A visibility gap lenders can't afford to ignore
Alternative data is often associated with thin-file or credit invisible consumers. But its value extends far beyond those segments.
Experian's Clarity Services database includes approximately one in five credit-active consumers, including one in four consumers with prime-and-above credit profiles. That means lenders may be missing important signals, not only for emerging borrowers, but also for applicants who appear well qualified using traditional bureau data alone.
Consider two consumers with the same credit score. Based on traditional credit data, they may appear equally creditworthy. But when Clarity data is added, one consumer may demonstrate stable repayment behavior while another shows recent defaults on alternative finance products. The credit score hasn't changed, but the decisioning context has.
That's where alternative data creates value: helping lenders distinguish between consumers who look similar on paper but represent very different levels of risk and opportunity.
In this Ask the Expert session, Experian’s Julius Heim, Vice President of Analytics Product Build, Innovation and Scores, and Natasha Madan, Senior Director, Analytics Consulting, explain how different alternative data assets solve different business challenges and why the greatest return comes from using them together throughout the credit lifecycle.
What that visibility gap is really costing lenders
Better visibility matters because every lending decision carries consequences.
Without alternative data, lenders may approve applicants whose repayment behavior suggests elevated risk but isn't reflected in a traditional credit file. Without cash flow insights, they may decline consumers who appear thin file on bureau data despite demonstrating strong income and responsible financial management.
The result is a two-sided cost: avoidable bad debt on one side and missed growth opportunities on the other.
But ROI extends beyond approvals alone. It also appears through stronger marketing strategies, improved conversion, reduced friction and more precise risk segmentation throughout the lending lifecycle.
"ROI can mean many things ... marketing to the right people, achieving better approval rates, reducing risk, getting less friction and overall profitability."Julius Heim, Vice President of Analytics Product Build, Innovation and Scores
Where alternative data creates ROI
Improve approval strategies
Use additional consumer signals to recover creditworthy applicants while avoiding unnecessary declines.
Reduce portfolio risk
Identify elevated repayment risk earlier through enhanced visibility beyond traditional bureau data.
Improve portfolio performance
Increase conversion, reduce friction and strengthen profitability across the credit lifecycle.
Different data. Different jobs.
Not all alternative data solves the same problem.
Clarity Services can help lenders strengthen decisions early in the customer journey. It provides additional visibility during prospecting and acquisition, helping identify potential risk before an application moves through the underwriting process.
Cash flow insights can provide value in a different way. When traditional credit information offers part of the picture, consumer-permissioned cash flow data can provide greater insight into income, spending patterns and financial capacity. That makes it especially valuable as a second look during underwriting.
Together, these complementary data assets help lenders improve decisioning throughout the credit lifecycle.
They can support acquisition, underwriting, account management and collections while building on the trusted foundation of traditional bureau data.
Research also continues to demonstrate measurable lift when cash flow insights are combined with traditional credit information.
"I recently did a study with a client where we actually saw a 20% lift in KS [Kolmogorov-Smirnov] above and beyond credit bureau data. Again, the bureau data itself was very predictive. But even from the cash flow data, we still got a 20% lift, which is an amazing stat." Julius Heim, Vice President of Analytics Product Build, Innovation and Scores
The greatest value comes from using these data sources together for a more holistic consumer view.
Start with proof, then build
Adopting alternative data doesn't have to begin with a large transformation. A practical first step is a data study.
By comparing current decision strategies with enhanced data, lenders can identify where additional visibility creates measurable lift within their own portfolios.
This approach allows institutions to validate results before making broader operational changes.
Every lender has different workflows, technology environments and business priorities. A flexible implementation strategy helps organizations incorporate new data in ways that support existing processes rather than disrupting them.
Three ways to get started
Run a data study
Benchmark current decision strategies and quantify potential lift.
Start simple
Begin with targeted data attributes or proven scores before expanding to more advanced use cases.
Build with confidence
Scale implementation based on measured business outcomes and organizational priorities.
This approach allows lenders to validate results, build confidence and expand their strategy over time.
Explore alternative data with a trusted partner
Every lending decision benefits from better consumer insight.
Experian helps lenders combine trusted credit data with alternative data, cash flow insights and advanced analytics to strengthen decisioning, improve portfolio performance and uncover new opportunities for growth.
Whether you're evaluating alternative data for the first time or expanding an existing strategy, Experian can help you identify where additional consumer insight can create measurable business value.
Learn more
Contact us
About our experts
Julius Heim
Vice President of Analytics Product Build, Innovation and Scores, Experian
Julius Heim works at the intersection of financial services, analytics and innovation. He focuses on leveraging data to drive smarter decision-making and support more inclusive financial ecosystems. Julius brings a practical perspective on how organizations can translate insights into real-world impact, with particular interest in emerging trends across fintech, credit, and the use of alternative data, such as cash-flow data, across the credit lifecycle. Previously, he served as Head of Analytics on the lender side and held roles in insurance analytics earlier in his career.
Natasha Madan
Senior Director, Analytics Consulting, Experian
Natasha Madan partners with lenders to drive smarter, data-driven credit and risk decisions. She specializes in leveraging alternative data and advanced analytics to help organizations improve portfolio performance, optimize customer acquisition, and expand responsible access to credit.
During her 15 years at Experian, Natasha has held leadership roles spanning data analytics, product analytics and consulting, giving her a broad perspective of how data can be leverage to solve complex business challenges. She has worked with a diverse range of lenders – including banks, credit unions, fintechs and specialty finance companies to develop analytics strategies that optimize customer acquisition, underwriting and portfolio management. Natasha is passionate about helping organizations unlock the full potential of data to improve both business outcomes and consumer financial inclusion.
Part 2: Common myths about credit risk scores and how to educate consumers
