Credit & Risk

Homebuying and credit education

Recent survey by Experian revealed opportunities for businesses to build relationships with future homebuyers before they’re ready to obtain a loan.

Published: July 14, 2016 by Guest Contributor
Top moments to assess a customer’s “ability to pay”

All customers are not created equal - at least when it comes to ability to pay. So what are the natural moments for a lender to assess?

Published: July 12, 2016 by Kerry Rivera
Why financial health matters

Financial health open doors for people, creating opportunities for credit, cars, homes and stability. So how can you get "healthy?"

Published: June 29, 2016 by Kerry Rivera
Data accuracy should start with proactive solutions

While organizations increasingly rely on data to make decisions, when it comes to data accuracy, too many wait to correct errors rather than implement proactive solutions.

Published: June 23, 2016 by Kerry Rivera
Experian cited in Mobile Fraud Management Solutions report

Experian®, today announced that it has been included in Forrester’s 2016 “Vendor Landscape: Mobile Fraud Management Solutions” report

Published: June 16, 2016 by Guest Contributor
Fintech at the White House

“The White House FinTech Summit” – the intent was to promote a discussion, on what could be done better to progress innovation in financial services,

Published: June 15, 2016 by Cherian Abraham
First-party fraud — sifting through the noise to find and manage true risk

Definition of first-party versus third-party fraud trends and shared actual case study of a first-party fraud scheme.

Published: June 14, 2016 by Guest Contributor
CFPB Issues Proposed Payday Lending Rule

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) proposed payday lending rule that will apply to virtually all lenders.

Published: June 13, 2016 by Guest Contributor
3 ways to utilize credit reports to generate retail loan growth

As net interest margins tighten and commercial real estate concentrations begin to slowly creep back to 2008 levels, financial institutions should consider looking to their branch networks to drive earnings. Why wouldn’t you, right? The good news is branch networks can embrace that challenge by simply using some of the tools they already have access to – most notably the credit report. Credit reports are generally seen as a tool to assist financial institutions in assessing credit risk. However, if used properly, credit reports can provide a wealth of insight on selling opportunities as well. Typically when a customer’s credit report is pulled, the personal banker or customer service representative is primarily focused on whether or not a loan application is approved based on the institution’s approval parameters. Instead, what if a lender elected to view this customer interaction as an opportunity to deepen the relationship? So, here are three ways to utilize credit reports to generate earnings through retail loan growth: 1. Opportunities to Consolidate Debt  Looking for debt consolidation opportunities is probably the simplest way to mine for opportunities. For example: Personal Banker: “It looks like you also have a card credit with XYZ and ABC Bank. Based on your application, we can consolidate both of those balances into one and give you a lower interest rate.” Be specific. Tell the customer exactly how much money per month they would be able to save and the benefits of consolidation. Not to mention, debt consolidation often reduces a lender’s credit risk and enhances customer loyalty, so this is a win for the institution as well. 2. Opportunities to Provide Additional Credit  Another method would be to “soft pull” a segment of your portfolio to identify customers who qualify for larger credit card balances or refinance opportunities. This strategy is best executed at the portfolio management level, as insight is needed on the bank risk appetite and concentration levels. Layering on a basic prescreen helps qualify and segment your prospect list according to your unique credit criteria. You can also expand the universe with an Experian extract list, identifying new consumers who might be open to new offers. 3. Find Hidden Opportunities Credit scoring models are not perfect. There are times when a person’s credit score does not reflect an applicant’s true risk profile. For example, a person who was temporarily out of work may have missed two to three payments during that period. A deeper scan of the credit report during underwriting may reveal an opportunity to lend to a person rebounding from financial difficulties not yet reflected by their credit score. For example, this individual may have missed two credit card payments but hasn’t missed a mortgage or car payment in 20 years. A score is just one dimension to the story, but trended insights can shine a light on who best to lend to in the future. Conclusion: With the proper tools and training, your retail team can get more out of the basic credit report and find additional opportunities to deepen customer relationships while maintaining your desired risk profile. The credit report can be a workhorse for your team, so why not leverage it for more business. Note: The information above outlines several uses for a credit report.  Separate credit reports are required for each use with the intended permissible purpose. Ancin Cooley is principal with Synergy Bank Consulting, a national credit risk management and strategic planning firm. Synergy provides a rangeof risk management services to financial institutions, which include loan reviews, IT audits, internal audits, and regulatory compliance reviews. As principal, Ancin manages a growing portfolio of clients throughout the United States.

Published: June 9, 2016 by Guest Contributor
Trends suggest summer season will see spike in auto sales

As temperatures climb, so do automotive sales, which often reach annual highs during the warmest months of the year. 

Published: June 8, 2016 by Kyle Matthies
Easing borrower and lender stress during the home-buying season

With the summer home-buying season underway, borrowers and lenders alike can benefit from tools to speed up the loan and escrow process.

Published: June 6, 2016 by Kerry Rivera
Small-business credit conditions stable in Q1

Conditions for small-business credit remained relatively unchanged in Q1 2016

Published: June 2, 2016 by Guest Contributor
The Importance of Call Center Authentication

Led a session about call center authentication. After introductions and a discussion about existing call center identity authentication techniques...

Published: June 2, 2016 by Guest Contributor

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