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The recent wildfires in Los Angeles are now among the most destructive recorded in California’s history. Thousands of structures have been damaged or destroyed, and many families are facing the heartbreaking loss of their homes, businesses and personal belongings. The fires have also tragically claimed lives and caused significant injuries.  In the wake of such devastation, the immediate priority for everyone is, of course, ensuring the safety and well-being of themselves and their loved ones.   As communities come together to navigate this challenging time, we are committed to being a resource to consumers. Our hope is to help those impacted by the fires preempt or prevent potential impacts to their financial health and identity where possible.   If you or someone you know has been impacted by the Los Angeles fires, here are some key points to keep in mind.   1. Safeguard Your Identity  Natural disasters can unfortunately create opportunities for identity theft. Important documents containing personal information may be lost or scattered. According to the Federal Trade Commission, instances of identity theft have nearly tripled over the last decade and scammers often exploit chaotic situations and vulnerable consumers.   Be Wary of Scammers: Sadly, following natural disasters, opportunistic fraudsters often deploy schemes tied to charity and donations, insurance, new financing, construction or clean up, and more. These perpetrators may lift and deploy tactics that were successful following natural disasters in other areas and deploy them to target those impacted by the LA wildfires. Stay vigilant against fraudsters who may try to steal your personal information or money through disaster-related schemes or offers that sound too good to be true.  Use Free Credit Monitoring and Fraud Alerts: Take advantage of these services to keep an eye on your credit activity. If you notice anything suspicious, report it immediately to your bank or financial institution.  Consider Freezing Your Credit: If your personal information has been compromised, freezing your credit with the three major credit reporting agencies can prevent new fraudulent credit applications. You can freeze your credit for free with Experian by clicking here or enrolling in its free app on your mobile device.   2. Contact Your Lenders  In times of crisis, many financial institutions are willing to work with affected consumers. If you’re worried about paying your bills on time due to the fires, reach out to your mortgage, auto loan, and credit card companies as soon as possible.  Your lenders can report accounts as deferred or in forbearance if you live in an area impacted by the fires. This means no late payments will be reported, allowing you to focus on immediate concerns. However, interest might continue to accrue on the balance, so be sure to understand the terms of any agreement.  3. Use Your Credit Report as a Financial Tool  Tracking down contact information for each of your lenders can be overwhelming. Your credit report, which you can access for free at annualcreditreport.com or via the Experian website or its free app on your mobile device, can be a helpful starting point.  While, understandably, protecting your credit history or identity may not be your immediate concern, taking a proactive approach could help prevent any or further damage to your financial health at a time when you need access to credit the most.  For more tools and resources to protect your credit standing and financial health, please visit Ask Experian.  

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).

Throughout time, we’ve seen examples of how new technologies can reshape the way we live our lives and manage our finances. As a millennial, the standouts to me are the start of the internet and the rise of the smart phone and mobile banking. Each innovation has opened new ways of learning and simplifying the way we do things.  Now, we find ourselves on the brink of another intriguing shift with the rise of generative AI. This development is especially timely, as we know consumers are hungry for information and resources to improve their credit scores and overall financial health. To get a better sense of how consumers are tapping into this technology, we deployed a survey which showed a significant number of Americans are already embracing generative AI. In fact, 63% of consumers are familiar with generative AI, including 84% of Gen Zers and 79% of millennials. Having learned about finances through trial and error (an approach I wouldn’t recommend), and now dedicating myself to consumer education advocacy, I find this incredibly exciting. Especially considering many consumers, nearly half, are also beginning to tap technology to help manage their personal finances. It’s perhaps no surprise this resonates most for America’s youngest consumers, with 67% of Gen Zers and 62% of millennials stating they use or are considering to use the technology to manage their personal finances. The good news is consumers who are using the technology for personal financial management are reporting an overwhelmingly positive experience – an impressive 96% reported positive experiences and 77% stated they use generative AI for personal financial tasks at least once a week. Key findings include: FINDINGSTOTALGEN Z (18-27)MILLENNIAL (28-43)GEN X (44-59)BOOMER (60-78)SILENT (79+)Indicate they are somewhat or very familiar with GenAI technology63%84%79%58%40%29%Indicate using GenAI to learn about a new topic or personal finances33%46%43%28%19%18%Indicate they are using or considering using GenAI powered tools or apps to help with managing personal finances47%67%62%41%28%23% As we continue to explore the benefits of generative AI, it’s clear this technology can be a valuable resource for improving financial literacy as we look ahead. We believe that the responsible use of AI can open new opportunities for consumers seeking to enhance their financial health. However, as with anything new, there are a few things consumers should keep in mind if they are currently leverage, or considering leveraging generative AI to learn about or manage their finances or credit scores, including: Don’t forget the basics: While there’s no question generative AI can be a helpful tool for managing your finances, consumers shouldn’t lose sight of the “old school” ways to protect their financial health and credit standing. This includes checking your credit report and scores regularly. You can get a free copy of your Experian credit report and FICO® Score[1] updated daily at www.experian.com or via Experian’s free mobile app. Consumers can also get a free credit report from each of the three credit reporting agencies once a week at www.annualcreditreport.com.  Verify your findings: Generative AI tools are only as good as the information they consume and there’s no shortage of misinformation about managing your credit scores and finances that exists online. Always cross-check AI-generated financial advice with reputable sources. You can find answers to many personal finance and credit-building questions on Ask Experian—Experian’s free credit advice blog. Be safe and use generative AI responsibly. Many of the generative AI tools that exist today collect and store user data. Be mindful of the personal information you share with generative AI tools to ensure your information is protected. In short, the rise of generative AI marks a pivotal moment in personal finance education, and an exciting one for me. As we embrace this technology, I believe we can create a more informed and financially empowered consumer base. [1] 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.

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.

We’re committed to creating a better tomorrow for consumers, clients, our people and our communities. Experian enables life’s biggest moments and ambitions through the confident use of data. We’re unlocking the power of this data to help people access the essentials they need to fulfil their life ambitions. As the world’s largest credit bureau operator, we have an important role to play in enabling access to finance for millions of people who could otherwise be excluded from mainstream credit and services. We help people prove who they are and build a strong financial track record. Our data and analytics also gives lenders – our clients – the information they need to make fairer, faster decisions for people who are applying for credit. We deliver our purpose through our core business activities, our social innovation products and solutions, and our corporate responsibility (CR) programme. One of these initiatives is the annual One Young World competition. One Young World was founded in 2009 with the intent of bringing together young talent from around the world who are passionate about creating social change to address the most pressing issues the world faces. For the sixth year, Experian is proud to support One Young World and every year, we send five ambassadors, one from each of our regions, to attend the summit. To become a One Young World Experian ambassador, employees were asked to submit a proposal for a new product, partnership or initiative that supports our brand purpose of Creating a Better Tomorrow. The winning submissions, one from each region, were selected to become ambassadors. Over the coming months, they will work with employees across the organisation to bring their ideas to fruition. Meet the five Experian ambassadors we will be sending to the summit in October and the projects they will be driving throughout the year to create a better tomorrow. Be sure to follow @Experian on Twitter as we’ll be posting live updates from the event in October! Jessica Childs Jessica works in the Experian Marketing Services – Product Team in North America. She has worked at Experian for almost two and a half years. Last October, she went to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands to help people upended by the hurricanes. This experience inspired her to think about how Experian can use data to help people who are at the highest financial risk after natural disasters. Her project is made up of two parts: preparing for a disaster and understanding the financial risks posed by natural disasters; and disaster recovery which involves providing tools and resources to be successful after a natural disaster. “I am so excited to be selected as one of Experian’s 2018 One Young World Ambassadors and to continue my work that I started almost a year ago to help victims of natural disasters who are at the highest financial risk. The amount of natural disasters continues to increase year-over-year and while there has been an incredible outpouring of volunteers and support, there is always more to be done to not only educate those at risk, but also identify victims and help mitigate the inevitable financial repercussions.” Tanya Kostadinova Tanya is part of Decision Analytics, based in Bulgaria. She has worked at Experian for a year. Early this year, Tanya participated in a giving back day, organised by the Experian CSR team in Bulgaria, to paint houses for orphaned children and children in foster care. Inspired by what she saw, her idea involves creating an application for these children to give them the best start in life. The application would include information about their labour and healthcare rights, financial advice, advice on how to find a job, and this information will be presented in simple videos and easy-to-follow quizzes. “I am very happy and excited to be working on my project. I believe this idea will increase financial education and will help these vulnerable groups of people. In this way, we will create a better tomorrow not only for them but for all of us as society.” Larissa Alfino Larissa is part of our Internal Communications team based in Brazil and has been at Experian for a year. Larissa’s project is called Open Windows, it’s a global project aimed at promoting socioeconomic empowerment for refugees by breaking down social barriers, providing essential advice and helping them to gain access to credit and social services. This information would be served through an app allied with a network of partnership with financial and social institutions for a healthy social integration. “I am honoured to have the opportunity to be part of Experian’s One Young World Ambassadors and connect with other young leaders to create a better tomorrow. Many refugees are living extremely tough lives and Open Windows would be a simple and affordable way to help financially empower them.” Laura Thomas Laura is part of our Community Involvement team in the UK&I and has worked at Experian for almost 18 months. It’s predicted that there are over 40 million people trapped in modern slavery across the globe and Laura’s idea focuses on how Experian can help find and support these people. The projects aim is to develop the Experian Modern Slavery Assistance Programme – a collection of products that could be used in partnership with anti-slavery charities to identify people being kept in slavery and help rebuild the financial identities of those freed from slavery. “I am so pleased and excited to have been selected as one of Experian’s One Young World Ambassadors for 2018. It’s an amazing feeling to be chosen and I’m eagerly anticipating all that the summit has to offer.” Jasmine Rodil Jasmine is a Product Management Associate in the Credit Services Product Management team, based in Sydney, and has worked with the company for three months. An estimated 39 million people living in India are pushed into poverty each year because of healthcare expenses (a figure that is expected to rise) and Jasmine wants to do something about it. Her vision is to create a Health and Wellness indicator to improve a person’s ability to afford and access healthcare in India. The project would involve using data to look at the patient’s journey to access healthcare and the issues they face and suggest actions to gain access to quality healthcare and health insurance. “I am not only grateful to have been selected as one of Experian’s 2018 One Young World Ambassadors but I am proud to be amongst such a talented and amazing cohort of people with the same passion as myself, to drive change.” Our Ambassadors are currently collating their top takeaways on this year’s One Young World summit in the Netherlands – we’ll be updating this blog with those insights very soon so make sure you come back to have a read about their experience.  

This article is by Michele Bodda, general manager of Experian Mortgage, and co-sponsor of Experian’s PRIDE employee resource group (ERG) Like most of us in the LGBT+ community, my coming out story is more like an unfinished novel than a tightly worded chapter in a book once read and forgotten on a bookshelf. It unfolded over the years. I wasn’t always confident enough to be fully out, but I never pretended to be something I wasn’t. For me, there wasn’t a day of reckoning or a loud declaration. I arrived at this point over the years, and there were two pivotal incidents that served as catalysts for me. First, after working at Experian for several years, a male colleague stunned me when he said his feelings were hurt that I didn’t trust him enough to bring my whole self to work. I was dumbstruck by his frankness and desire to know the real me. And second, I realized I couldn’t ask my children to go through life with two moms confidently and comfortable if I wasn’t truly authentic in every aspect of my life as well. For me, coming out happens again and again. I will always need the quiet confidence to say, “I’m a mom, a daughter, a friend. I’m an executive. And yes, I am gay.” When Experian asked me to lead our company’s LGBT+ ERG, I took a moment of pause. Yes, this was a big decision, but ultimately, drawing on that confidence, it was an easy decision to make. In light of the 30th anniversary of National Coming Out Day on Oct. 11, I want to assure people wondering if acknowledging diversity is significant, it is. The difficulty some of our LGBT+ colleagues face making daily decisions about where they can be fully present aren’t merely insecurities. They are the realities of being LGBT+. No federal law exists protecting the rights of employees from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in the United States. In 28 U.S. states, employees aren’t afforded state-level protection for sexual orientation, meaning they can be fired for being lesbian, gay or bisexual, and it’s even worse for transgender members of the workforce. The fear is real for many members of the LGBT+ community – but so is the motivation to seek change and create an inclusive workforce in America. Just imagine working in America if everyone felt as safe as I do to bring their whole selves to work? The mental and emotional energy I expended hiding my whole self from my colleagues many years ago saddens me. Could I have bonded with others quicker, positively affecting team performance and achieving goals faster? Could I have helped someone else know it was OK to be fully themselves at Experian and watched them confidently come into work every day? Today, I’m not raising my voice for myself. I’m raising it on behalf of talented LGBT+ employees across the country and to tell business leaders that the economic results they’ll receive by instilling and nurturing inclusion is worth it. According to research presented at Deloitte’s IMPACT 2017 conference, organizations with inclusive cultures are six times more likely to be innovative, six times more likely to anticipate change and respond effectively, and twice as likely to meet or exceed financial targets. It’s the right thing to do. I feel fortunate to have spent the last 20 years at a company that is overt in saying it’s OK to be who you are: You are not only welcomed here, you belong here.

The following is written by Alison Sharp, Experian. Mental illness affects thousands of people in the UK, their friends, families and work colleagues. In fact, one in four of us will be affected by mental health issues at some stage of our lives. It’s hard enough to experience mental health problems, without having to face the judgement, shame and isolation that often surrounds it. Today is World Mental Health Day, an opportunity for us, and others, to help raise awareness of mental health issues. However, our work to change the way people think and act about mental health problems doesn’t stop here. I am proud that our MD, Charles Butterworth, signed the Time to Change pledge last month, to help bring an end to mental health discrimination and show our commitment to supporting mental health awareness. Signing the pledge marks the beginning of a shift to make sure well-being and mental health support becomes the norm for us. I believe that the workplace should be an environment where everyone can thrive, no matter who they are. Experian joins the wide movement of more than 800 organisations that have signed the Time to Change pledge, including E.ON, British Gas, Ernst & Young, Transport for London, Royal Mail, Barclays, Shell, Pepsico, the Church of England, Sunday Mirror, Marks and Spencer, WH Smiths and many NHS trusts, universities, and local authorities. At Experian, we are dedicated to making colleagues feel more support and connected to the help we have, as and when they need it. I truly believe that mental health is something that shouldn’t be brushed off or pushed aside and I hope that if you are suffering, or know someone that is, that you have the courage to reach out for support because after all, it is OK to not be OK.

Working at Experian I am constantly amazed by the many innovative ways we work with data, to find new and exciting solutions with our partners.  If we can harness the power of data, and derive real value from it, it has the potential to make hugely positive changes to the way we all live and work. And there’s no doubt that organisations of all shapes and sizes are stepping up to meet the challenge, investing in technology and insight to move with the times. With that in mind, I am delighted to be able to announce the finalists for Experian’s inaugural ‘Data Excellence’ award, part of this year’s Lloyds Bank National Business Awards. This award is the first of its kind, and was designed by us to recognise organisations that are pushing the boundaries in this space, creating opportunities for people, businesses and society in the process. We’ve had some great entries and the final shortlist features some of the finest examples of those working at the forefront of data and analytics. It’s a diverse and dynamic group. Data, innovation and technology has the power to change the world for the better and there’s no better way to demonstrate this than through real-life examples. The award shortlist showcases this perfectly.  All our finalists have demonstrated the capacity to use data-driven solutions to not only deliver better outcomes for their customers, but embrace the opportunities presented by an ever-changing data landscape. So, who made the final shortlist? Center Parcs Cleveland Police Minicabit Principality Building Society SyndicateRoom Validis Zurich Insurance The judges now face the difficult task of selecting a winner, someone who truly personifies data excellence.  At Experian, we pride ourselves on our culture of continuous innovation, that’s why we are so excited to celebrate the UK’s most ‘data excellent’ companies at this year’s National Business Awards.  I’d like to wish all the finalist the very best of luck, To find out more, you can visit the National Business Awards website.  

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