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Advocating for equality isn’t just my job, it’s a personal passion of mine. In my hometown, I’ve served as part of the organizing committee that planned Chicago’s Gay Black Pride. Working with a company that has values similar to my life’s work is an honor. That’s one of the reasons why I’m excited to share that for the fourth year in a row, Experian has been named a “Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality” from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. Attaining a 100% rating from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index is reflective of the work we’re doing to end discrimination against LGBTQ+ people and bring about fairness and equality for all. Our PRIDE employee resource group organizes programs year-round that raise awareness of issues including transgender rights, encouraging intersectionality with our other employee resource groups, and leading partnerships with organizations such as the Trevor Project and Out and Equal. It’s critical that these efforts within our organization extend to how we serve our communities externally. As an example, yesterday, we shared the process we now offer to help transgender and non-binary consumers update their name on their Experian credit report without impacting their credit history. Earning a perfect score by the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization is a tribute to our coworkers and company leadership, and continues to serve as an inspiration to follow our mission. This year, we will continue our efforts as we focus on credit education and awareness for those who are credit invisible within the LGBTQ+ community. Fostering and nurturing a culture of inclusion is part of our greater purpose. We are proud the HRC has recognized our work so far, and we look forward to what’s to come. For more information about Experian’s commitment to equity and diversity, visit experian.com/diversity

As a leading information services company, some of our chief priorities include protecting and ensuring the accuracy of consumer information. The integrity of our data is critical and aligns with our efforts to advocate for financial inclusion for everyone. Data accuracy is particularly relevant for the transgender and non-binary community with regard to name changes. It’s important to note that information about gender/sex, age, race, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation is not included in credit reports or scores. However, when someone transitions, and changes their name, their credit and financial history may still be tied to their birth name, which is also referred to as their “deadname.” This can unintentionally “out” the consumer or force them to establish a new credit history. At Experian, we have a process through which those who identify as transgender and non-binary can provide legal documentation to prove their identity without the negative emotional and financial impact. You can learn more about this process here. When you affirm your identity and update your name, Experian will also suppress your deadname so it does not appear on your Experian credit report. Taking these steps only changes your name on your Experian credit reports, and you may need to inquire about the process with other credit bureaus. Fair access to credit tools is part of our mission, as is providing these services with dignity and respect. At Experian, this is our purpose, advocating for all communities and people. This is financial inclusion.

In 2021, Experian announced that United for Financial Health programme would be launching in two EMEA markets – Italy and South Africa. Today we are pleased to bring you more news of our plans in South Africa. Our partnership with the National Small Business Chamber is focused on supporting Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) to improve their financial fitness. As a result of the pandemic, many small businesses are under enormous strain in the current environment. As the backbone of the South African economy, any challenges faced among these enterprises may have far-reaching implications on the number of unemployed people. Our campaign with the NSBC aims to support SMEs to stay in business and become more resilient to economic disruptions as they continue to be a driving force of inclusive economic growth and job creation in the country. Many SMEs are harming their chances of gaining access to credit, getting better deals from suppliers, and securing additional funding to help grow their business due to a lack of awareness and understanding of their business credit profile. Working alongside the NSBC, we aim to educate, encourage and assist SMEs to become creditworthy. The programme aims to provide tangible ways to help improve financial health, help SMEs overcome the financial difficulties that have resulted from the effects of the pandemic and kick-start people on the road to recovery. Mike Anderson, the CEO of our partners the NSBC, said: “We are extremely excited to launch a ‘How to become financially fit’ campaign in partnership with Experian South Africa, one of the leading credit bureaus, where we can equip SMEs with key tips and strategies to assist them in understanding their financial and credit health. The aim is to empower them to understand the impact of both their personal and business credit profiles on their business’s reputation and ultimately their ability to access the funding required to maintain and grow their businesses.” As part of this financial education drive, we’ll support a series of webinars hosted by the NSBC, with topics ranging from how to improve both your personal and business credit profiles, managing your cash flow, understanding what credit providers are looking for as well as protecting your own business from credit risk. The webinars are open to all NSBC members and will kick off on 28 January 2022 and run until the end of March. For more information on the ‘How to get financially fit’ NSBC campaign in partnership with Experian South Africa visit www.nsbc.africa.

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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.