Love and Money: How Financial Transparency Can Strengthen Relationships

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.

In some instances, the ways in which lenders make decisions is not unlike looking through a keyhole. From this vantage point, there is some information, but it isn’t the whole picture. Lenders are often making decisions on a subset of information about a consumer. And for millions of people in America, including those who are thin-file or credit-invisible, the amount of information available is limited.   Our goal is to help our clients gain a more representative understanding of consumers to better inform their decisions and ultimately better serve consumers.   Credit reports and traditional credit scores will continue to be an extraordinarily important part of the process, but we’re continually asking ourselves: how we can leverage our unique vantage point to help our clients obtain a more complete picture to create new opportunities for consumers?   One proven way we can achieve this is by helping financial services companies more easily leverage consumers’ banking and transaction information through open banking. This information can advance financial inclusion by providing a more comprehensive and accurate view of a consumer while giving consumers greater control of their data. And our research shows most consumers are onboard, with 71% stating they’re willing to provide this information if it increases their likelihood of qualifying for credit.1 Introducing Cashflow Score  Today, we’ve unlocked an exciting milestone in making the use of this information more accessible with the launch of Cashflow Score. This is the latest in a short list of products that can be used to make lending decisions, leveraging consumer-permissioned transaction information to more accurately assess risk, particularly for credit invisible or un-scorable consumers who have a bank account.  The score provides lenders with a clearer view of an applicant’s financial behavior, including income, expenses, cash reserves, and more, to enhance risk assessments with up to 25% lift in predictive performance.2 Our solution can easily integrate into lenders’ existing workflows in conjunction with traditional credit scores for credit decisions.   This means lenders can now leverage Cashflow Score in first and second chance credit decisions to assess applicants with limited or nonexistent credit histories, using only bank account data.    The future of financial inclusion  Open banking and transaction data can help create a future where we can help bring financial power to all.    As the only financial services company offering both traditional scores and cashflow-based scoring solutions developed in-house, we are uniquely positioned to connect credit outcomes with transaction data. And we’re just scratching the surface with solutions like Cashflow Score.   As we continue to innovate and embrace the possibilities of open banking, I am optimistic about what lies ahead and how we can expand the keyhole even further.   Together, we can create a more inclusive financial system where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.  [1]  Experian commissioned Atomik Research to conduct an online survey of 2,005 adults throughout the United States. The makeup of the sample is representative of the U.S. population based on national census data regarding demographic variables such as gender, age and geographical regions. The margin of error for the overall sample is +/- 2 percentage points with a confidence level of 95 percent. Fieldwork took place between March 17 and March 21, 2024. [2]  Based on Experian analysis when Cashflow Score is compared to conventional credit scores, tailored to targeted risk tiers. Predictability based on KS. Related Posts

At Experian, we have long championed the use of expanded data sources, including buy now, pay later information, to empower consumers while enabling lenders to make more informed decisions. However, concerns about the negative impact on consumer credit scores have historically prevented many buy now, pay later providers from reporting account information to credit reporting agencies. In an important step towards overcoming these challenges and supporting responsible lending, today, Affirm, one of the largest providers of pay-over-time loans, announced it is expanding its credit reporting with Experian. Greater transparency in buy now, pay later activity is key to helping consumers build their credit histories and supporting responsible lending.Scott Brown, Group President, Financial Services, Experian North America Affirm plans to report all pay-over-time loan products issued from April 1, 2025, and beyond, including Pay-in-4. The move will help drive greater transparency into the buy now, pay later market while helping consumers build their credit histories over time. “Affirm operates on the principles of transparency and putting consumers first, which is why we have been actively engaged with Experian and across our industry to build upon our credit reporting practices,” said Libor Michalek, President at Affirm. “Having all loans reflected in a consumer’s financial profile will help protect and empower borrowers. The buy now, pay later industry must evolve from simply providing flexible payment options to helping consumers build their credit histories and better manage their finances, and we are pleased to be taking this step with Experian.” Experian is committed to driving transparency in the BNPL industry without inadvertently negatively impacting consumers. Given this, the new loan reporting will not be factored into consumers’ traditional credit scores in the near term but may in the future as new credit scoring models are developed. With the new furnishing policy, consumers will be able to see on their Experian credit file information on all Affirm loans issued from April 1, 2025 onward. Consumers can receive an updated version of their Experian credit report at no cost daily by enrolling in a free membership and visiting www.experian.com or via Experian’s mobile app. “Greater transparency in buy now, pay later activity is key to helping consumers build their credit histories and supporting responsible lending,” said Scott Brown, Group President, Financial Services, Experian North America. “We have a longstanding history working with Affirm and applaud them for expanding the reporting of their pay-over-time products. This is the right thing to do for consumers, the industry and the economy at large. Our role as the first credit reporting agency to establish this partnership with Affirm underscores our shared commitment to improve consumer financial health and foster more informed lending decisions.” As BNPL information is reported to Experian by additional BNPL providers, a consumer’s BNPL history will be visible to lenders who request to view it as part of an Experian credit report–enabling lenders to make more informed decisions when determining whether to extend credit offers. We look forward to working with other leading BNPL providers to drive greater transparency in the BNPL space that will benefit lenders and consumers alike. Related Posts