At A Glance
At a Glance When an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type 2ince the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release ince the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the releaseince the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the releaseince the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the releaseince the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release
Experian Marketing Services’ Client Summit and The Digital Marketer report recognized among more than 3,300 nominations nationwide Experian Marketing Services, a global provider of integrated consumer insights and targeting, data quality and cross-channel marketing, was presented with three bronze Stevie Awards at the 12th Annual American Business Awards in Chicago, Illinois, on Friday night, June 13, 2014. The American Business Awards is the nation’s premier business award program. All organizations — public and private, for-profit and nonprofit, large and small — operating in the United States are eligible to submit nominations. As a winner, Experian Marketing Services was recognized from more than 3,300 nominations that were submitted this year. “It’s an honor to be recognized, especially by this esteemed panel of business executives, for the value we create for our clients,” said Ashley Johnston, senior vice president of global marketing at Experian Marketing Services. “Our Stevie Award wins underscore our commitment to helping our clients create intelligent interactions with their customers, through our wide range of strategic marketing services and offerings.” Experian Marketing Services’ Client Summit and The Digital Marketer: Benchmark and Trend Report were both recognized with bronze Stevie Awards. • For the highly attended 2013 Client Summit, Experian Marketing Service developed a program that combined inspiration, education and networking around the theme of “Interactions.” The three-day event exposed more than 1,000 marketers from some of the world’s largest and most sophisticated brands to key strategies, recommendations and drivers for effective cross-channel marketing. The ultimate goal the Client Summit is to help marketers make meaningful connections with their customers at every point of interaction. • Created to help demystify today’s rapidly changing digital landscape for clients and the business community at large, the fifth edition of The Digital Marketer: Benchmark and Trend Report features extensive analysis, case studies, best practices and the results of a survey Experian conducted among several hundred marketers. Experian Marketing Services also received a bronze Stevie Award for Communications or PR Campaign/Program of the Year for an internal communications campaign that engaged global employees in a strategic business initiative. Nicknamed “the Stevies” for the Greek word for “crowned,” the trophies were presented to winners during a gala banquet on Friday, June 13, at the Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park Hotel. More than 400 nominees and their guests attended. The presentations will be broadcast by the BizTalk Radio Network this week on Tuesday and Friday nights, June 17 and June 20, respectively. Experian Marketing Services also is a finalist for the American Business Awards new product and technology awards event, scheduled to take place on Friday, Sept. 12, in San Francisco, California. “It’s an honor for us to recognize and celebrate such an outstanding class of organizations and individuals,” said Michael Gallagher, president and founder of the Stevie Awards. “The judges were especially discerning this year. All of this year’s Gold, Silver and Bronze Stevie winners should be proud that the judges recognized their achievements and their ability to express those achievements in a way that captured the judges’ hearts and imaginations.” Details about the American Business Awards and the lists of Stevie winners who were announced on June 13 are available at StevieAwards.com/ABA.
According to Experian Marketing Services, a global provider of integrated consumer insights, targeting, data quality and cross-channel marketing, abandoned cart emails have significantly higher revenue per email than promotional mailings. Featuring results from a new email remarketing best practices analysis, as part of its Q1 2014 Email Benchmark Report, Experian Marketing Services found that personalized abandoned cart emails that show the actual customer cart had 25 percent higher transaction rates than abandoned cart emails that just linked back to the brand’s Website. Further, personalized subject lines had 12 percent higher unique open rates than mailings without personalization. A complimentary download of the full report is available here: http://ex.pn/1l4VlrS. Additional findings from the email remarketing best practices analysis confirm: • Abandoned cart emails should be delivered in a three-part series. Brands that send second abandoned cart reminders had a 50 percent increase in abandoned cart revenue compared to just their first abandoned cart mailing. Those sending three mailings saw a 56 percent increase in revenue compared to just sending the initial abandoned cart email. • Test including an offer. Including an offer in the first abandoned cart mailing boosted transaction rates by 54 percent. The highest transaction rates for offers were for dollar-off offers (2.05 percent), followed by free shipping (1.87 percent) and percent off (1.15 percent) offers. “Mastering email remarketing through a series of personalized content can have a real and direct impact on a brand’s bottom line,” said Peter DeNunzio, general manager for cross-channel marketing at Experian Marketing Services. “We’re seeing that brands that are able to ‘test and learn’ their way to personalization are particularly successful as they embrace cross-channel programs. By understanding the impact of timing, creative messaging and personalization – and adopting a continuous improvement mindset – brands are incorporating cross-channel tactics more seamlessly in their remarketing strategies.” Industry performance analysis The Q1 2014 Email Benchmark Report details overall email marketing trends for the first quarter of 2014 as well as the key performance indicators (KPIs) that shaped the success of email programs over the past two years across seven major verticals: business products and services, catalogers, consumer products and services, media and entertainment, multichannel retailers, publishers, and travel. Total email volume increased by 15.6 percent in Q1 2014 compared to Q1 2013 but volume declined in Q1 as compared to the previous holiday quarter (Q4 2013). Additional findings from specific industries include: • Catalogers had the highest gain in volume as 100 percent of brands increased mailings in Q1 2014. • More than half of the multichannel retail brands had statistically significant year-over-year increases in total and unique open rates in Q1 2014. • Fifty percent of total email opens are occurring on mobile devices. However, this varies by vertical. While 63 percent of emails from multichannel retailers are opened on a mobile device, mobile opens account for only 22 percent of email opens for business products and services. Increasing bounce rates highlight deliverability and data quality challenges According to a recent Experian Data Quality study, 66 percent of companies have experienced email deliverability issues in the last 12 months. Similarly, the Q1 2014 Email Benchmark Report highlights a 14.3 percent year-over-year increase in email bounce rates, with large percentage increases across several of the industries. Compared to bounce rates for the past two years, 2014 Q1 business products and services rates were constant, while catalogers and multichannel retailers experienced much larger increases in bounce rates year-over-year. The dramatic increase in bounce rates is due to the new practices of Internet Service Providers who are now shutting down inactive accounts more frequently to keep their own performance healthy. “It is vital companies adopt more effective targeting, list cleaning and data quality practices to improve the deliverability of their emails and the health of their cross-channel marketing programs,” said DeNunzio. Experian Marketing Services’ Q1 2014 Email Benchmark Report is available to download: http://ex.pn/1l4VlrS.
World Cup fans will be watching the 2014 games across multiple devices, often simultaneously, according to an analysis from Experian Marketing Services, a global provider of integrated consumer insight, targeting, data quality and cross-channel marketing. Specifically, World Cup fans are 31 percent more likely than average to watch online video across multiple devices, with 64 percent of adult fans watching online video during a typical week, compared with 49 percent of all adults. This is according to Experian Marketing Services’ National Consumer Survey, a nationally representative, continuously fielded survey of approximately 25,000 U.S. adults, including both English and Spanish speakers. Experian Marketing Services also found that World Cup fans are: • 60 percent more likely to use their phone to keep up with sports • 65 percent more likely to stream video from a work computer • 20 percent more likely to multitask while watching TV • 37 percent more likely to use a digital tablet • 60 percent more likely to use sports apps on their phone during a typical week “Adult fans of the World Cup don’t need a TV to watch video,” said Bill Tancer, general manager, global research at Experian Marketing Services. “This is a digitally and technologically savvy audience that doesn’t care how they watch their favorite programs, just as long as they are able to watch them. Expect to see the 2014 World Cup broadcasted everywhere the fans are this year, whether that’s at their desk computer or during their morning commute.” According to Tancer, because World Cup fans are such heavy users of digital media while they watch TV, Experian Marketing Services will be analyzing key online and search trends throughout the 2014 games. The Experian Marketing Services’ 2014 World Cup Online Trends Dashboard will be updated every Monday from June 9 to July 13, 2014. The dashboard will reveal the most popular daily searches from World Cup fans, including top players, search terms driving traffic to FIFA.com and the most popular Websites for soccer updates. So far, data has shown that ESPN Soccernet.com is the leading Website for soccer updates and Cristiano Ronaldo is exponentially the most searched individual player. Experian Marketing Services’ live 2014 World Cup Online Trends Dashboard can be viewed here: http://ex.pn/1hBc46F “The World Cup is a unique event for viewers but also for marketers because it attracts a fully engaged, globally diverse audience that loves to shop and engage with brands for an entire month,” said Tancer. “Our analysis reveals that World Cup fans are 29 percent more likely to have a strong connection with branded goods and services placed in the context of TV shows. It’s not just that they are aware of and engaged with branded products; they also are more likely to buy those products. Interestingly, we found the opposite in our analysis of Olympics viewers.” What do these viewers like to buy? World Cup fans are frequent shoppers overall, but they have an affinity for upscale stores like Neiman Marcus, Lord & Taylor, Brooks Brothers, Nordstrom and Saks. They also shop at athletic stores like REI, Foot Locker, Modell’s and Nike and electronics stores like Apple.
Half of married couples in the U.S. say that credit scores were important to them when choosing a mate, according to the latest Experian Consumer Services survey comparing the relationship between marriage and credit. The study also showed that 95% of participants rate “financial responsibility” as important, with “physical attractiveness” and “career ambition” following at 86% and 77%, respectively. Even more surprising, married adults ranked financial compatibility high, even slightly higher than sex and intimacy. In fact, 73% of women and 60% of men stated that having a partner who is willing to communicate openly about personal finances and credit makes him/her more attractive. Check out what else married couples said about their relationship and finances in the complete summary of our survey results here: Love and Marriage… and Credit from Experian_US
According to new research from Experian Marketing Services, a global provider of integrated consumer insights, targeting, data quality and cross-channel marketing, mobile devices are playing an increasingly important role in how users make purchases across all categories. While purchases using a computer or digital tablet still reign supreme, transactions via mobile phones are on the rise, and marketers are poised to take advantage of this trend. The adoption of mobile marketing increased 17 percent in 2013, while 71 percent of marketers currently are engaging consumers in the mobile channel. This trend, among others, is highlighted in Experian Marketing Services’ recently released 2014 Digital Marketer: Benchmark and Trend Report. The report is an annual go-to resource for marketers looking for key industry benchmarks, insights, technology trends and consumer data. “Using a mobile device as a shopping tool is one thing; using it to make a purchase is another,” said Bill Tancer, general manager of global research, Experian Marketing Services. “One industry in particular that marketers recently have taken advantage of is food. Consumers are increasingly moving from researching on their mobile devices to actually making food purchases on-the-go, including grocery home delivery and even onsite point-of-purchase, where available.” Mobile food purchase trends When it comes to food purchases, affluents are 12 percent more likely to purchase food products through their mobile phone, 29 percent more likely to purchase through their tablet and 30 percent more likely to purchase through their personal computer. Affluent consumers also are more likely to visit the Websites of popular family restaurants, as well as the leading reservations site, OpenTable.com. As of April 2014, the top five food Websites visited by affluents were: Charitable giving Among device owners, purchase rates consistently are higher on tablets and computers than on smartphones due to the larger screen. However, the one exception is charitable giving. Affluents are just as likely to have made a charitable donation from their smartphone as they are to have made one from their tablet, and contributions made from a computer are only marginally higher than those on tablets and phones. Charitable organizations have made donating as easy as sending a text, which is likely why charitable donations is the only category with mobile purchase rates as high as those from a tablet. “Marketers can take a page from the charitable sector’s playbook and streamline their own purchase process. This might include allowing repeat customers to conduct transactions using financial information on file, using mobile-optimized design for collecting payment information or other innovative approaches that allow the would-be customer to transact from anywhere,” added Tancer. Mobile travel purchase trends One category favored by affluent consumers is mobile travel purchases. Affluents are 16 percent more likely than average to book travel from a mobile phone, 42 percent more likely to book from a tablet and 31 percent more likely to book their travel through their personal computer. “The data highlighted in our Digital Marketer Report reveals that a demographic such as affluents, who are prime for booking travel, is only booking travel at marginally higher levels than average via mobile. This means that travel marketers can benefit from focusing efforts on streamlining the mobile booking process,” said Tancer. Overall, the report highlights how marketers can take advantage of this data to more successfully target and engage with their customers. The percentage of mobile phone owners who say they are interested in receiving advertising on their mobile phone has risen by 45 percent since 2010. Nearly one in 10 mobile phone owners today say that they are likely to buy products that they see advertised on their phones, up from 6 percent in 2010. The 2014 Digital Marketer: Benchmark and Trend Report is available via a free download at http://ex.pn/PpijOx.
Experian® is pleased to announce its partnership with Clear Channel and the premiere of its iHeart Radio show, Credit & Finance Talk with Experian, which is already gaining lots of listeners. Credit & Finance Talk with Experian The show covers topics like “Getting Rid of a Bad Score” and “Items on Your Credit Report” to educate listeners on the importance of credit in their everyday lives. Listeners are invited to check back every week for new episodes of Credit 101, where you can get the inside scoop on how to live credit-confident. Premiere Endorsements The next time you listen to a Clear Channel radio station, you might just hear your favorite radio personality chatting about Experian Credit TrackerSM. Our partnership features premiere radio personality endorsements from Ryan Seacrest, Delilah, Jay Mohr, Steve Gorman and John Boy & Billy. Exclusive iHeart Radio Theatre Along with radio, Experian has the incredible opportunity to sponsor entertainment at the iHeart radio theatre and had the opportunity to already share the experience with fans of Coldplay, Young the Giant, and Rascal Flatts. We are excited to partner with Clear Channel to help bring credit education to consumers nationwide. Be sure to check back for more exciting episodes of Credit 101, engaging interviews, credit information and more. You can also find answers to common credit questions here on Experian.com.
The first 24 hours of a Data Breach Response are the most critical and we have the most important seven steps to insure that your organization does not go off track. A data breach of personal identity information or protected healthcare information is a breach of trust. Employees, patients, consumers or even partners are put at risk if their information is disclosed during a security incident. In this session Experian’s data breach experts walked attendees through the first steps in the response process that will insure businesses do not run into trouble with the affected parties, the media and regulators. We included specific examples of what to do and how to be successful in your response. We touched on the key things to avoid, tapping over 10 years of experience and nearly 13,000 incidents serviced. For more information, visit www.experian.com/24hourchecklist. Vision 2014: The First 24 Hours of a Breach from Experian Business Information Services
The Small Business Credit Share is a “give-to-get” data consortium in which members provide more detailed data about the performance of the accounts in their portfolios. In exchange for expanded contribution, members get exclusive access to enriched information that is deeper in content than what is available to standard Experian clients or through competitive credit share programs. They benefit from the more comprehensive reports, business credit scores, attributes, and reporting that are available. The Small Business Credit Share is open to all credit granting institutions, including financial institutions, companies that issue trade credit, telcos, utilities and others. The tradeline performance reporting from this broad swath of B2B companies helps drive the effectiveness of the products that are available to members. The Small Business Credit Share has firm qualification standards to insure consistent information and regular reporting guidelines are followed, to help protect the interests of all members. In the past two-plus years, there has been good growth in the member base of the Small Business Credit Share. While attracting new members from a variety of industries, there also continues to be growing interest from financial institutions who presently report to other data consortia about becoming Small Business Credit Share members. Experian is working with them to highlight the advantages of reporting to multiple reporting agencies. In addition to increasing the likelihood that their interests will be protected if their customer’s obligations are more widely reported, they also give themselves more flexibility to manage the expense side of their operations. And when (not ‘if’) regulatory bodies shift their focus to the small business arena, some lenders are envisioning that broader reporting could become the rule. For example, the SBA is requiring that all SBA-backed loans be reported to commercial bureaus; whether that means to all commercial bureaus or to simply at least one is unclear. But the SBA’s rationale is clear: they want credit histories established for these companies so that SBA-backing should not be needed in the future. There are some exciting new products in development for Small Business Credit Share participants. The first of these is the upcoming release of an additional set of attributes which have been developed based on consumer experience and which will add considerable insight for credit risk managers. To assess their information value, these attributes were overlaid into a proof-of-concept score. The resultant model showed a 22% lift in KS and a 29% increase the percent of ‘bads’ pushed into the bottom 10% of the score range. There is also an ongoing development effort to replace the current Small Business Credit Share acquisition score. The new score will clearly benefit from the availability of the new attributes, but will also benefit from being developed on a population booked over a 2-year span from a much more recent time period (Nov 2010 to Oct 2012). The new score will be a blended model, with a ‘commercial-only’ option for clients that do not want to consider any consumer data within the score. The model will also use bureau-leveled consumer attributes, which will allow the model to work not only with Experian consumer data, but with consumer data from Equifax and Trans Union as well. Vision 2014: A Current Look at Commercial Credit Consortium Data from Experian Business Information Services
Did you know that this week is National Small Business Week? It is a time dedicated entirely to acknowledging the positive impact small businesses have on our economy. So let’s take a moment to recognize the contributions that millions of entrepreneurs and small business owners have made to our local communities. Whether it’s creating jobs or providing our favorite products and services at convenient locations, here’s to Small Business – they are truly the backbone of our nation’s economy. So during National Small Business Week, we at Experian will be participating in several activities that help small businesses understand their credit and make better decisions that will enable them to achieve and maintain success. Below are some of this week’s activities as well as some resources available to small business owners everyday: EVENTS: Wednesday, May 14 • 12 p.m. eastern – We will present a free webinar with the National Federation of Independent Business, and explore some of the misunderstandings of business credit, provide advice on how to build business credit and explain how a positive credit profile can help your business grow • 3 p.m. Eastern – We will continue the discussion on business credit, as we host a tweet chat (#CreditChat) with several small business experts. You’ll be able to ask questions and read best practices on how you can make business credit work for you. RESOURCES: • For access to tools and resources to help your business grow, visit www.experian.com/small-business • To better understand and learn the benefits managing your business credit, visit www.businesscreditfacts.com • For instant access to business credit report and scores, visit www.smartbusinessreports.com At Experian, we understand that en route to bringing communities our favorite barbers, ice cream stores, book shops, etc., small businesses owners experience challenges along the way. Whether it’s obtaining the necessary capital to make payroll or order more inventory, these challenges can seem a bit overwhelming and intimidating, especially when trying to manage the day to day operations of the business. This is why Experian helps entrepreneurs and small business owners by providing the right tools, resources and expert advice to help grow their businesses and keep our economy strong!
Experian’ s Vision Conference in Dallas wrapped up today with the last round up breakout sessions and a keynote address from Texas legend Roger Staubach, Heisman Trophy winner, Super Bowl MVP and Executive Chairman of Jones Lang LaSalle Americas. To all our Vision 2014 Conference attendees, thank you so much for coming this year and we look forward to seeing you all again next year.
Vision 2014: The State of U.S. Business Credit from Experian Business Information Services Experian’s Business Information Services and Moody’s Analytics have been reporting on the health of small business credit on a quarterly basis since 2010, publishing the Small Business Credit Index report. In this joint session moderated by Brian Ward, Senior Director – Integrated Marketing, Joel Pruis, Senior Business Consultant from Experian’s Global Consulting Practice and Moody’s Analytics Senior Director Cristian deRitis offered an in-depth analysis of business credit health across the United States. Cristian deRitis kicked the small business credit session into gear by taking the audience through an economic outlook, starting by reviewing of the economic progress started in part by austerity measures following the Great Recession. Joel Pruis continued the discussion with the “West vs. the Rest” small business credit conditions in the US adding national industry performance in various key metrics and resulting small business application volume trends. Experian’s Business Information Services unveiled a new interactive Business Information Map which provides key insights on business credit health by state and metropolitan statistical areas (MSA). The map enables users to get a visual representation of how states and MSA’s are performing in four key business credit health categories, including risk score, number of days businesses pay their bills past due, delinquency rates and bankruptcy rates. The map includes the most recent quarter’s performance, year-over-year comparison and industry-level analysis. Tweet This! [VIEW NOW] New interactive map on business trends in the US #vision2014 http://bit.ly/visionibim Click to Tweet Want to know the health of US businesses? View the new Business Information Map #vision2014 http://bit.ly/visionibim Click to Tweet Check out Experian's Business Information Map for great #smallbiz credit stats #vision2014 http://bit.ly/visionibim Click to Tweet I Heart Maps – especially #business #information maps #vision2014 http://bit.ly/visionibim Click to Tweet Business delinquency in the West shows signs of a comeback! Compare YOY in our interactive map #vision2014 http://bit.ly/visionibim Click to Tweet Analyze regional #smallbusiness #credit health with Experian's #business information map #vision2014 http://bit.ly/visionibim Click to Tweet Learn more about Experian’s Business Information Map by going to: www.experian.com/ibim
Day two of Experian’s 33rd annual Vision 2014 Conference in Dallas included a full morning of education on topics related to the economy and the industry. Chief investment strategist at Wells Capital Management, Dr. James Paulsen kicked off today’s events delivering a powerful keynote address on the economic and financial outlook for the U.S. Following Dr. Paulsen’s remarks, conference attendees headed into the day’s breakout sessions, including an update on the U.S. auto industry from Experian Automotive. According to Melinda Zabritski from Experian, in Q4 2014 U.S. auto loan balances grew to their highest level on record, $799 billion with new leases also expanding to a high of 28.84 percent. Another interesting topic covered today was a deep dive analysis on millennial borrowers, an important audience for lenders as they consider growth opportunity in the market. Experian’s analysis shows that this digitally-savvy population has different needs for loan products, communication and most importantly, credit education. We will be back with another update from Vision, and remember to follow our updates from the show on Twitter or read the announcements on our Vision page on LinkedIn. And check out some favorite tweets from today's conference.
We are thrilled that for the sixth consecutive year, Experian has earned a score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s (HRCF) 2025 Corporate Equality Index (CEI). This recognition underscores our commitment to LGBTQ+ workplace equality. We are honored to join the ranks of 765 U.S. businesses that have been awarded the HRCF’s Equality 100 Award, celebrating our leadership in fostering an inclusive workplace. Experian’s dedication to supporting the LGBTQ+ community is reflected in several key initiatives: Name Change Process: We have a process for transgender and non-binary consumers to update their names on credit reports, ensuring their identities are accurately represented. LGBTQ+ Allyship 101 Training: This new training program is available to all Experian employees, promoting allyship and understanding within our workforce. Pride ERG Parenting Committee: Launched to support parents, grandparents and guardians of LGBTQ+ individuals, this committee provides valuable resources and community. Transgender Resource Guide: This guide supports employees who are transitioning at work, offering education and resources for colleagues and managers. Partnerships: We collaborate with organizations such as Out & Equal, GenderCool, The Trevor Project and Born This Way Foundation’s Channel Kindness to provide financial health, mental health and other resources to empower both our internal and external communities. At Experian, we are proud to be part of this movement towards greater equality and inclusion. We remain dedicated to fostering a workplace where every employee feels respected, valued and empowered to bring their authentic selves to work. Learn more about how we drive social impact in English, Portuguese and Spanish.
Achieving Top Workplace recognition for 12 consecutive years is no small feat, yet Experian North America has done just that. Named a Top Workplace by the Orange County Register once again, this milestone reflects not just policies or benefits but what truly makes Experian exceptional: our people. As Hiq Lee, Chief People Officer at Experian North America, notes, this honor is a testament to the remarkable contributions of our team. Experian’s employees shape an environment where innovation, inclusivity, and purpose thrive. More Than Work What sets Experian apart is our engagement with the world and community. Through initiatives like the Experian Volunteer Leadership Network and partnerships with organizations such as the Octane Foundation for Innovation and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Orange County Education Foundation, our impact extends beyond the workplace. In 2024, we earned additional recognitions, including being named one of the World’s Best Workplaces™ by Fortune and Great Place to Work®. We were also recognized as one of the Best Workplaces for Parents, Millennials, and in Technology. The Secret to Success Our success lies in focusing on people. Experian is a place where careers are built, ideas are encouraged, and employees feel valued. Initiatives such as, Employee Resource Groups foster belonging, Mental Health First Aiders provide support, and technology hackathons inspire creativity. Innovation at the Core Innovation continues to drive our success. By leveraging technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning, we are redefining decision-making and fraud prevention. This commitment to innovation empowers businesses and consumers worldwide, aligning with our mission to promote financial inclusivity. Looking Ahead For Experian, being a Top Workplace for more than a decade isn’t a finish line—it’s a springboard. With an ongoing commitment to our employees and communities, we continue to evolve, creating better experiences for our team, clients, and the world.
Experian is celebrating the one-year anniversary of The Legacy League Game Show™, a dynamic and interactive event that has revolutionized financial literacy education for students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs). This innovative program, part of the B.A.L.L. for Life™ initiative, combines the excitement of a game show with essential lessons on credit and financial management. We marked the occasion where it debuted in 2023: at EntreprenUTSA at the University of Texas San Antonio. The Legacy League Game Show™ has traveled to ten universities such as Morgan State and Shaw Universities and major events across the United States. The National Urban League describes the event as transformational; HomeFree-USA calls it a “model for how to teach anything to Gen Z and other generations.” Thousands of students have participated across the country, and more than 99% report an increase in their financial literacy after the experience. As someone whose family didn’t discuss money matters growing up, this impact is especially gratifying. In addition to making learning fun, The Legacy League Game Show™ addresses a critical issue: financial invisibility among young consumers, particularly within communities of color. Forty percent of consumers under 25 are credit invisible, with 26% of Hispanic and 28% of Black consumers affected, compared to 16% of their white and Asian peers. Special guests, including rapper and college basketball standout Flau’jae, comedian and actor Mike Merrill, Louisiana State University wide receiver Chris Hilton, Jr. and Grammy-nominated D Smoke have joined the game show, adding star power and excitement. Next year, The Legacy League Game Show™ will hit the road again, visiting more schools and events. We already have stops planned at the #IYKYK Pitch Competition in partnership with HomeFree-USA, the University of Illinois in collaboration with the Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement (HACE), and the UnidosUS National Conference. Check out the action from our 2024 stops by clicking here.Learn more about Experian’s commitment to underserved communities in The Power of YOU 2024: Diversity, equity, inclusion and social impact report.
Modernizing the conversation around credit and financial literacy is a key commitment for Experian, especially for young adults. That’s why we partner with organizations like the Singleton Foundation to produce “Your World on Money,” to meet young people where they are, with engaging, easy-to-understand video shorts about credit, budgeting, and saving and more. We’re thrilled this commitment and creativity has earned both Gold and Bronze Anthem Awards, which recognize excellence in social good, celebrate the impactful work of organizations and initiatives that are driving positive change. Financial literacy is often not taught in schools, and the language around credit and personal finance can be intimidating. By normalizing these conversations, we hope to inspire confidence and action, helping young adults make informed financial decisions as they navigate life’s milestones. Our United for Financial Health partnership with the Singleton Foundation continues with our new series, the Finance Couch, where college students join our experts on a coach in the middle of a Los Angeles campus to answer their money questions. And our Anthem Award-winning series, HeartBroke, helps couples whose relationships are tested with financial issues to determine if they can work through it or end up HeartBroke(n).
Great Place to Work and Fortune have named Experian as one of the 25 World’s Best Workplaces™ 2024. This recognition highlights more than an award—it shows a commitment to our strong People First culture. Experian Chief People Officer Jacky Simmonds shares insights on how our people across the globe cultivate this culture, staying ahead of the curve through a unique blend of inclusivity, empathy, and a shared purpose. What does it mean to you, and to Experian, to be named among Fortune's World’s Best Places to Work? At Experian, we have long aspired to be one of the best companies in the world to work for, and over the past few years, we have made this a priority. Our journey has been marked by a commitment to putting our people first and fostering the collaborative and inclusive culture that sets us apart. This recognition reflects the common values that we share across our many countries and cultures and the dedication of our colleagues across our business. We spend so much of our time at work, so I think it’s important that every interaction – from the interview process to joining and every daily interaction – is a positive one where people are welcoming, supportive and generally just really nice people to work with. Reaching this milestone gives all of us at Experian some recognition, but also it is inspiring as we continue to strive to attract top talent who share our values, share our purpose and make every day an enjoyable one. How does Experian create an environment where employees feel empowered to innovate and contribute ideas that drive real impact? To fulfill our mission of bringing Financial Power to All™, we need as many voices, experiences and backgrounds as possible, so we can represent our clients’ differing needs. This culture of inclusion drives our innovations. We have employee-led initiatives, such as internal Hackathons that bring together these diverse perspectives to develop products and services like Experian Boost, Experian Go, Experian Smart Money Digital Checking Account, Experian Support Hub, and Transforme-se so we can serve the communities in which we live and work. How has Experian adapted to changing employee expectations since the pandemic, and what steps has the company taken to support employee well-being and work-life balance? We know that our people really value the ability to have flexible work model, so they can work to fulfill their role in a way that works for them. For some this is fully remote, for others it is hybrid so a balance of remote and in office, and for others in office, where their role requires it fully. We know from the feedback that we get that our people appreciate that we trust them and they have flexibility to deal with varying commitments that we all have outside of work. We also know that since the pandemic there has been an increased focused on wellbeing. Sponsored by our Chief Financial Officer, we embarked upon an initiative to invest in how we support people who may need additional support. We are very proud of our Mental Health First Aiders programme, which has trained around 400 colleagues across the world representing 23 countries and 28 languages and helping their teammates access resources. These volunteers receive consistent, ongoing and updated training. What specific initiatives or programmes at Experian do you believe set the company apart in terms of supporting professional growth and career development? We have invested in a number of things that we believe really make the difference. The first is developing great leaders at every level. Today’s leaders have many more challenges, many different age groups, a balance of remote and in person working, together with teams based in many different locations. Great leaders build great teams, so we think it’s important to invest in their development. That’s we built a leadership development portal – The Leadership Exchange – that has a wide range of resources to support them, including development programmes tailored to their needs. We also want to ensure that everyone at every level can develop their skills and progress their careers. So we launched our annual Global Careers Week, Experian University, and built a world-class digital curriculum so everyone can access the form of development they need based on their role or aspirations. There really is something for everyone. This way, we help our teams stay ahead of trends and ensure our business is equipped with the skills needed for the future. Looking forward, what are key goals or priorities for further enhancing Experian’s culture and employee experience? We’re truly proud of this amazing recognition, but we always strive to get better and acknowledge there’s always more to be done. We see an opportunity to make things easier in the way we leverage advanced technologies like AI to further enhance employee experience. For example, more personalised learning pathways, improved tools for productivity and collaboration. We make sure we don’t lose the human touch, but we also want to make the most of these innovations so we stay relevant with our largely tech populations. Being named one of the world’s best workplaces reflects Experian’s unwavering commitment to be recognized for having a great culture where people can do their best work with people they enjoy working with. Learn more about what makes Experian a World’s Best Workplace in the People section of our Annual Report and the Experian Power of YOU Report 2024: Driving social impact and diversity, equity and inclusion, available in English, Portuguese and Spanish.
At Experian, we’re proud to observe Veterans Day and celebrate the contributions of our teammates and their families who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. This year, we’re especially excited to be ranked #20 on Forbes’ 2024 Best Employers for Veterans list. The list is based on input from over 24,000 veterans who were surveyed by Statista. These veterans, from the Armed Forces, Reserves, and National Guard, work for companies with more than 1,000 employees. They rated their employers on factors like work atmosphere, salary, health benefits, career development, and programs specifically designed for veterans. We’re grateful for how our Veterans Employee Resource Group (ERG) supports the military community, from participating in events like Wreaths Across America, Carry the Load, and the Murph Challenge, to building wheelchair ramps for veterans’ homes. The Veterans ERG just completed its 20th ramp last month. With a goal of bringing Financial Power to All™, Experian provides free credit reporting to active-duty members and supports financial literacy and education through our partnerships with Support the Enlisted Project (STEP) and Operation HOPE. As part of our observance of Veterans Day, we invite veterans to join us for this week’s #CreditChat, “Transitioning to Civilian Life: Financial Considerations for Veterans” on Wednesday, November 14, from 3–4 p.m. ET. Thank you to all who have served our country. And we thank our veteran colleagues who bring their leadership, dedication and passion to Experian every day.
We believe that financial literacy leads to empowerment. That is why Experian supports initiatives and partners with community organizations to deliver financial education. We also develop products and services that give more control to consumers over their credit profile and financial health. As part of advancing our mission of Financial Power to All®, we are proud to announce we are helping more than 5,000 Hispanic individuals nationwide by relieving $10 million dollars of consumer debt. To provide families with this boost, we joined forces with ForgiveCo, a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC), to administer the acquisition and cancellation of qualifying consumer debt for the selected recipients. Beneficiaries will also receive a one-year premium Experian membership for free that offers access to their Experian credit report in English and Spanish[i], FICO® Score[ii], bilingual educational content, and other financial resources. We hope this effort helps raise awareness of the importance of financial literacy for everyone, and that Experian has resources to help individuals reach their financial dreams. To amplify the message, we collaborated with multi-platinum, award-winning singer and songwriter Prince Royce and you can see his video here. In fact, we have been making a concerted effort the last several years to evolve our educational resources and products to better support all underserved communities. Some of our other activities include the creation of the B.A.L.L. for Life initiative that connects African American and Hispanic youth with financial education, supporting scholarships for Asian Americans through the Ascend organization, providing custom resources for Out & Equal and Born This Way Foundation for the LGBTQ+ community, supporting the NextGen Innovation Lab for Disability:IN, and sponsoring credit counseling for the military community with Operation HOPE. For resources in Spanish, Experian offers a credit e-book and consumers can access a full suite of articles at the Ask Experian blog here. [i] 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. [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.
Even though 26 states now have a personal finance course as a requirement for high school graduation, 40 percent of college students do not feel they have enough knowledge about how to manage money. It’s a challenge that the Center for Financial Advancement® (CFA) Credit Academy addresses with participating Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). A collaboration between Experian and HomeFree-USA, the program culminates in the #IYKYK (If You Know You Know) Pitch Competition and a couple hundred new knowledge ambassadors about financial health and credit. Here, competition finalists share their advice for students as they hit campus for a new school year: MALAYA MELTON, Alabama State University Advice I'll give to incoming freshmen is to try to apply for scholarships. It takes some of the burden off. For me, I took about two years making sure that I got the right amount of scholarships before coming to school, because I knew that I wouldn't be able to afford it. My family won't be able to afford it. So, try to be very serious about applying for scholarships, and apply to internships that also get you money that you can use towards school or your personal development. JAZMIN FELIZ ORELLANA, Bowie State University Don't take out loans if you don't have to. I think many freshmen forget that they'll have to pay off those loans once they graduate after a certain time, and that definitely can affect their credit, especially if they're not able to pay for it. OLUWATOSIN OYEKEYE, Alabama State University Save your money, save your money, save your money. It's okay to go to a college in your hometown. Save as much money as you can, because you really don't know where you'll need it. If you get that credit card, make sure that you're paying all the payments on time. Do not wait till the last minute to pay it. PHILIP OMO-TAIGA, North Carolina A&T State University Budgeting. I think that's really what plays into the whole thing of credit, which is there obviously to help you. But it can also go really, really bad. When you think about what it takes to find that healthy balance, you got to learn how to budget because you may go through a period where you're not working. So now it's like, "Okay, now I got to leverage this money that I maybe have saved up. Maybe think about my credit so that I'm not burying myself into a hole. I'm not working, so there's no way I can pay it down." I think when it comes to finding that healthy medium, budgeting is definitely key. CALVIN CHARLES III, Bowie State University A secure credit card. I think freshman year is a great way to enter college (with one) because you're going to have items and things that you are going to have to pay for anyway. Why not begin building your credit there? I can personally say my first credit card I opened at 18, so that gave me the years of credit history. ESANTE-JOY MCINTYRE, North Carolina A&T State University It is never really how you start, but it's how you finish. Freshman year I might not have that scholarship. But I promise you by sophomore year I had $10,000 from outside scholarships, I had $10,000 from doing pitch competitions, $5,000 from here, from there. So, don't give up on the idea of searching. If you are able to search, you'll find it. Those opportunities and resources are out there, and Experian is just a testament to that.
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.
Experian is wrapping up several inspiring days at the 2024 Disability:IN Conference. We are a proud Presenting partner, and as part of our support this year, we had the honor of being the key sponsor for the NextGen Innovation Lab Pitch Competition. This initiative brings together young adults to develop innovative products or services that benefit individuals with disabilities. It provides a platform for young minds to harness their creativity and technical skills to solve real-world challenges faced by the disability community. This year, we challenged these NextGen leaders to create a product or service specifically for young adults with disabilities that can help them build their credit or improve their financial literacy. Only 10% of working aged people with disabilities consider themselves to be financially healthy, according to a recent study. Eight enthusiastic and passionate teams shared their ideas and the top two vote-getters’ pitched live, “Shark Tank” style, in front of thousands of conference attendees. The winner: Team 7’s “Experian Expedition,” which enhances the accessibility of the existing Experian app and adds new experiences such as an accessible credit card that also features braille; voice-guided, American Sign Language and closed-captioned exercises; and an incentive program for young adults as they reach various financial health milestones with cash back and coupons. We congratulate Team 7 and all of the teams for their collaboration with Experian and each other. The ideas and services developed through the NextGen iLab have the potential to make a significant impact on the disability community, enhancing accessibility, independence, and quality of life for millions. Sponsoring the NextGen iLab is just one of the many ways Experian is committed to disability inclusion. For the third consecutive year, Experian has achieved a top score in the Disability Equality Index (DEI) 2024. This accolade underscores Experian's ongoing efforts towards inclusivity in our workplace, products and services that are accessible and beneficial to individuals of all abilities, including the Support Hub, Financial Resilience Center, Inclusion Works, and the CMO/CCO Coalition. We’re proud our efforts are recognized by Disability:IN and the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD). To learn more about Experian’s commitment to inclusion, check out our Power of YOU Report 2024: Driving social impact and diversity, equity and inclusion in English, Portuguese and Spanish.
Making a real difference in the world starts with embracing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and accelerating social impact. It's not just the right thing to do, but it's also key to our mission of creating a better tomorrow, together. DEI isn't just a buzzword for us; it's at the heart of everything we do. Whether it's in our sustainability strategy or our day-to-day operations, we're committed to driving positive social impact and closing the financial wealth gap in underserved communities. It starts with our people. We’re proud to share their dedication and work in this year’s Experian Power of YOU Report 2024: Driving social impact and diversity, equity and inclusion in English, Portuguese and Spanish. Within these pages, you’ll see how we foster belonging with our teammates, and champion DEI beyond the walls of Experian. From developing products like Experian Smart Money to expanding Experian Boost in the United Kingdom, and launching Advance XScore in Peru, we're dedicated to making a difference in the world around us. To that end, you’ll see we’ve also included, for the first time, our new Positive Social Impact Framework, which will reinforce and help our clients, consumers and employees further understand how we are making a difference in our communities. At Experian, we strive to build a brighter, more inclusive future – for our employees, our clients, and our communities. Together, we can make a real difference.
Caps and gowns. Pomp and circumstance. Loans and debt. As the class of 2024 celebrate their college graduations, more than 43 million of them leave school with a total national debt of more than $1.6 trillion. Some are on better financial footing than others – with no debts as they start their careers – because of early financial and credit education. These learnings fueled ideas for students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) who competed in this year’s #IYKYK Pitch Competition (If You Know You Know), sponsored by HomeFree-USA and Experian. The challenge: to create solutions that help their peers become debt-free within five years of graduation. Here, finalists share some advice for graduates on how they can start their post-collegiate lives on solid financial footing: OLUWATOSIN OYEKEYE, Alabama State University You're not too young. I feel like most people think it's until you're married or you have kids before you should take your financial life seriously. From your first couple of first paychecks, look into where you can invest. If you don't want to live from paycheck to paycheck, look for ways to grow your money. Take your credit seriously. If you want to own a home, you want to buy a car, these things are important. It's not too early, it’s also not too late to start taking these things seriously. JAZMIN FELIZ ORELLANA, Bowie State University You don't have to start off with a credit card with a $10,000 limit. You can easily start off with a secured credit card. And that's actually one of my biggest pieces of advice. Get a credit card, be mindful with it, don't spend, don't max it out, but definitely just practice and start using it to see if you're actually able to maintain your credit. That's a piece of advice that definitely has worked with me, especially with building up my own credit, which I hope to get soon to 800. MARCUS HARRIS, North Carolina A&T University Always go out and explore opportunities that could first boost your credit and put you in a more financial-free state. For example, with Experian, they have an Experian Boost program that when you're in school, if you have rent, you rent an apartment, you could apply that. Or even the Netflix subscription, you can apply that to the Experian Boost program and therefore you can help build your credit over the time. TAYLOR PAYTON, Bowie State University To college students who are about to graduate, once they get that job offer with a lot of zeros behind it, be mindful of lifestyle influences. Just because you're making a certain amount of money does not mean you have to spend all of it. Be mindful not to keep up with the Joneses. CHIOMA KALU, Alabama State University There's something my sister used to say. She used to say, "Pay now, play later. Or if you play now, you pay later." I feel like if they focus during their youth when they can really do these things and really go out there, do the jobs, focus on paying off everything, getting that financial literacy, getting that financial freedom, and then at age 30 you're already set up for life. That makes more sense than just going through life, just ballin’, and then at the end of the day, if you have to pay when you're like 60? You're still paying student loans? Come on, now. CALVIN CHARLES III, Bowie State University Do not get caught up in social media. Just because you want to live in the city doesn't mean that that's what you have to do. And there's nothing wrong with roommates. They can allow you to reach your actual goals. Every meal does not have to be eaten out. Social media creates a lifestyle that you wish to live, and living in that moment is great, but you have to think about your future and building that wealth for yourself directly afterwards. All of these students were part of the Center for Financial Advancement Credit Academy. To learn more about this program that supports HBCU students, click here.