Personalized credit education can have a measurable impact on a person’s credit score. Consumers who used a personalized consumer credit-education service that offers one-on-one guidance and score simulation improved their average VantageScore® credit score by 21 points (684 to 705) and decreased their credit utilization by 15 percent. Download our recent Webinar: It's a new reality … and time for a new risk score VantageScore® is a registered trademark of VantageScore Solutions, LLC.

The growing cost and number of data breaches has spurred more interest in cyber insurance. While companies often increase investments in technology and training programs to reduce the likelihood of a breach, a recent Ponemon Institute survey of risk-management professionals found that 31 percent of companies surveyed have cyber insurance and 39 percent plan to purchase cyber insurance in the future. Learn how to outline your response plan with our data breach response guide. Source: Managing Cyber Security as a Business Risk: Cyber Insurance in the Digital Age

The latest quarterly credit trends analysis by Experian shows that mortgage originations increased by 10 percent over one year ago. More importantly, the data shows a 29 percent increase in home purchases from the prior quarter and a decrease in refinance activity. Additionally, home-equity lines of credit (HELOCs) increased significantly (30 percent over last year), providing further evidence of an improving real-estate market. Source: Mortgage originations increase by 10 percent from a year ago