app that enables users to shoot hoops using gesture controls as they learn about credit and financial tools. Experian’s partnership with UnidosUS includes support for its Financial Empowerment Network (FEN), a program, which offers free, individualized, culturally-relevant support to Latino families. Our colleagues shared credit education resources and their journeys to financial health at the national conference. We are… financially fierce! As a proud sustaining Titanium partner of Out & Equal, we brought The House of Experian to this year’s Workplace Summit. Hundreds visited the eye-catching attraction to learn about financial and credit tools. We also led engaging conversations about money matters for the trans community and dove deep into the financial wellness of LGBTQ+ consumers and entrepreneurs. To learn more about the gaps and needs of the community, we’ve launched a financial wellness survey in partnership with Out & Equal. COMMUNITY ADVOCACY The mental health and wellness of our teammates is a priority for Experian, and it was a big topic of panel discussions at the Disability:IN Annual Conference. Empowering Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) professionals is the focus of the annual Ascend Leadership Convention. This year’s theme was “I Ascend,” encouraging participants to share how they navigate and succeed in their careers. At Essence Fest’s National Urban League Women’s Empowerment Luncheon, Victoria Crain, Experian’s vice president of global compliance and governance and co-executive sponsor of our Black Professionals Employee Resource Group, shared keynote remarks about courage and legacy. EMPOWERING THE NEXT GENERATION   Building paths towards generational wealth took center stage at the National Urban League Annual Conference. We led a conversation with multigenerational influencers and financial experts on money matters from personal and entrepreneurial lenses, and brought the B.A.L.L. for Life experience to the community. Our support for entrepreneurship extends to the Women of Color and Capital, where we were a returning sponsor and joined a discussion about financial solutions for small business owners. HomeFree-USA closed out our summer by honoring Experian with the 2023 Trailblazer Award and the 2023 CFA Partner of the Year Award. Our innovative program, launched in 2022 in partnership with the Center for Advancement (CFA), trained 250 scholars from Historically Black Colleges and Universities to become knowledge ambassadors about credit, and share what they’ve learned in the program with peers and family. Through events like these, we aim to normalize conversations about credit and make it easier for consumers to access the tools they need for their financial wellness. We are already looking forward to Summer 2024. To learn more about how Experian supports diverse communities, check out www.experian.com/deievents.

In a world where financial stress affects the majority of adults, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and isolated. The good news? You're not alone, and there's a way out.   Why it matters: Our recent research sheds light on the prevalence of financial stress among U.S. adults. Nearly 70% of adults feel they have suffered or are currently suffering from financial trauma. This research highlights the urgent need for increased financial education and planning. In addition to job loss, financial fallout from the pandemic, or other economic challenges, a lack of discussion about money growing up and limited access to trustworthy information about finances may be two factors contributing to financial stress: More than half (51%) stated their family rarely or never spoke about finances. This lack of discussion left 43% of those who rarely or never spoke about finances growing up feeling like they never learned about financial planning and 42% stating they never learned to use credit or build their credit scores. 37% of adults are unaware of where to access trustworthy information about financial literacy.   So, how can we alleviate financial stress?   While reducing financial stress will take a multi-faceted approach and will, in many ways, depend on a consumer’s unique financial situation, our survey revealed a common theme: more education would help consumers feel better about their financial situation. A majority (55%) said access to more financial education would help alleviate their financial stressors. In addition, 45% believe establishing a more concrete financial plan for their future would reduce their financial anxieties.   Experian’s free tools and resources Education is central to our mission and we are committed to connecting consumers with tools and financial resources to live more financially empowered lives. If you’re battling financial stress, seeking financial education or working on building a financial plan for your future, here are a few ways we can help: Experian Boost®: Consumers can add positive telecom, utility, video streaming service and qualifying rent payments to their Experian credit file for an opportunity to improve their credit scores by visiting experian.com/boost.[1] Experian Go: Consumers without an established credit history can download Experian’s mobile app and enroll in a free Experian membership to establish, use and build credit responsibly with Experian Go. Experian Smart Money: Earlier this month, Experian released the Experian Smart Money™ Digital Checking Account & Debit Card[2] that embeds Experian Boost. Now it is even more convenient for consumers to use Experian’s feature and improve their credit profile, while also benefiting from an industry-leading suite of financial tools all in one place. Experian’s official credit advice blog, Ask Experian, has answers to common questions, advice and education about credit. Consumers can find additional credit education resources at http://www.experian.com/consumereducation. Free credit monitoring and alerts: consumers can sign up for credit monitoring and receive a free copy of their Experian credit report and FICO Score®[1] monthly at experian.com or via Experian’s mobile app. Experian’s mobile app also offers access to personal finance and credit building tools such as: Industry collaboration is key The onus to overcome financial challenges and stress does not fall solely on consumers. As a financial services community, we have a responsibility to make financial education materials available to consumers. Each of us holds a different piece of the puzzle.   For instance, we’ve long partnered with organizations dedicated to helping consumers navigate and overcome financial challenges, including the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC).   The NFCC has personalized resources available to help consumers, including 1:1 credit counseling. Consumers can receive one-on-one support from one of over 1,200 certified financial counselors at 250 locations across the U.S. to establish debt relief plans through the NFCC by visiting: https://www.nfcc.org/   By fostering collaboration among various stakeholders, including nonprofits, community leaders, credit bureaus, and other financial institutions, consumers can gain a comprehensive understanding of the different components of the financial system.   Additional key findings include: Methodology Experian commissioned Atomik Research to conduct an online survey of 2,001 adults throughout the United States. Researchers controlled for demographic variables such as gender, age, geographic region, race and ethnicity in order to achieve similar demographic characteristics reported in the U.S. census. The margin of error of the overall sample is +/-2 percentage points with a confidence level of 95 percent. Fieldwork took place between August 22 and August 28, 2023. Atomik Research is a creative market research agency.  1 Credit score is calculated based on FICO® Score 8 model, unless otherwise noted. In addition to the FICO® Score 8, we may offer and provide other base or industry-specific FICO® Scores (such as FICO® Auto Scores and FICO® Bankcard Scores). Your lender or insurer may use a different FICO® Score than FICO® Score 8 or such other base or industry-specific FICO® Score (if available), or another type of credit score altogether. Learn more.   2 Results will vary. Not all payments are boost-eligible. Some users may not receive an improved score or approval odds. Not all lenders use Experian credit files, and not all lenders use scores impacted by Experian Boost®. Learn more.   3 The Experian Smart Money Debit Card™ is issued by Community Federal Savings Bank (CFSB), pursuant to a license from Mastercard International. Banking services provided by CFSB, Member FDIC. Experian is a Program Manager, not a bank.