Financial Services

In this first episode of Ask the Expert, Experian's Jeff Hops, Senior Director of Data Platform and Product, and Erin Haselkorn, Senior Director of Analyst Relations, explore how broader data and new signals can help lenders better understand today’s consumers, while maintaining responsible decisioning. Lending is changing  Interest rates, regulation, embedded finance and AI are reshaping the lending landscape. Consumer behavior is evolving just as quickly. But the core job hasn’t changed. Lenders are still making decisions about people they don’t fully know, and that makes data more important than ever. "There are periods where nothing changes, and periods where it seems like everything changes. We’re in the latter … but the core premise hasn’t changed. You’re still trying to lend to somebody you don’t know."Jeff Hops, Senior Director of Data Platform and Product To make those decisions with confidence, lenders need a strong foundation of identity, history and reliable signals. In a period of rapid change, the quality and completeness of that data become even more critical. A more complex view of today’s consumer What has changed is the consumer. Traditional credit data is foundational but can be further enhanced with visibility on how people earn, manage and move money. Income may come from multiple sources, and financial activity often spans bank accounts, applications (apps) and digital channels. Cash flow data, for example, can provide a clearer view of what’s actually coming into a consumer’s account, beyond what traditional records may show.These additional signals can help lenders better understand: Income variability across multiple earning sources Current financial behavior through cash flow activity Digital and identity-linked activity across channels These signals don’t replace traditional data; they expand it. The result is a more complete and current view of the consumer. From exploration to real-world application The conversation around broader data signals has moved beyond theory. Lenders are no longer just asking whether these signals are useful. They’re asking where, how and under what governance they can be applied across the lending lifecycle. Lenders are actively researching, testing and implementing new data sources across the lending lifecycle. What was once experimental is now operational. Institutions are progressing through a clear path: Research Understanding available signals and use cases Testing Evaluating performance in controlled environments Implementation Applying insights in production Today, alternative data is being used in areas like analytics, channel scoring and decisioning, often within governed environments that allow for safe testing and validation. AI may accelerate this shift by helping institutions identify patterns at scale, but its value depends on the strength of the underlying data: quality, governance, context and clear business use cases. More signal, more responsibility As data availability expands, lenders have access to more granular insights than ever before. That creates opportunity, but also responsibility. The institutions that lead won’t be the ones that use the most data. They’ll be the ones that know which signals to use, how to validate them and how to apply them in ways that are fair, explainable and aligned to consumer outcomes. “Institutions can unlock more granular and powerful decisions, but they have to do it responsibly.”Erin Haselkorn, Senior Director, Analyst Relations The future of lending will be shaped not just by how much data is available, but by how thoughtfully it’s applied. Keeping the consumer at the center of decisioning is essential to building trust and long-term success. Explore alternative data with us A more complete understanding of today’s consumers starts with better data. We help lenders responsibly incorporate broader data signals and advanced analytics into decisioning strategies, enhancing visibility into today’s consumers while strengthening risk assessment and expanding access to credit. Let’s work together to build more confident, more responsible lending decisions. Learn more Contact us About our experts Jeff Hops Senior Director, Data Platform and Product, Experian Jeff Hops is a Senior Director in Experian’s Financial Services and Data business with over eight years of experience driving innovation in credit and data solutions. He has led product development for Experian’s Credit Report and played a key role in launching Ascend Identity Platform™, a leading identity resolution platform. Erin Haselkorn Senior Director, Analyst Relations, Experian Erin Haselkorn is responsible for analyst relations for Experian. She has developed an understanding of key marketing trends across a broad range of verticals. Her market research around data strategy, AI, fraud, identity and data management, paired with her broad Experian product knowledge, gives her a unique understanding of business automation and data trends. Erin is a frequent spokesperson and guest blogger.

When disputes become a fraud strategy  First-party fraud is quietly reshaping the risk landscape for merchants. Unlike third-party fraud, it originates from the consumer, often through a dispute that triggers a chargeback. Mastercard’s research highlights a shift in consumer dispute behavior: when consumers dispute a transaction and later realize it was a mistake, many do not rectify their error and reverse the dispute. Across 4,500 surveyed consumers, 775 admitted to disputing a transaction, and up to 37% admitted to not correcting a mistaken dispute (consumer fraud originates with). Convenience remains the driving force for consumers, who increasingly turn to their bank first when a transaction looks questionable rather than contacting the merchant. In fact, 76% of consumers prefer resolving disputes through their bank rather than the merchant. This removes the merchant’s ability to resolve the issue and avoid costly chargebacks, creating higher operational costs and risk exposure. This is especially problematic considering ClearSale estimates that 40% of consumers who request a chargeback will do so again within 90 days.  What could be causing more consumers to use the dispute process?  Mastercard’s consumer research sheds light into the shift of behavior. Among Gen Z, 26% admitted they did not contact the merchant or app to return funds after realizing the dispute was wrong, compared with 22% of Millennials and 18% of Gen X. What’s driving this trend? Globally, chargebacks are on the rise, projected to reach 324 million transactions by 2028, a 24% increase over 2025 estimates, according to Mastercard. So, what is driving this trend? Economic pressure  U.S. household debt reached $18.39 trillion in Q2 2025, with credit card balances at $1.21 trillion (up $27 billion in a quarter). At the same time, 39% of households report declining income, and 70% expect a recession within 12 months. These pressures make short-term financial relief, even through disputes — tempting.  BNPL and buyer’s remorse  Buy now,pay later (BNPL) usage is surging 52% of U.S. consumers have used BNPL in 2025, and Gen Z leads the trend, with 59% opting for BNPL. The average BNPL borrower originated 9.5 loans in a year, often stacking multiple loans across providers. This creates a cycle of deferred pain and buyer remorse, which can lead to disputes. Lack of transparency and complex subscription models   One of the most significant accelerators of first-party fraud is the ease with which consumers can file disputes today. According to Mastercard's 2025 State of Chargeback Report, mobile banking apps and digital wallets have transformed dispute initiation from a multistep process into something that can be completed in seconds. If the consumer doesn’t recognize a transaction or the name of the merchant, they are able to raise a dispute in a couple of taps. Recurring billing models and complex subscription models also amplifies the problem. If a consumer forgets about a subscription service or doesn’t recognize a billing descriptor, this can lead to a dispute that could have been avoided with better transparency.  “Disputes are no longer just a backend operational issue — they’re becoming a frontline fraud vector. When consumers default to their bank instead of the merchant, context is lost, resolution slows, and chargebacks escalate. The opportunity now is to reintroduce transparency and collaboration earlier in the journey, so issues are resolved before they turn into costly disputes.” Gaurav Mittal, Executive Vice President of Ethoca at Mastercard Dispute systems designed for consumer protection can sometimes be misused, increasing the frequency of disputes. As card-not-present transactions grow, protecting against both third-party fraud and first-party fraud is essential.   The solution: tools consumers want — and merchants need Consumers aren’t opposed to security. In fact, 85% prioritize security over convenience, and 83% expect businesses to address their security and privacy concerns. They want visible and invisible protections that make them feel safe without slowing them down.  Merchants can meet this expectation, and reduce fraud, by adding intelligent safeguards at checkout: Behavioral biometrics: In Experian’s consumer survey, consumers ranked behavioral biometrics among the most trusted methods (72% feel it’s secure). These tools analyze typing speed, mouse movement, and hesitation patterns to distinguish genuine users from bots or fraudsters, invisibly and in real time. Physical biometrics: 76% of consumers trust physical biometrics (fingerprint, facial recognition) more than passwords. Offering biometric login or checkout options gives consumers confidence while reducing reliance on vulnerable credentials.  Passive identity verification: Experian’s patented account ownership verification matches payment card numbers to identity attributes without requiring extra input. This protects merchants from stolen card fraud while keeping checkout friction low. Device and network intelligence: Secondary device checks and network analysis can silently validate identity during guest checkout or BNPL flows, reducing risk without slowing conversion.   Enhancing transaction clarity: Consumers are open to sharing more data for security: 77% would share more when shopping online, and 76% with financial institutions. Secure, real-time data exchange between merchants and issuers, such as through Mastercard’s First-Party Trust program, can strengthen fraud detection and reduce false declines.  Better purchase recognition: Improving purchase recognition in digital banking apps can help reduce disputes caused by consumers confusing their own transactions. Providing clear purchase descriptors, itemized receipts and better subscription management gives users the details they need to understand their purchase history and prevent first-party fraud.  “Reducing first-party fraud isn’t about adding friction; it’s about adding clarity. When merchants can surface the right information at the right moment, they not only prevent disputes, but they also strengthen trust and protect long-term customer relationships.” Gaurav Mittal, Executive Vice President of Ethoca at Mastercard Closing thought  First-party fraud’s impact extends beyond operations, affecting profitability, customer trust and brand reputation. Merchants that act now to strengthen checkout security with visible and invisible protections will reduce losses, protect trust and deliver the seamless experiences consumers expect. Learn more Read part 1

Experian’s latest research shows that while 83% of U.S. consumers expect companies to address security and privacy concerns, branded retail sites have some of the widest trust gaps, more than a 30% difference between expectation and reality. This disconnect isn’t just theoretical; it drives real-world consequences like cart abandonment, dispute escalation and reputational damage. Online fraud is amplifying this erosion of consumer confidence. Identity theft and stolen credit card information remain top concerns for consumers, and when those fears materialize, the impact can be significant. A Mastercard study found that 91% of consumers would consider not doing business with a company again after experiencing fraud. For merchants, this isn’t just a customer experience issue; it’s a financial and operational crisis. Two-thirds of merchants report year-over-year increases in fraud losses, with account takeover and transactional payment fraud topping their list of stressors. Every dispute becomes a trust event, and when trust is damaged, chargebacks rise, fees climb and merchants risk being classified as high-risk, a label that can increase transaction costs and damage long-term profitability. “In today’s digital commerce landscape, trust isn’t just important. It’s the foundation of every successful interaction between consumers and merchants. As threats become increasingly sophisticated, it’s essential for businesses to make protecting consumer trust their top priority.”Dennis Gamiello, Executive Vice President of Identity, Mastercard One of the most visible symptoms of this trust gap is the surge in guest checkout. Consumers increasingly choose speed and privacy over account creation. 43% of consumers prefer guest checkouts, and 72% still use it even when they already have an account. While this behavior signals a desire for frictionless experiences with less data, it creates a challenge for merchants: fewer data insights make fraud harder to detect, so the most seamless checkouts aren’t always the most secure. Striking a balance between speed and security is key in today’s e-commerce landscape. “When there’s limited context and no persistent relationship, trust has to be established in real time. That exposes the limits of static credentials. Identity intelligence must lead, continuously assessing who’s behind the interaction and whether they can be confidently authenticated before the transaction completes. Payment tokenization, biometric authentication and tools like Click to Pay also reduce manual entry of sensitive data and reinforce security and convenience.”Dennis Gamiello, Executive Vice President of Identity, Mastercard The solution isn’t to force account creation; it’s to rethink security. Consumers want protection they can trust, but don’t want those security methods to slow down their digital experiences. Invisible security measures, such as behavioral analytics and passive identity verification, enable merchants to secure transactions without slowing them down. Our recently released report shows that half of merchants now use secondary devices to verify identity, signaling a shift toward frictionless security. Behavioral biometrics rank among the most trusted authentication methods, yet adoption remains slow. “Security today means investing in invisible tools consumers expect merchants to have, solutions that detect signals almost impossible to spoof. These capabilities are critical for addressing top concerns like identity theft and stolen credit card abuse. They allow merchants to protect trust without adding friction.”Nash Ali, Vice President of Operational Strategy, Experian What does that mean in practice? It means ensuring the purchaser truly owns the identity data and payment method they provide. Advanced fraud detection layers behavioral, device and network intelligence atop rich identity verification tools, like Mastercard’s Identity Insights via Experian’s orchestration platform, and payment ownership verification data to spot anomalies in real time, even at guest checkout. “By analyzing interaction patterns such as typing cadence, hesitation, and copy-paste behavior, merchants can distinguish genuine users from bots or synthetic identities without collecting personal information. And with passive card verification, merchants can confirm card ownership instantly, reducing false declines and preventing fraud, all while preserving privacy and speed.”Jose Pallares, Senior Director of Payments and E-commerce products, Experian Building trust isn’t just meeting expectations; it’s anticipating threats and investing in technologies that make fraud detection seamless and invisible. For merchants, this isn’t only about reducing fraud; it’s about avoiding the downstream costs of disputes and chargebacks that erode margins and operational efficiency. First-party fraud is contributing to an increase in disputes, which can affect financial performance and customer trust. As we move into part two, we’ll explore why these challenges are escalating, how they impact merchant profitability, and what proactive strategies, from dispute intelligence to enhancing transaction clarity, can help businesses fight back and protect trust at scale. Learn more Coming soon: Part two: Fighting back against first-party fraud – from chargebacks to checkout safeguards

Not long ago, every online transaction shared a simple assumption: there was a human on the other side of the screen. Someone browsing, clicking and confirming a purchase. That assumption is starting to break. Today, Artificial Intelligence (AI) agents can search for products, compare options, make payments and even complete transactions on behalf of users, without the need for human supervision. This shift, often called agentic commerce, is redefining how decisions are made and how transactions occur. But it also introduces a new and urgent question: how do you trust something that isn’t human? That’s where Know Your Agent (KYA) comes in. Understanding Know Your Agent At its core, Know Your Agent is a framework for establishing trust in AI-driven interactions. It extends traditional identity verification into a world where software, not people, is acting. Instead of asking “Who is the customer?”, KYA asks a broader question: Who is this agent, who is it acting for and is it authorized to act? In practice, KYA connects three critical elements: The human A verified individual The agent The authenticated AI agent acting on behalf of the consumer The intent What the agent is trying to do as instructed by the consumer This connection ensures that every action taken by an AI agent can be traced back to a real, verified person and that the action itself is legitimate. Why KYA is emerging now The rise of AI agents isn’t theoretical; it’s already happening. From shopping assistants to financial co-pilots, agents are beginning to act autonomously in ways previously reserved for humans. But this evolution exposes a gap in today’s trust models. Most fraud prevention, identity verification and risk systems are designed to evaluate human behavior. Additionally, most merchant checkout processes use risk controls focused on identifying the consumer interacting with the merchant site or application (app). When an AI agent initiates a transaction, those signals become harder to interpret. Is it a trusted assistant acting on behalf of a real customer, or a sophisticated bot attempting fraud? KYA is emerging to solve exactly this problem. A new trust layer for agentic commerce Agentic commerce changes not just who transacts, but how trust is established. In a traditional transaction, trust is built through familiar signals, such as login credentials, device data, location data and behavioral patterns. In an agent-driven interaction, those signals are abstracted away. The agent acts, but the human intent sits behind it. Know Your Agent introduces a new trust layer that bridges this gap. It allows businesses to answer critical questions in real time: Who is the consumer behind the agent? Is this authenticated agent linked to that consumer? Has the user authorized this specific action? Is the agent behaving consistently and within its permissions? Can this transaction be trusted? Without these answers, agentic commerce introduces risks like fraud, misrepresentation and unauthorized activity.  With KYA, those risks become manageable and, more importantly, scalable. From KYC to KYA: an evolution of identity For decades, organizations have relied on Know Your Customer (KYC) to verify people and reduce fraud. But KYC alone isn’t enough in a world where AI agents act independently. KYA doesn’t replace KYC; it builds on it. If KYC verifies the individual, KYA verifies the relationship between the individual and the agent acting on their behalf. It adds context, continuity and accountability to every interaction and both are necessary for safe, agentic commerce. In other words, KYC answers who you are. KYA answers who (or what) is acting for you, and whether it should be trusted. ConceptKnow Your Customer (KYC)Know Your Agent (KYA)FocusHuman identityAI agent identity PurposePrevent fraud, ensure compliance Enable safe automation and delegationEntity verifiedIndividual or business Agent + human + authorizationScopeStatic identity checks Dynamic identity + behaviors + permissions How KYA works in practice While the concept is still evolving, most KYA approaches share a common goal: creating a verifiable chain of trust between humans and AI agents. This typically involves: Establishing a secure and auditable link between a verified person and their agent Confirming that the agent is authorized to act within defined permissions Continuously evaluating behavior and risk over time Ensuring a verified connection between humans and AI agents confirms that agent-initiated transactions are grounded in real identity.  Why KYA matters for businesses For organizations, KYA is more than a security concept; it’s an enabler of growth. As agentic commerce expands, businesses will increasingly interact with AI agents as a new customer base. Those who can confidently verify and trust these interactions will be able to: Accept agent-initiated transactions with lower risk Reduce friction for legitimate users Unlock new, automated customer experiences Those that can’t may find themselves required to block or challenge these interactions, limiting adoption and missing out on emerging revenue streams. The reality is simple: agentic commerce will not scale without trust.  Bringing it to life with Experian® Agent TrustTM This is exactly the challenge we’re addressing with our first-of-its-kind framework, Experian® Agent TrustTM. Experian Agent Trust is designed to create a secure, verifiable link between consumers and the AI agents acting on their behalf, bringing identity, intent and accountability into AI-driven transactions.  At the center of this approach is Human-to-Agent Binding, which connects a verified individual, their device and their AI agent. This binding is recorded in Experian’s Agent Trust Registry and creates a persistent trust signal that allows businesses to understand exactly who is behind every agent-driven action.  By grounding agent activity in verified identity, we are extending our expertise in fraud prevention and identity verification into the next era of commerce, one where AI agents don’t just assist, but act. The future of trust starts with knowing your agent As AI agents grow more capable, they won’t just support transactions, they’ll initiate them, negotiate them and complete them autonomously. This evolution demands a new foundation for trust, one that extends beyond verifying customers to understanding and validating the agents acting on their behalf. As agentic commerce accelerates, organizations that embrace Know Your Agent (KYA) will be better equipped to innovate with confidence, scale responsibly and strengthen trust at every interaction. Learn more about Experian Agent Trust

Customers rarely announce their departure. Instead, they quietly reduce engagement, move deposits and explore competing offers. By the time attrition shows up in reporting, competitors may have already captured meaningful wallet share. For lenders, the risk isn’t just lost accounts, it’s silent revenue erosion within relationships that still appear intact. The hidden risk in your portfolio Today’s consumers often hold less than half of their deposits or loans with a single provider. At the same time: Competition for prime borrowers continues to intensify. Cross-sell remains one of the most effective and efficient growth strategies available. Even small improvements in retention can drive outsized profitability gains. The opportunity is real, but only if you can see momentum early and act before competitors do. From static reviews to strategic signals Traditional monthly and quarterly reviews confirm what has already happened, but they rarely surface early indicators like emerging behavioral shifts or improving credit capacity. Modern portfolio management requires continuous visibility into behavioral signals, trended credit data and event-based triggers that highlight change as it happens. When you can see momentum forming, you can act with precision, intervene before balances leave, engage customers as capacity strengthens, and activate compliant prescreen cross-sell campaigns at the right moment. Our new interactive strategic snapshot outlines the modern approach to portfolio management, one that connects ongoing account review with timely, event-based signals, helping you protect, retain and grow high-value customers. Download it now to see how to turn early signals into stronger customer lifetime value. Read the snapshot

Smaller creditors often struggle to access reliable credit‑reporting solutions, as many available options frequently require technical integration, such as full Application Programming Interface (API) implementation or enterprise‑level approvals, creating barriers that small lenders cannot easily overcome. Minimum volume requirements further intensify the challenge, forcing smaller creditors to pay disproportionately high costs for the limited number of reports they need. As a result, the financial burden and operational complexity restrict their ability to compete, hindering growth and preventing them from adopting the same efficient, data‑driven processes available to larger institutions. Experian fully recognizes the need to empower smaller creditors and is proud to introduce a new capability, Experian Express, designed with these creditors in mind. Experian Express is a digital onboarding portal that fast-tracks the credentialing process for smaller creditors to gain access to Experian’s Credit Profile Report for the purpose of extending credit. Via a fully digital online process, users can choose from two plans tailored to the needs of community banks and credit unions. A new opportunity to build high-value relationships With Experian Express, credit unions and community banks can offer benefits to both consumer and business customers seeking access to credit. Consumers and businesses want more digital convenience, and a primary institution that can meet their needs in one place, as more than half of consumers who switch their primary bank hold over four checking relationships¹ and 55% of U.S. consumers say mobile apps are their most‑used method for managing bank accounts,² while customers across all age groups are curating financial services from multiple providers due to digital gaps at their primary institutions.³ Community banks and credit unions that offer integrated digital credit products, faster onboarding, and personalized advice can convert today’s rising credit demand into long-term, primary relationships rather than one-off loan transactions. What is the value of the opportunity for capturing more consumer and business relationships? Both consumers and businesses are showing strong signals of growth in their demand for credit. Consumer demand for credit in 2026 represents $52.6B annualized,4 when converting the Federal Reserve’s latest growth pace into a reachable opportunity for community banks and credit unions in today’s market. Elevated new business formation presents an opportunity to build more relationships, as a growing majority of small businesses have been in operation for less than 2 years and have little credit history. New small businesses often use the business owner’s personal credit to access capital for growth. Younger businesses are accounting for a growing portion of newly opened commercial accounts. In 2025, businesses under 2 years old accounted for 36% of new commercial accounts.5 It is important to recognize that customer composition is changing as new business formation rises, with solopreneurs and gig workers making up a growing majority of new small businesses. Smaller lenders like credit unions and community banks, which serve as the backbone of Main Street, should prioritize this demographic as the divide between consumer and business customers in their portfolios continues to blur. Taking advantage of the new wave of customers while mitigating fraud More customers demand digital experiences; however, Experian’s 2026 Global Future of Fraud Forecast shows that artificial intelligence (AI) is simultaneously enabling an unprecedented escalation in fraud. Fraud losses are rising sharply: nearly 60% of companies reported increased fraud from 2024 to 2025, and consumers lost more than $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024 alone.⁶ Experian warns that fraudsters are rapidly weaponizing agentic AI to launch autonomous, harder‑to‑detect digital attacks, creating “machine‑to‑machine mayhem” as transactions occur without clear ownership or liability.⁷ Generative‑AI–enabled deepfakes are also accelerating, allowing fraudsters to impersonate job candidates, bypass identity checks, and infiltrate sensitive systems at scale.⁷ In addition, as most small businesses are newly formed with little credit history, up to 46% of small business loan applications show signs of first-party fraud, commonly known as first payment default, such as misrepresented revenue or business details. 7 The misrepresentation of financial information by new business customers creates a unique issue for creditors as they face a wave of first-payment defaults. As digital adoption grows, businesses and consumers face an environment where fraud is not only faster and more scalable but increasingly woven into everyday digital interactions. How can firms take advantage of the new wave of business customers while protecting their portfolios? In a world where fragmented data and siloed systems hinder accurate decision-making, a unified approach to scoring for both creditworthiness and fraud signals offers a solution. Whether dealing with a consumer or a small business looking for access to credit, relationships with customers represent a new form of digital currency that provides long-term value. Need to find a way to grow your business and consumer accounts? Start by using the right data to better understand their needs and easily upsell your existing customers. Seeing the whole picture of your customers is the key to outperforming competitors. To stay competitive, community banks and credit unions must act with laser precision to block fraudsters and unlock credit for underserved, yet high-potential, consumer and small business customers. Now it is easier than ever to gain an edge with Experian’s vast datasets, which provide depth and accuracy to deliver unmatched insights for confident decision-making through Credit Profile Reports. Community banks and credit unions can use Experian Express’ tailored annual plans, which include fraud prevention tools, to gain access to Experian’s Credit Profile Reports and better understand the creditworthiness of a consumer applying for credit or a small business owner’s personal credit to enhance their ability to get access to credit. Lenders can use Experian Express as a bridge to access Experian’s credit solutions online to perform credit checks. Ready to start a conversation? Learn more about Experian Express

For many banks, first-party fraud has become a silent drain on profitability. On paper, it often looks like classic credit risk: an account books, goes delinquent, and ultimately charges off. But a growing share of those early charge-offs is driven by something else entirely: customers who never intended to pay you back. That distinction matters. When first-party fraud is misclassified as credit risk, banks risk overstating credit loss, understating fraud exposure, and missing opportunities to intervene earlier.  In our recent Consumer Banker Association (CBA) partner webinar, “Fraud or Financial Distress? How to Differentiate Fraud and Credit Risk Early,” Experian shared new data and analytics to help fraud, risk and collections leaders see this problem more clearly. This post summarizes key themes from the webinar and points you to the full report and on-demand webinar for deeper insight. Why first-party fraud is a growing issue for banks  Banks are seeing rising early losses, especially in digital channels. But those losses do not always behave like traditional credit deterioration. Several trends are contributing:  More accounts opened and funded digitally  Increased use of synthetic or manipulated identities  Economic pressure on consumers and small businesses  More sophisticated misuse of legitimate credentials  When these patterns are lumped into credit risk, banks can experience:  Inflation of credit loss estimates and reserves  Underinvestment in fraud controls and analytics  Blurred visibility into what is truly driving performance   Treating first-party fraud as a distinct problem is the first step toward solving it.  First-payment default: a clearer view of intent  Traditional credit models are designed to answer, “Can this customer pay?” and “How likely are they to roll into delinquency over time?” They are not designed to answer, “Did this customer ever intend to pay?” To help banks get closer to that question, Experian uses first-payment default (FPD) as a key indicator. At a high level, FPD focuses on accounts that become seriously delinquent early in their lifecycle and do not meaningfully recover.  The principle is straightforward:  A legitimate borrower under stress is more likely to miss payments later, with periods of cure and relapse.  A first-party fraudster is more likely to default quickly and never get back on track.  By focusing on FPD patterns, banks can start to separate cases that look like genuine financial distress from those that are more consistent with deceptive intent.  The full report explains how FPD is defined, how it varies by product, and how it can be used to sharpen bank fraud and credit strategies. Beyond FPD: building a richer fraud signal  FPD alone is not enough to classify first-party fraud. In practice, leading banks are layering FPD with behavioral, application and identity indicators to build a more reliable picture. At a conceptual level, these indicators can include:  Early delinquency and straight-roll behavior  Utilization and credit mix that do not align with stated profile  Unusual income, employment, or application characteristics High-risk channels, devices, or locations at application Patterns of disputes or behaviors that suggest abuse  The power comes from how these signals interact, not from any one data point. The report and webinar walk through how these indicators can be combined into fraud analytics and how they perform across key banking products.  Why it matters across fraud, credit and collections Getting first-party fraud right is not just about fraud loss. It impacts multiple parts of the bank. Fraud strategy Well-defined quantification of first-party fraud helps fraud leaders make the case for investments in identity verification, device intelligence, and other early lifecycle controls, especially in digital account opening and digital lending. Credit risk and capital planning When fraud and credit losses are blended, credit models and reserves can be distorted. Separating first-party fraud provides risk teams a cleaner view of true credit performance and supports better capital planning.  Collections and customer treatment Customers in genuine financial distress need different treatment paths than those who never intended to pay. Better segmentation supports more appropriate outreach, hardship programs, and collections strategies, while reserving firmer actions for abuse.  Executive and board reporting Leadership teams increasingly want to understand what portion of loss is being driven by fraud versus credit. Credible data improves discussions around risk appetite and return on capital.  What leading banks are doing differently  In our work with financial institutions, several common practices have emerged among banks that are getting ahead of first-party fraud: 1. Defining first-party fraud explicitly They establish clear definitions and tracking for first-party fraud across key products instead of leaving it buried in credit loss categories.  2. Embedding FPD segmentation into analytics They use FPD-based views in their monitoring and reporting, particularly in the first 6–12 months on book, to better understand early loss behavior.  3. Unifying fraud and credit decisioning Rather than separate strategies that may conflict, they adopt a more unified decisioning framework that considers both fraud and credit risk when approving accounts, setting limits and managing exposure.  4. Leveraging identity and device data They bring in noncredit data — identity risk, device intelligence, application behavior — to complement traditional credit information and strengthen models.  5. Benchmarking performance against peers They use external benchmarks for first-party fraud loss rates and incident sizes to calibrate their risk posture and investment decisions.  The post is meant as a high-level overview. The real value for your teams will be in the detailed benchmarks, charts and examples in the full report and the discussion in the webinar.  If your teams are asking whether rising early losses are driven by fraud or financial distress, this is the moment to look deeper at first-party fraud.  Download the report: “First-party fraud: The most common culprit”  Explore detailed benchmarks for first-party fraud across banking products, see how first-payment default and other indicators are defined and applied, and review examples you can bring into your own internal discussions.  Download the report Watch the on-demand CBA webinar: “Fraud or Financial Distress? How to Differentiate Fraud and Credit Risk Early”  Hear Experian experts walk through real bank scenarios, FPD analytics and practical steps for integrating first-party fraud intelligence into your fraud, credit, and collections strategies.  Watch the webinar First-party fraud is likely already embedded in your early credit losses. With the right analytics and definitions, banks can uncover the true drivers, reduce hidden fraud exposure, and better support customers facing genuine financial hardship.

Financial services leaders are dealing with numerous pressures at the same time. These growing challenges for financial services organizations include sophisticated fraud, rapid Artificial Intelligence (AI) adoption without clear regulatory direction, rising customer expectations and the need for compliant, sustainable growth. Businesses are rethinking how they manage risk, growth and customer trust. These financial industry challenges are no longer confined to internal risk teams. They directly impact long-term customer loyalty. How organizations navigate these challenges will determine how effectively they deliver value to their customers. We’ve outlined the six challenges for financial services oranizations that consistently rank highest among industry leaders today. Challenge 1: Fraud is becoming harder to detect and eroding customer trust 72% of business leaders expect AI-generated fraud and deepfakes to be major challenges by 20261 As fraud tactics evolve quickly, driven in part by AI, customers are being targeted through identity-based attacks from account takeovers to synthetic identities and misuse of personal information. When these threats go undetected, or when legitimate activity is incorrectly flagged, the result isn’t just financial loss. It’s a breakdown of trust. Organizations that want to stay ahead must move beyond isolated fraud controls. By embedding identity management and monitoring into the customer experience, organizations can move from reactive fraud response to proactive identity protection. Identity theft protection and monitoring help organizations turn fraud prevention into a visible, trust-building experience for customers — offering early alerts, guidance, and peace of mind when identity risks arise. Challenge 2: AI decisions must be trusted by customers, not just regulators 76% of businesses say implementing responsible AI is one of their biggest challenges2 As AI becomes more embedded in financial services, it shapes the experiences customers see every day. From credit decisions to eligibility outcomes and personalized offers. While AI can drive faster and more inclusive decisions, it also introduces a new expectation: customers want to understand why a decision was made. Responsible AI is no longer just about regulatory compliance. It’s about delivering outcomes that feel fair, consistent and easy to understand. When decisions appear unclear, confidence erodes. When organizations can clearly explain outcomes, not just internally, they build confidence across regulators, partners and customers. This allows AI to scale responsibly while reinforcing trust in every interaction. Financial wellness tools such as credit scores, reports and education help make AI-driven decisions more transparent, giving customers clarity into outcomes and confidence in how their financial health is assessed. Challenge 3: Digital experiences are failing to deliver clarity and confidence 57% of U.S. consumers remain concerned about conducting activities online3 Customer confidence is affected by day-to-day interactions such as onboarding, payments and issue resolution. Inconsistent decisions, unclear outcomes and friction in digital journeys can quickly erode confidence and increase confusion, disengagement and abandonment. Financial services leaders will need to rebuild and strengthen confidence. Improving key decision points with better data and analytics helps ensure customers receive timely insights, understandable outcomes and meaningful guidance, turning everyday interactions into opportunities to build stronger relationships. By delivering ongoing financial wellness insights and education, organizations can replace confusion with clarity — helping consumers better understand their financial standing and stay engaged over time. Challenge 4: Gen Z continues to raise the bar It's no secret that Gen Z stands out for its strong preference for digital financial services and digital interactions, but Gen Z is also pushing the envelope on financial wellness. 48% of Gen Z report that they do not feel financially secure, indicating strong demand for financial support and tools4 Their expectations for instant decisions, seamless digital experiences, transparency and tools that help them manage their financial lives are quickly becoming the baseline. To meet and exceed these expectations, financial institutions will need to support real-time, data-driven decisioning that adapt to individual needs. Delivering modern, app-like financial experiences, without compromising risk management. Increasingly, organizations are meeting Gen Z expectations by offering financial wellness and protection tools through employee benefits, supporting everyday financial confidence beyond traditional compensation. Challenge 5: Limited data limits meaningful consumer engagement 62 million U.S. consumers are thin-file or credit invisible under traditional credit scoring.5 Growth will always be a priority, but it must be responsible and inclusive. Traditional credit data alone often provides an incomplete picture of consumer financial behavior, limiting visibility and making it harder to confidently expand access. By incorporating alternative and expanded data, organizations can gain a more holistic view of consumers. This broader perspective supports smarter decisions, personalized insights and more inclusive engagement, which enables growth while maintaining compliance and managing risk responsibly. Expanded data supports more personalized financial wellness experiences, enabling organizations to provide relevant insights, responsible access and guidance tailored to individual consumer needs. Challenge 6: Disconnected decisions create inconsistent customer experiences Increasingly, fintech leaders are moving toward unified risk and decisioning strategies to deliver more personalized experiences6 While customers interact with a single institution, decisions are often made across disconnected data sources, systems and teams. These silos create inconsistent experiences, slow responses and operational complexities that customers feel directly through conflicting messages and uneven outcomes. Experian helps organizations break down these silos by unifying data, analytics and decisioning across the enterprise. When data incidents occur, integrated experiences enable faster data breach resolution, helping consumers understand what happened, take action, and recover with confidence. Looking ahead These challenges for financial services organizations are not emerging; they’re already here and reshaping how financial institutions engage with consumers. Leaders who proactively address financial industry challenges by connecting data, analytics, and responsible AI are better positioned to deliver trusted, transparent and meaningful experiences. Learn More References:1. https://www.experian.com/blogs/insights/2025-identity-fraud-report2. https://www.techradar.com/pro/businesses-are-struggling-to-implement-responsible-ai-but-it-could-make-all-the-difference3. https://www.experian.com/blogs/insights/2025-identity-fraud-report4. https://www.deloitte.com/global/en/issues/work/genz-millennial-survey.html5. https://www.experian.com/thought-leadership/business/the-roi-of-alternative-data6. https://us-go.experian.com/2025-state-of-fintech-report?cmpid=IM-2025-state-of-fintech-report-livesocial-share

Since 1996, The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued more than 27 million individual taxpayer identification numbers (ITINs) –⁠ a 9-digit number used by individuals who are required to file or report taxes in the United States but are not eligible to obtain a Social Security number (SSN). Across the country, ITIN holders are actively contributing to their communities and the U.S. financial system. They pay bills, build businesses, contribute billions in taxes and manage their finances responsibly. Yet despite their clear engagement, many remain underrepresented within traditional lending models.  Lenders have a meaningful opportunity to bridge the gap between intention and impact. By rethinking how ITIN consumers are evaluated and supported, financial institutions can: Reduce barriers that have historically held capable borrowers back Build products that reflect real borrower needs Foster trust and strengthen community relationships Drive sustainable, responsible growth Our latest white paper takes a more holistic look at ITIN consumers, highlighting their credit behaviors, performance patterns and long-term growth potential. The findings reveal a population that is not only financially engaged, but also demonstrating signs of ongoing stability and mobility. A few takeaways include: ITIN holders maintain a lower debt-to-income ratio than SSN consumers. ITIN holders exhibit fewer derogatory accounts (180–⁠400 days past due). After 12 months, 76.9% of ITIN holders remained current on trades, a rate 15% higher than SSN consumers. With deeper insight into this segment, lenders can make more informed, inclusive decisions. Read the full white paper to uncover the trends and opportunities shaping the future of ITIN lending. Download white paper

Growth, risk and the rise of "hidden" business accounts As inflation remains elevated and early signs of labor market cooling emerge, the credit card landscape is entering its next phase. Over the past few weeks, policy actions and discussions around potential interest-rate caps have driven increased uncertainty across the credit card industry and broader global markets. Lenders face a careful balancing act: capturing growth opportunities while maintaining disciplined risk oversight. Our second annual State of Credit Cards Report explores the macroeconomic forces influencing the market, key shifts in originations and delinquency trends, and lender mix. New this year, the report also digs into an often‑overlooked segment: business accounts hidden inside consumer credit card portfolios. Additionally, the report offers actionable strategies to help lenders segment risk and drive disciplined growth more effectively. Key insights include: 30+ DPD delinquency rates remained above pre-pandemic levels in 2025, underscoring the need for disciplined asset‑quality monitoring. Fintechs continue to gain ground, posting a 71% YOY increase in account originations.  Business accounts masked in the consumer credit card universe represent roughly 14% of balances and are more than 50% larger than the business card universe — a material segment with distinct risk and profitability dynamics that many lenders are not explicitly managing today. The report also outlines practical strategies to: Identify and segment business behavior within consumer portfolios. Align underwriting and account management with actual usage patterns. Capture targeted growth while protecting long‑term portfolio performance. Ready to dive deeper? Download the full 2026 State of Credit Cards Report to uncover insights that can help your organization manage risk more precisely and grow with confidence. Download report

Rental affordability in the U.S. isn’t just about rising prices—it’s about where those increases are happening. Some cities and states are becoming increasingly unaffordable compared to others, and renters are feeling the financial pressure differently across the country.  Not all rent increases are equal  National rent prices have increased by about 16% in two years, but where you live plays a huge role in how much of your paycheck goes toward housing. In places like California and Massachusetts, the average renter now spends over 56% of their income on rent. That’s nearly double the “affordable” threshold of 30%.  But even traditionally affordable states are feeling the heat. Oklahoma, Kentucky, and Louisiana all saw rent hikes between 6% and 10%—with Oklahoma topping out at 9.7%. These increases are hitting renters in places that used to be considered “safe” from housing inflation.  Regional breakdown:  Here’s how the rent-to-income ratio compares across regions:  West: Rent-to-income ratio of 46.4%  Northeast: 48.1%  South: 43% (but fastest-growing burden)  Midwest: 37.7% (still below the national average, but climbing fast)  Florida, for example, saw its rent-to-income ratio jump by 12.1% since 2023. Arizona isn’t far behind, with an 11.7% increase. These changes are tied to migration patterns—many people moved to these states during the pandemic, and now demand is far outpacing supply.  City-level surprises  Some of the biggest rent increases are happening in cities you might not expect:  Miami, FL: Up 21.1% YOY  Kansas City, MO: Up 16.7%  Louisville, KY: Up 14.2%  Chicago, OH: Up 13%  On the flip side, a few cities have seen rent drops:  Jacksonville, FL: Down 3%  Atlanta, GA: Down 2.2%  Austin, TX: Essentially flat  These shifts show how local economic factors and population trends can quickly change a market’s affordability.  More renters are moving—and struggling to settle  Another sign of pressure: renters are on the move. The percentage of renters with more than one lease has jumped since 2023, especially among Gen X and older millennials. People are relocating more often—sometimes chasing affordability, sometimes being priced out.  At the same time, vacancy rates are rising—from 6.6% to 7.1% nationally. That may sound good for renters, but it’s often a sign of mismatch: more units are being built, but not always where people can afford them.  The bottom line  If you’re a landlord or investor, these geographic insights matter. Rent pressure isn’t universal—but knowing where it’s concentrated can help you adjust screening, pricing, and retention strategies. For renters, this means being more informed and prepared before moving or signing a lease.  In our final post, we’ll explore the macro trends shaping the future—like mortgage rates, construction slowdowns, fraud risks, and how better data is helping landlords and lenders keep up. 

Credit marketing is entering a new era of precision. Data privacy, personalization and digital-first expectations are rewriting the playbook for financial services marketers. The winners in 2026 won’t just optimize; they’ll orchestrate, using connected intelligence — the linking of data, AI models and insights across platforms — to find, know and grow the right customers. Our latest checklist breaks down what it takes to compete in this new environment, including how to: Master the new prospecting formula Use data to drive personalization at scale Create cohesive, compliant messaging across channels Whether your focus is to expand your portfolio, deepen existing relationships or improve marketing efficiency, this checklist can help you drive stronger, smarter growth all year round. And if you're interested in diving deeper, register for our upcoming webinar on January 15, 2026 to hear directly from Experian experts. Access checklist Register for webinar

In today’s fast-evolving digital landscape, fraud prevention is no longer a reactive function, it’s a strategic imperative. As financial institutions, fintechs and government agencies face increasingly sophisticated threats, the need for scalable, transparent and AI-powered solutions has never been greater. Experian stands at the forefront of this transformation, delivering proven technology, unmatched data intelligence and regulatory-ready innovation that empowers organizations to stay ahead of fraud. One platform. Every fraud challenge. Experian’s fraud prevention ecosystem delivers scale, speed and sophistication. Unlike fragmented solutions that require patchwork integrations, Experian offers a unified platform that spans the entire fraud lifecycle from identity verification to transaction monitoring and case management.  With the exciting acquisition of NeuroID, Experian is delivering more value than ever before with our shared commitment to staying ahead of emerging fraud threats.   Embedding NeuroID’s behavioral expertise into Experian’s data systems and platforms is transformative. Together, we’re redefining what fraud prevention can look like in a real-time, AI-driven world. – Kathleen Peters, Chief Innovation Officer, Experian With tools like NeuroID, FraudNet and Precise ID, Experian delivers real-time decisioning and orchestration across diverse use cases. These technologies are not just buzzwords, they’re battle-tested engines driving measurable impact across millions of daily decisions. Data dominance that drives accuracy Experian’s proprietary datasets and global consortia provide unparalleled access to fraud intelligence. This data advantage enables clients to detect anomalies faster, reduce false positives and optimize fraud strategies with precision.  Experian supports over five billion fraud events annually across the largest banks, fintechs and government agencies. That’s 10x more fraud and identity use cases than most competitors can manage across industries and institutions of all sizes. AI innovation with guardrails While many vendors are just beginning to explore AI, Experian has spent the last two decades embedding it into its core products and services. The launch of the Experian Assistant for Model Risk Management exemplifies this commitment. Integrated into the Ascend Platform and powered by ValidMind technology, this AI assistant streamlines model governance, enhances auditability, and accelerates deployment, all while remaining compliant with evolving regulations. Experian’s AI is not a black box. It’s explainable, auditable and developed with governance in mind. This transparency gives clients the confidence to innovate without compromising compliance.  Compliance is built in, not bolted on Experian’s solutions are designed with compliance at the core. From FCRA and GLBA to KYC and CIP, Experian has a long-standing track record of aligning with regulatory frameworks. The company’s ability to demystify machine learning and make it transparent and explainable sets it apart in an industry where trust is paramount. As AI adoption accelerates, Experian’s governance models ensure that innovation doesn’t outpace accountability. Clients benefit from automated documentation, synthetic data generation and model transparency which are all essential for navigating today’s complex regulatory landscape. Empowering clients to own their outcomes Experian doesn’t just deliver tools, it empowers users. With self-service model building, clients can customize fraud strategies, optimize performance, and respond to threats in real time. This flexibility ensures that organizations aren’t just reacting to fraud, they’re proactively shaping their defenses.  Experian’s fraud prevention solutions are designed to be intuitive, scalable, and user-centric, enabling teams to make smarter decisions faster. A global brand you can trust Trust is earned, not claimed. Experian’s decades-long commitment to data stewardship, innovation and client success has made it a globally recognized authority in fraud prevention. With thousands of enterprise clients and strategic partnerships, Experian delivers unmatched reliability and scale. From supporting the largest financial institutions to enabling fintech startups, Experian’s infrastructure is built to manage complexity with confidence. Thought leadership that moves the industry  Experian continues to lead the conversation on fraud prevention and identity verification. As a sponsor of the 2025 Federal Identity Forum & Expo, Experian showcased its latest innovations in behavioral analytics and fraud detection, helping government agencies stay ahead of evolving threats.   The company’s U.S. Identity & Fraud Report, now in its tenth year, provides actionable insights into shifting fraud patterns and consumer behavior reinforcing Experian’s role as a trusted thought leader. In a market flooded with noise, Experian delivers clarity. Its unified fraud prevention platform, backed by decades of AI innovation and regulatory expertise, empowers organizations to protect their customers, optimize operations, and lead with confidence. Experian isn’t just keeping up with the future of fraud prevention, it’s defining it. Learn more

Every credit decision relies on data, but traditional credit information may capture only part of a consumer’s financial story. Some of that story is reflected in credit reports, the loans repaid, the cards managed, and the steady progress toward financial goals. Others live quietly in bank statements and transaction histories, like the rent paid on time, the savings set aside, and the bills managed responsibly. Yet for millions of consumers, that second story has rarely been part of the credit conversation. Expanding the credit conversation can give lenders and financial institutions an edge, helping them separate genuine risk from missed opportunity. In a lending environment defined by volatility and evolving consumer habits, having a more complete picture of each applicant can help make the difference between sustainable growth and risk management. At the same time, open-banking frameworks and consumer-permissioned data have made it possible to understand financial health more clearly than traditional models. That’s where Experian’s Credit + Cashflow Score comes in. A unified view of credit and cash flow  The Credit + Cashflow Score is the first-of-its-kind model combining multiple data sources into a single score. Based on our pre-production analytics, early results demonstrate a 40% improvement in predictive accuracy compared with conventional credit models. It unites our proprietary and industry-leading credit data, alternative credit insights, 24 months of trended behavior, and consumer-permissioned cashflow information into a single score ranging from 300 to 850.* This goes beyond cashflow-augmented models that rely primarily on transaction data layered over credit files. The result is a data-rich assessment of creditworthiness that allows lenders to strengthen portfolio performance, maintain disciplined risk management, and help identify qualified borrowers that traditional credit models might overlook. Better risk control and stronger growth  Today’s lending landscape is being reshaped by rising interest rates, increased capital costs, and heightened regulatory oversight. These pressures are prompting institutions to tighten underwriting standards and reassess risk strategies as they navigate an uncertain economy. At the same time, competition for qualified borrowers continues to intensify, creating pressure to drive sustainable growth without compromising credit quality. Meanwhile, on the consumer side, people are earning income through gig work or multiple income streams and using alternative financial products. According to our recent market estimates, 62 million U.S. consumers are thin-file or credit-invisible1. This is making it harder for lenders to assess true financial capacity using credit data alone. Traditional credit scores continue to remain important, but they can potentially miss key indicators of stability and affordability that appear only in transactional data. The Credit + Cashflow Score bridges that gap, helping enable lenders to expand approvals responsibly while maintaining disciplined risk management. See what's next  As credit markets continue to evolve, lenders are looking for new ways to balance growth with risk. Having the whole financial picture may allow organizations to grow stronger portfolios, reach more qualified borrowers, and bring financial opportunity to more people. Partner with Experian to leverage decades of credit expertise, the nation’s largest alternative credit bureau, and industry-leading open-banking solutions to help lenders innovate responsibly. The Credit + Cashflow Score is built to deliver measurable performance lift, model transparency, and ease of integration through the Experian Ascend Platform. Learn more about the Experian Credit + Cashflow Score * New score available in pre-production for analytics 1https://www.experian.com/thought-leadership/business/the-roi-of-alternative-data 

Debt collection is rapidly evolving. Traditional methods are becoming increasingly ineffective as consumer preferences shift, regulations tighten and operational inefficiencies lead to bottlenecks.Agencies and debt buyers that rely on outdated strategies are experiencing the consequences: lower recovery rates, increased compliance risks and weaker consumer engagement. However, there’s good news — modern tools, powered by advanced data, analytics and digital platforms, are transforming these challenges into opportunities. Common collections challenges: Real-world scenarios In our latest e-book, we examine four fictional scenarios that illustrate how collections teams are addressing today’s primary challenges by updating their methods. Here’s a preview: Smarter segmentation = Higher recovery: Sally, head of collections at Midwest Debt Solutions, realized her team’s one-size-fits-all approach was costing them. By adopting advanced segmentation powered by data and analytics, she shifted her focus from chasing low-value accounts to targeting those most likely to repay, boosting recovery rates and team morale. Better data in, better decisions out: Jerry, a risk analyst at Bay & Associates, relied on a legacy credit model that overlooked crucial alternative signals. By incorporating trended credit data, utility payments and behavioral signals, his team significantly enhanced their prioritization approach and forecasting accuracy. Modern engagement for the modern consumer: John, a collections agent, was having trouble reaching consumers through traditional methods, such as phone calls and letters. With a digital self-service platform, John’s team gained real-time insight into engagement preferences and was able to connect through the channels consumers use, like SMS and email. Personalization at scale: Rachel, an account manager at Union Collections, knew manual processes were slowing her team down. By implementing personalized communications and multichannel outreach, they enhanced consumer experiences, increased repayment rates and minimized compliance risks — all while saving time. Why it matters These scenarios share a common thread: with the right tools, data and strategy, collections teams can turn today’s pain points into measurable progress. At Experian®, we help agencies: Prioritize accounts more effectively with advanced segmentation. Make smarter predictions using dynamic, modern scoring models. Streamline operations with self-service platforms and automation. Strengthen consumer relationships with personalized outreach. Download the e-book Want to dive deeper into each use case? Access the full e-book to learn how forward-thinking agencies are adapting their collections strategies to recover more, spend less and build stronger consumer relationships. Download the e-book