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Happy International Women’s Day! Across the globe, we have celebrated this week with special events in-person and virtual, featuring best-selling authors, Experian leaders, and topics to further our team’s professional and personal growth. Volunteer events to brought us together and provided opportunities to give back to our communities. This year’s International Women’s Day theme, “Inspire Inclusion” could not be a better fit for Experian. “At Experian, we understand that promoting gender equality is not just a core principle; it’s a strategic pillar for nurturing our growth. We remain firmly committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. The contributions of women are fundamental to our success, underscoring the importance of creating an environment where all individuals, regardless of gender, have equal opportunities to thrive,” says Jennifer Schulz, North America Chief Executive Officer and Global Ambassador of the Women in Experian employee resource group (ERG). Global and business unit ambassadors from our Women in Experian ERG share how to Inspire Inclusion every day. Helen Emmett — Chief Financial Officer for Global Financial ServicesI inspire inclusion by consciously ensuring that every talent, performance and recruitment review is undertaken with a diversity and inclusion lens. I won’t recruit any role without a diverse shortlist and with goals for each job level. Actively mentoring and sponsoring female talent is important, as is calling out teams where diversity is not at acceptable levels. Charlotte Gillan — Global Head of TaxOur diversity is a very visible value at Experian; inclusion is tougher to get right, particularly post-pandemic. If we just have a diverse team, we won’t win. To win, we need people to bring different thoughts and experiences to the table, call or meeting. If we are inclusive, we need to ensure people are listened to and heard. One focus area for me is to really listen and then ask what people think and why. Sometimes this can lead to new ideas, new processes and innovations Marcela Velasco — Spanish Latin America Vice President of Human ResourcesI generate spaces for continuous and open communication, recognize and celebrate individual differences. I create an environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered. Inclusive leadership is not only a responsibility, it’s also an opportunity to create a more enriching and productive work environment. Maria Pou – North America Senior Director of Consumer Information Services Product OperationsI inspire inclusion by actively seeking differences in views and perspectives from a place of love and wanting to understand. I want everybody I come in contact with to feel valued and respected.  Rodrigo Rodrigues — Vice President of Experian Information Technology ServicesInvest in science, technology engineering and mathematics (STEM) education for girls and underrepresented communities. To build a more inclusive future in technology, we must start by addressing the pipeline. Encouraging participation in STEM from an early age is crucial. I advocate for companies and organizations to support programs that expose girls and students from underrepresented communities to technology, offering scholarships, internships, and mentorship programs to help them pursue careers in tech. Maryam Damavandi — North America Senior Vice President and ControllerYou can develop an inclusion mindset by being open to differences in ideas, viewpoints and way of thinking and asking difficult questions when having authentic conversations with diverse individuals. Educate yourself with challenges that diverse individuals face.  Being aware can go a long way but having a voice, especially when something isn’t right can make a difference. Sumeeta Maxwell — Chief Human resources Officer for Experian Global Technology and Software SolutionsSupport the women around you and speak up for them if needed. Remind colleagues in real time of the actions that aren’t inclusive like when they interrupt. Be clear on how you want to be treated. Seek feedback – and do something with it. The women who have your back will tell you the truth!

Recent technological advancements are ushering in a new era of innovation for businesses and consumers but can also help perpetuate fraud. Today we released our annual Future of Fraud Forecast, highlighting five fraud threats that businesses and consumers should be wary of this year, which include: Generative AI accelerates DIY fraud: The explosive popularity of generative AI has brought many benefits, but it’s also made fraud more accessible. Experian predicts fraudsters will use generative AI to accelerate “do-it-yourself” fraud with a wide range of deepfake content, such as emails, voice and video as well as code creation to set up scam websites and perpetuate online attacks. Fraudsters may also use generative AI to socially engineer “proof of life” schemes. Using stolen identities, fraudsters will leverage generative AI to create fake identities on social media. They can then interact online with these new profiles that look like a real consumer. This could dramatically increase the number of fraud attacks. To safeguard customers, companies will likely have to utilize multilayered fraud prevention solutions that “fight AI with AI.” Branches are cool again: Although there’s been a substantial migration to digital lending experiences, many consumers are heading in-person to bank branches to open new accounts or get financial advice. Consumers are doing this as they want to feel safer and think they’re avoiding online security risks by being in-person. When it comes to verifying identities at the branch, there can be human error or oversight that can happen in-person. According to an Experian report, 85% of consumers report physical biometrics as the most trusted and secure authentication method they’ve recently encountered, but the measure is only currently used by 32% of businesses to detect and protect against fraud. Experian forecasts that lenders will introduce more digital identity verification steps, such as physical biometrics, at branches for in-person account openings to protect legitimate customers and mitigate losses. Retailers hit with empty returns: With a rise in online shopping, fraudsters have found creative ways to scam some retailers and small businesses. The customer says they’re returning their purchased item but when the business receives the box, it’s empty. The customer then says they returned the product and it must have gotten lost in the mail. Experian predicts that more criminals will use this method to keep merchandise in 2024, leaving businesses with lost goods and revenue. Synthetic identity fraud will surge: During the pandemic, many fraudsters created synthetic identities but then quickly found easier methods to steal funds through various aid programs. Though they may have been dormant, these synthetic identities now have a few years of history. Experian predicts this will make it easier to elude detection — leading to fraudsters using those dormant accounts to “bust out” and steal funds over the next year. Businesses will need to collaborate more closely than ever with their fraud-prevention partners to review their current portfolios for synthetic identity accounts. Fraudsters expand into cause-related and investment deception: From fake GoFundMe campaigns, social media giveaways, investment opportunities and text fraud, fraudsters are employing new methods that strike an emotional response from consumers with cause-related asks or too-good-to-be-real offers to gain access to consumers’ vital, personal information. Experian predicts that these deceptive cause-related methods will surge in 2024 and beyond. To avoid becoming victims, consumers will have to be extremely cautious and confirm these opportunities, charities or texts are from the intended party before interacting with them. To mitigate fraud in 2024, businesses need to work with a trusted partner to implement a multilayered approach to identity verification and fraud prevention. Experian offers a full suite of automated tools that harness data and analytics to detect and prevent fraud. Learn more about Experian’s fraud prevention offerings here and register for our webinar for a deeper dive into these five fraud predictions and other emerging fraud trends.

We often say creating a better tomorrow isn’t just a slogan, it’s our goal. From our talent recruiting to our products and services, we want to play a positive role in your financial future. That desired impact extends to the work we do in the communities in which we live work and serve. That’s why our recent honor from the 2024 Anthem Awards is so exciting. Created in 2021 by The Webby Awards, The Anthem Awards honors the purpose and mission-driven work of people, companies and organizations worldwide. We are thrilled that our modern and more relatable approach to financial health has been honored with a Bronze Anthem Award for the video series, “HeartBroke,” produced in partnership with The Singleton Foundation. As part of our United for Financial Health initiative, the show brings together couples for frank and honest conversations about their finances and how relationships are tested with financial issues. Financial expert Misty Lynch coaches them through those issues to help them determine if they can work through it or end up HeartBroke(n). It’s no surprise that money matters can put enormous strain on relationships and our daily lives. That’s why we’re also working with The Singleton Foundation to help young adults master money basics in the show “Your World on Money.” Now in its second season, “Your World on Money” explores topics like insurance, how to negotiate your salary, credit invisibility and stock market basics.   It’s exciting to be among the distinguished winners honored this year. But for Experian, helping you feel empowered when it comes to your credit and finances is the bigger reward.

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Patients use self-service tools to easily connect with providers online and manage administrative tasks 24/7. Common patient self-service tools include patient portals, online scheduling and mobile registration. Self-service solutions also include robust financial tools that help patients update insurance information, get accurate estimates, apply for charity care, set up payment plans, combine payments to multiple providers or set up a fundraising page.   Lorem Ipsum comes from sections 1.10.32 and 1.10.33 of “de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum” (The Extremes of Good and Evil) by Cicero, written in 45 BC. This book is a treatise on the theory of ethics, very popular during the Renaissance. The first line of Lorem Ipsum, “Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet..”, comes from a line in section 1.10.32. Heading 2 Related Posts

Amid some of the financial challenges that underserved communities experience, members across the financial services community remain committed to championing initiatives and programs that drive greater financial inclusion. In fact, collaboration has led to the inclusion of non-debt related payment information on consumers’ credit profiles, as well as digital services that make it easier to manage money. These efforts have helped to broaden access to fair and affordable financial resources for more individuals. While significant progress has been made, there is still more work to do. However, some of the misconceptions and myths about the financial services community are hindering further advancement. Debunking these myths will accelerate progress by building trust between the financial services community and consumers. Person withdrawing money from ATM contactless Myth #1: “Financial institutions have no interest in underserved consumers or credit invisibles.” The truth is, banks and credit unions want to say “yes” to more prospective borrowers, including individuals and families from underserved communities. Beyond being the right thing to do, it’s an opportunity to potentially build lifelong relationships with a relatively untapped market. A show of good faith to communities who have largely been ignored by the financial system could lead to customer loyalty that may extend to their family and friends. That’s why participants across the financial ecosystem have been proponents of including expanded data sources—such as on-time telecom, utility and video streaming service payments—on to consumer credit reports, as well as exploring other Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)-regulated data sources, including payment data on short-term small dollar loans and expanded public records data. Making this data more accessible to lenders provides a more comprehensive view of a consumer’s ability and willingness to repay outstanding debt—an actionable solution to extending credit to consumers without lenders taking on additional risk. Myth #2: “There is a lack of trustworthy financial education resources.” The financial services community and affiliated organizations recognize that empowering people with financial knowledge and skillset are critical to consumers’ financial success. In fact, banks and credit unions are partnering with nonprofits and non-governmental organizations to better understand the unique challenges and opportunities within specific communities and provide relevant tools and resources. For example, Experian’s B.A.L.L. for Life (Be A Legacy Leader) program, launched in partnership with the National Urban League, serves as a catalyst for engaging with Black communities and low-income youth through live events and digital financial education. Subject matter experts, professional athletes, celebrities, and other influencers share their experiences and expertise, covering topics such as banking, credit, financial management and investing. In addition, to help people improve their financial management, Experian partners with the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC). The NFCC connects consumers with certified financial counselors to help them address various pain points, including debt management, homeownership, student loans or small business cash flow issues. Myth #3: “Underserved communities have few opportunities to build credit and enter the mainstream financial system.” People from underserved communities, as well as younger consumers and recent immigrants are often excluded from the mainstream financial system because they lack an extensive credit history. Historically, it’s created a vicious cycle; in order to get credit, you have to have credit. Fortunately, there has been a sea change in innovative solutions to address the specific needs of these populations. These include new credit scoring models and microfinancing which provide financial services to individuals who may have been excluded from traditional banking systems. In addition, by incorporating expanded data sources, such as telecom, utility and residential rental payments onto credit reports, lenders have more visibility into consumers who may have been excluded by traditional credit scoring methods.These programs help individuals and families from underserved communities establish and build a credit history that could enable loans, or the ability to rent an apartment or open their dream business. An example is Experian Boost®, a free feature that allows Experian members to contribute their history of making utility, cellphone, insurance, residential rent and video streaming service payments directly into their Experian credit profile. By incorporating nontraditional credit data like paying utility bills on time, online banking transactions, rental payments and verified income data, more people can establish a credit profile that can potentially qualify them for a loan. More Inclusion, Fewer Myths It’s encouraging that community organizations and banks are beginning to see the economic and social benefits of aligning on financial literacy and inclusion. As more initiatives come online, underserved populations will be able to establish a better financial foundation. Then, we can declare the myths to be history.