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In the midst of COVID-19, we’ve seen the digital transformation accelerate at a rapid pace—and it’s likely to continue in the months and years ahead. According to McKinsey & Company’s COVID-19 Consumer Pulse survey, most business types have seen more than 10 percent growth in their online customer base during the pandemic and many consumers plan to continue shopping online when store locations reopen. While the shift to digital began well before COVID-19, what does the sudden spike mean for marketers? In short, it means digital campaigns have become mission critical—and subsequently, data has become more important than ever. People are more than just their interactions with your brand. They consume information and engage other brands from multiple devices and channels, resulting in hundreds of digital touchpoints. You need to use data to connect these touchpoints to better understand your audiences’ needs, inform your messaging, optimize digital campaigns, and most importantly, build and establish a human connection. Businesses have troves and troves of data, but oftentimes struggle to generate insights. You need to find the right partner to help manage the data and unlock its potential. To help, Forrester recently released its Now Tech: Consumer Data Marketing Services, Q3 2020 report that provides an overview of 22 consumer data marketing providers that can help you leverage your first-party data and create a more comprehensive view of customers and prospects—Experian is proud to be included in the list. Finding the right partner is important; you have to remember data is a privilege and you need a partner that can help you provide value to your customers—otherwise, trust can quickly erode. And without trust, data and your marketing campaigns become obsolete. Identify what matters most to you. Do you need to enrich your current database? Build look-a-like audiences? Do you need to connect digital and offline identities? Do you need to activate your data? With a strong foundation in data and identity resolution, Experian is committed to helping you learn more about your customers and help them navigate their unique circumstances. Experian's ConsumerViewSM database includes attributes on more than 300 million consumers and 126 million households, including demographic data, purchasing behavior, and lifestyle information. In addition, our MarketingConnectSM platform eliminates the need for disparate solutions and enables marketers to access and manage offline and online customer identity attributes, such as MAIDs and IPs. Now, more than ever, consumers want to be heard. You need a data-driven strategy to meet that expectation. The right partner can help you expand what you already know about your customers and allow you to communicate with them effectively and address their most pressing needs. Learn more about how Experian can help you maximize the potential of your data.
In May 2020, Experian launched Sure Profile and became the first company with an offering to fight synthetic identity fraud that’s integrated into the credit profile with market-leading assurance. In fact, we are so confident in our solution that we’ll share in loan losses on assured profiles if we get it wrong, a first for the industry. Recently, International Data Corporation (IDC) highlighted Sure Profile in the report, IDC, Synthetic Identity Fraud Update: Effects of COVID-19 and a Potential Cure from Experian (doc #US46690220, July 2020) stating “IDC Financial Insights believes that Experian's Sure Profile has the potential to have market disrupting effects in the battle against SIF (synthetic identity fraud).” According to McKinsey, synthetic identity fraud is the fastest growing financial crime in the United States, accounting for 10% to 15% of lender losses each year. Synthetic identity fraud occurs when fraudsters combine real and fake information to create “Frankenstein IDs” which are then used to obtain credit or to add these identities as authorized users to existing credit accounts. Then, financial institutions report the identities to credit reporting agencies. A new record with the false information is created and subsequently, the synthetic identity can be used to generate other fake accounts. It is a significant problem that Juniper Research expects will lead to $48 billion in annual online payment fraud losses by 2023. IDC recommends that financial institutions consider Sure Profile when researching how to fight synthetic identity fraud. For institutions that use an analytical platform to detect synthetic identities, IDC suggests examining Sure Profile to see how it can supplement their models, or even replace them. "Synthetic identity fraud is a massive problem for banks, and I believe that the effects of COVID-19 will exacerbate the problem. However, at the same time, Experian launched a new offering that I believe will be a game changer for how banks attack the synthetic identity problem." — Steven D'Alfonso, research director, IDC Financial Insights Sure Profile validates identities, detects profiles that have an increased risk for synthetic identity fraud and helps cover resulting losses for assured profiles. Leveraging the capabilities of the Experian Ascend Identity Platform™, it uses data to drive advanced analytics, including newly developed machine learning models that predict the likelihood of synthetic identity behavior. Sure Profile provides lenders a simple approach to define and detect synthetic identities early in the originations process. To learn more, check out Experian's Sure Profile.
As financial uncertainty persists, you may find yourself turning to your credit cards to get through this challenging time. While credit cards can be a valuable financial tool when used wisely, they can also be a source of financial stress if you find yourself charging more than you’re able to pay back. Not managing your debt well can also affect your credit utilization, a term you’ve probably heard of but may not know much about. Simply put, credit utilization measures the amount of available credit you’re using on your credit cards. It’s a ratio of your outstanding balance to your overall credit limit. So, what does it mean for your credit score? Let’s unpack some myths and facts that may help you understand the importance of credit utilization, as well as ways to calculate and manage your utilization. Myths vs. Facts Myth: Credit utilization has no impact on your credit score if you pay your bills on time. Fact: In FICO’s most commonly used credit-scoring model, debt and credit utilization account for 30% of your overall score, second only to your payment history. This means the closer you are to your credit card limit, the lower your credit score might be. Aim to keep your utilization per credit card as low as possible to safeguard your score. As your utilization ratio approaches 30 percent of your limits, your scores will begin to decrease much more rapidly. People with the best scores generally have utilization of less than 10 percent, and you never want it to exceed 30%. Myth: If you max out a credit card, you should take out a new card to free up your overall credit limit and improve your utilization ratio. Fact: There are two types of credit utilization measurement: per-card and overall. Per-card utilization looks at your ratio of debt to credit limit on an individual card basis. Overall utilization takes your total utilization across all cards into account. Credit scoring models take both per-card and overall utilization into account, so having just one maxed out card could hurt your credit score. Opening a new account also introduces several aspects that may actually increase your risk. There is a new inquiry. A brand new account has been added to your credit report that you haven’t started to pay on, yet. And because scores require three to six months of activity before being included in score calculations, it’s not helping your scores. In fact, the risk associated with opening a new account may outweigh any potential benefit of reducing your utilization rate. Myth: Once you pay off a credit card, your credit score will improve. Fact: While your credit score could see improvements if you pay off a credit card, the impact may not be immediate. Your lender reports your account status about once a month, so it could be several weeks before your report is updated. Scores calculated after your report is updated will reflect the paid off amount. Depending on when you made a payment, it could take a full billing cycle before your credit report is updated and your credit score reflects those changes. Now that we’ve established the basics of credit utilization and how it can impact your score, consider how to keep it in check. Calculate your utilization The first step to getting your utilization rate in a good place is to determine your current utilization percentage. You can calculate your utilization rate by: Adding up the total balances on all credit cards Adding up the total credit limit across credit cards Dividing the total balance (from step 1) by the total credit limit (from step 2) Multiplying this number by 100 to see your credit utilization ratio as an easy-to-read percentage Manage your utilization Thirty percent utilization is not a goal or target. This is a common misconception about credit utilization. Thirty percent is a number you should strive to stay as far below as possible. It represents a mathematical limit at which your scores will begin to plummet. The lower your utilization rate, the better. Paying your balance in full is ideal, but that’s not always practical. As a general rule of thumb, aim to keep your utilization as low as possible to minimize its impact on your credit score. If you’re wondering how to lower your credit utilization ratio, consider the following strategies: Make multiple payments throughout the month. Instead of allowing the balance to accumulate, pay down your debt in increments throughout the month to ensure the amount on your billing statement doesn’t close in on your limit. Time your payments, and make sure you pay in full each month. Time your payments ahead of your statement closing date, so your most up-to-date credit utilization information is calculated into your score. It’s ideal to pay the balance due in full. If you can’t pay it in full, pay as much as you can to keep your utilization as low as possible. Keeping open credit accounts. Even if you don’t intend to use them much, closing accounts with zero balances can lower your overall credit utilization. You need to make a small purchase from time to time to show activity in the account, though. Accounts with no activity reported will be excluded from scores after a period of time. If you don’t use the card, it could still be on your credit report but not be helping your credit scores. If you’re concerned about making payments on time, connect with your lender to determine the best path forward. Check out my recent post on deferment and forbearance relief options for more information.
Today, we stand at the forefront of a digital revolution that is reshaping the financial services industry. And, against this backdrop, financial institutions are at vastly different levels of maturity; the world’s biggest banks are managing large-scale infrastructure migrations and making significant investments in AI while regional banks and credit unions are putting plans in place for modernization strategies, and fintechs are purpose-built and cloud native. To explore this more, I recently had the privilege of attending the annual Reuters NEXT live event in New York City. The event gathers globally recognized leaders across business, finance, technology, and government to tackle some of today’s most pressing issues. On the World Stage, I joined Del Irani, a talented anchor and broadcast journalist, to discuss the future of lending and the pivotal role of data and AI in building a more inclusive financial system. Improving financial access Our discussion highlighted the lack of access to traditional financial systems, and the impact it has on nearly 100 million people in North America alone. Globally, the problem affects over one billion people. These people, who are credit invisible, unscoreable, or have subprime credit scores, are unable to secure everyday financial products that many of us take for granted. What many don’t realize is, this is not a fringe subset of the population. Most of us, myself included, know someone who has faced the challenges of financial exclusion. Everyday Americans, including young people who are just starting out, new immigrants and people from diverse communities, often lack access to mainstream financial products. We discussed how traditional lending has a limited view of a consumer. Like looking through a keyhole, the lender’s understanding of the person in view is often incomplete and obstructed. However, with expanded data, technology, and advanced analytics, there is an opportunity to better understand the whole person, and as a result have a more inclusive financial system. At Experian, we have a unique ability to connect the power of traditional credit with alternative data, bringing a more holistic understanding of consumers and their behaviors. We are dedicated to leveraging our rich history in data and our expertise in technology to create the future of credit and ultimately bring financial power to everyone. The future of lending After spending two days with over 700 industry leaders from around the world, one thing is abundantly clear: much like the early days of the internet, today, we are at the cutting-edge of a technical revolution. Reflecting on my time at Reuters NEXT, I am particularly excited by the collective commitment to drive innovative, and smarter ways of working. We are only beginning to scratch the surface of how data and technology can transform financial services, and Experian is positioned to play a significant role. As we look to the future, I am excited about the ways we will create new opportunities for businesses and consumers alike.
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.
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.