Celebrating 12 Years as a Top Workplace: What Makes Experian Exceptional

At Experian, our mission is to bring financial power to all. That means breaking down traditional boundaries, creating pathways for those historically left out of the financial system, and working alongside organizations that share our commitment to inclusion. Credit Builders Alliance (CBA) is one of those partners. For years, CBA has connected community-based nonprofits with the major credit reporting agencies, helping credit-challenged consumers to build or rebuild credit – often for the first time. Our latest analysis done in partnership with CBA shows just how transformative this work can be. From unscored consumers reaching prime tiers to deep-subprime consumers seeing meaningful improvements, the data underscores a truth CBA has championed from the beginning: when people are given the opportunity to build credit, they use it to move forward. I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Dara Duguay, CEO of Credit Builders Alliance, to discuss these findings, the work her organization leads, and what’s needed to continue expanding access to fair, affordable credit for underserved communities. Q1: For those who may be unfamiliar, what is Credit Builders Alliance? Who do you serve and what role do you play in the financial ecosystem? Dara:Credit Builders Alliance is a national nonprofit network made up of community-based organizations, nonprofit lenders, and financial capability providers. Our mission is to help low- and moderate-income individuals and families build credit as an asset and gain access to the financial mainstream. We help nonprofits report loan repayment data to credit bureaus like Experian and we support organizations in strengthening their credit-building programs with training, tools, and technical assistance. Many of the consumers our member organizations serve start out with limited or no access to traditional financial products. Our work helps create pathways for them to demonstrate trustworthiness, build credit, and eventually qualify for mainstream financial opportunities. Q2: Experian recently released an analysis highlighting the impact of CBA tradelines on consumer creditworthiness. What stood out to you in the findings? Dara:The data was incredibly affirming. Seeing that 70% of previously unscored consumers with a CBA tradeline reached prime or near-prime within a year highlights just how powerful inclusive credit reporting can be. It shows that when people with limited credit histories are given the opportunity to demonstrate responsible repayment, they make enormous progress. I was also encouraged by the 48-point average increase among deep subprime consumers. These gains can dramatically change someone’s financial trajectory through lower borrowing costs, access to better financial products, and more stability for their families. More broadly, this analysis reinforces what we see daily: thoughtful credit-building programs, when paired with education and support, create real and lasting change for consumers who need it most. It shows subprime consumers can perform when given the opportunities that they are often denied. Q3: From CBA’s perspective, what approaches best help financial institutions better serve underserved consumers? Dara:A major opportunity is for financial institutions to embrace alternative data that reflects consumers’ real financial lives. Data plays such a vital role in lending decisions and expanding access to fair and affordable resources; we have to modernize our approach. Many people pay their rent, utilities, and telecom bills on time every month, yet historically these payments haven’t counted toward building credit. We’ve seen incredible momentum around rent reporting, and the impact is significant –especially for people with thin or nonexistent credit histories. Rent is often a person’s largest monthly expense, and when that positive payment history is reported, it can quickly establish or improve credit. This progress has become even more meaningful with the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s approval of VantageScore 4.0 for use in mortgage underwriting. Because VantageScore 4.0 incorporates rental payment data where available, these reporting efforts can now play a more direct role in expanding fair access to homeownership for consumers who have historically been left out. In addition, programs like Experian Boost show how empowering it can be when consumers have agency over the information included in their credit files. This feature allows people to get credit for utility, telecom, streaming, rent payments and many other things they are already doing responsibly. It’s a great example of meeting consumers where they are and acknowledging financial behaviors that have historically gone unrecognized. Financial institutions should continue looking for ways to bring these types of innovations to more consumers, especially those overlooked by traditional models. Q4: From your view, how do companies like Experian help advance financial inclusion? Dara:Experian plays an essential leadership role in expanding access to credit, especially through initiatives that rethink how data can work for consumers rather than against them. They’ve been a leader in modernizing the credit reporting industry. Programs like Experian Boost are great examples of that—giving consumers the option to add positive payment information and potentially improve their credit in a matter of minutes. It’s a simple concept, but it has opened doors for millions of people who previously struggled to gain traction in the system. Similarly, Experian’s commitment to supporting rent reporting has been a major step forward. The ability for tenants to build credit through their rent payments, which is one of the most consistent household expenses, helps create equity for people who might not have access to traditional credit-building products. And on a broader level, Experian’s willingness to partner with mission-driven organizations like CBA demonstrates a shared belief that credit is a gateway to opportunity. With analytical insights like our most recent study, Experian is helping validate the importance of inclusive reporting and informing the industry about the real-world benefits for underserved communities. Q5: What misconceptions do you see about credit-challenged consumers, and what should the financial industry understand? Dara:One of the biggest misconceptions is that people with limited or poor credit histories lack financial discipline. In reality, many of them pay significant bills, including rent, utilities, childcare and more, on time every month but simply don’t receive credit for it in the traditional scoring system. Another misconception is that credit building loans or other community-based nonprofit lender products don’t make enough of a difference to report. But as this analysis shows, they absolutely do. Even a single tradeline can serve as a bridge toward greater financial stability. The industry should recognize that credit-building is a foundational tool for economic mobility, and millions of people need better access to programs that support it. My conversation with Dara reinforces what makes Credit Builders Alliance an essential component of the financial ecosystem: their work is grounded in equity, powered by community, and focused on creating lasting pathways to economic mobility. At Experian, we are proud to stand alongside CBA as a partner in expanding inclusive credit reporting, advancing responsible use of alternative data, and ensuring consumers have more control and visibility over their financial futures. The insights from our collaborative analysis make one thing clear: when people are given the chance to demonstrate their financial capabilities, they do. And together, we can make that chance available to millions more. If you’re interested in learning more about Credit Builders Alliance, their mission, and the powerful work they’re leading to expand financial opportunity, I encourage you to visit creditbuildersalliance.org. Whether you represent a nonprofit, a financial institution, or simply want to understand how credit-building strengthens communities, CBA offers resources, tools, and programs that make a meaningful difference. Together, we can continue to open doors, unlock potential, and bring financial power to all.

Recent developments in the pricing of credit solutions for the mortgage industry have raised concerns about rising costs negatively impacting financial institutions and ultimately home buyers. We understand why lenders and trade groups are frustrated and we share in the concern. The system is complex yet there are also blatant attempts by some to take advantage of that complexity by spreading misinformation that makes it difficult to understand the drivers of cost and their implications. Here are the facts: Fact #1: Experian is not increasing the price of its credit reports for mortgage. In fact, the price of an Experian credit report for mortgage in 2026 will be exactly the same compared to 2025. Any accusations that we are raising the price of our credit reports by 50% are simply false. Fact #2: We made a marginal adjustment to the price of our data being used for processing scores in 2026. This reflects increasing complexity in consumer support, continued investments in data security, data accuracy, and regulatory compliance. This includes efforts to include more modern data sources, such as rent, utilities, buy now, pay later, short-term loans and cashflow advancements, among other sources, to more accurately reflect a consumer’s history and use of emerging financial utilities. Fact #3: National credit bureaus do not determine the price of tri-merge credit reports. The cost of these reports are based on a combination of inputs priced independently by multiple parties. Credit bureaus – Experian being one – make up only a portion of that equation. Tri-merge providers contract directly with originators, that pricing reflects our data usage/services, score algorithm costs and fees for services the reseller themselves provide.  Sometimes those combined costs are reflected as “credit reports”, which is at best an oversimplification, at worst a misrepresentation. Experian is committed to transparency in our pricing.  Fact #4: In October, FICO increased its royalty fees for its credit score from $4.95 to $10, an increase of approximately $5 per borrower, essentially doubling the cost of the FICO credit score in tri-merge credit reports. FICO also introduced their direct license program, which introduces unnecessary technological, operational and regulatory complexity for lenders and other market participants (including Experian), placing an even greater financial burden on the industry and inevitably, consumers. Mortgage decisions and credit scores are only as impactful and informed as the data that powers them. And simply put, scores do not exist without credit data powered by the credit bureaus. Credit reporting agencies like Experian operate under rigorous regulatory oversight, unlike score providers like FICO, because the accuracy, security, and fairness of the data we power is critical to the health of the U.S. financial system. Our costs reflect that responsibility, and the continued investments we are making to ensure data accuracy, security, and regulatory compliance to drive value for lenders and consumers alike. We share in the overall goal of making homeownership more accessible and affordable, but that can only happen through pricing transparency and collaboration, not deception and rhetoric. I’ve been in this industry for more than two decades, and I believe our industry only moves forward when it moves together. It’s time we focus on fairness and innovation to make meaningful progress toward a more efficient, inclusive, and sustainable mortgage ecosystem that brings financial power to all.

Experian is evolving — and it’s not just a shift in how we show up to consumers, it’s a transformation in how we think about our role in people’s lives. We’re entering a new era, and I want to share what that means for us and the millions of consumers we serve. For years, we’ve been known as a credit bureau. And while that legacy is something to be proud of, it’s only part of our story. Today, we are so much more. Experian delivers a robust consumer financial platform that empowers people to take control of their financial lives and realize their financial dreams. Meet Experian, your BFF We’ve built tools that help people compare auto insurance[i], potentially lower their bills[ii], find the right credit cards, and make smarter financial decisions. But here’s the challenge: many consumers might not know the full extent of what we offer and how we can help them. That’s why we’re launching a bold new brand campaign that brings our mission of Financial Power to All™ to life in a different way. In a multi-dimensional campaign, actor Sam Richardson steps into the role of a consumer’s Big Financial Friend or “BFF,” a larger-than-life character who helps people navigate their financial journeys. With this new campaign – Experian’s first brand re-do since 2016 – we are bringing fresh creative and messaging to consumers to create more awareness about how Experian has their back and can help them throughout their financial lives. It’s important for consumers to have a knowledgeable financial partner they can rely on as they navigate their financial journeys, and we want to be their “BFF” no matter where they are on that journey. We know that many people are facing financial uncertainty right now, like rising costs, economic volatility, and growing anxiety about the future. That’s why our mission matters more than ever. Financial Power to All™ isn’t a tagline. It’s a commitment  that we will continue to build tools, share knowledge, and create access for everyone, no matter where they are in their financial journey. We have the data, the technology, and the people to make a real difference. This campaign is just the beginning. See our first commercial below: [i] Results will vary and some may not see savings. Average savings of $1,137 per year for customers who switched multiple policies and saved with Experian from Jan. 1, 2022 to Mar. 31, 2024. Savings based on customers’ self-reported prior premium. [ii] Results will vary. Not all subscriptions are eligible, savings are not guaranteed, and some may not see savings. Experian members for whom Experian canceled at least one subscription averaged $270/year of anticipated savings. Available with eligible paid memberships and requires connecting payment account(s) to Experian account.