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.
We believe financial decisions should feel empowering, not overwhelming. Choosing how to protect your family, planning your next move, building your future, these are personal milestones. Yet too often, the tools meant to help consumers navigate them create friction instead of clarity. We are changing that. Our Consumer-First AI strategy starts with a simple belief: technology should make life easier for people. We’re building AI-powered experiences that meet consumers where they are, cut through complexity, and provide guidance that feels intuitive, supportive, and genuinely helpful. Reimagining Insurance Shopping Through Conversation One example is the launch of our Experian Insurance Marketplace, a leading platform to find and compare auto insurance rates[i], within ChatGPT. Shopping for insurance has long been a frustrating process. Consumers jump from site to site, repeatedly entering information and trying to decode policy differences, often still unsure if they found the right coverage at the right price. Now the experience can begin with a simple question inside ChatGPT. Consumers now can start their journey with Experian and compare estimated rates from more than 35 leading insurance carriers in our network, receive clear coverage explanations, ask follow-up questions in real time, and seamlessly transition into the Experian experience to explore personalized savings and switch carriers. What once took hours across multiple websites can now begin in one guided interaction. Powered by Experian’s Innovation Engine This experience is powered by Experian’s Insurance Marketplace platform and built on years of data expertise, advanced analytics, and strong carrier relationships. It reflects our ability to combine trusted data with emerging AI to create entirely new consumer experiences. For example, consumers can start with a ZIP code to explore price comparisons and, if they choose transition securely to Experian’s website for a personalized quote. This is Consumer-First AI in action. It is not technology for its own sake, but innovation designed to make life easier, build confidence, and give people greater control over their financial journey. Just the Beginning Experian has long helped people build credit, protect their identity, and improve their financial health. Bringing other capabilities, we offer like insurance into conversational AI is a natural extension of that mission. Insurance is only the start in seeing Experian via other platforms. As AI becomes a bigger part of our financial lives, we will continue expanding solutions both within our ecosystem and in other properties like ChatGPT that simplify complex moments and deliver smarter, more personalized guidance wherever consumers are or prefer to engage. Because at Experian, we are committed to being your BFF, your Big Financial Friend, showing up with trusted guidance, practical tools, and support exactly when it matters most. To explore the Experian Insurance Marketplace within ChatGPT or learn more, visit www.experian.com/insurance Insurance products are offered through Gabi Personal Insurance Agency, Inc., d/b/a Experian Insurance Services, a licensed insurance agency. Availability and savings vary by state. Savings are not guaranteed. For license information, visit https://www.experian.com/help/insurance-licenses-disclosure/ [i] Results will vary and some may not see savings.
We’re starting the year strong by reaffirming our promise to empower consumers on their financial journeys. At Experian, everything we do is driven by our mission to bring Financial Power to All™—helping people not only understand where they stand but confidently move forward. That’s why I’m pleased to introduce the new high-yield Experian Smart Money™ Digital Savings Account[1], designed to make saving effortless, accessible, and more meaningful than ever before. This new offering is more than just a savings account—it represents an important evolution in how Experian supports financial progress. For years, we’ve helped tens of millions of consumers monitor their credit, improve their credit scores, and protect their identities. Now, by adding a high-yield digital savings account to our existing suite of financial health tools, we’re able to anchor that progress to something tangible: real balances and real momentum. With the ability to save built directly into the Experian ecosystem, members can track their savings growth alongside credit improvements, creating a clearer picture of their overall financial health. Positive financial behaviors—like paying down debt, making on-time payments, or improving utilization—can now be experienced in parallel with cash accumulation and stronger financial resilience, all in one trusted place. The Experian Smart Money™ Digital Savings Account offers up to 4.00% variable Annual Percentage Yield[2] (APY), which is nearly 10 times the national average savings rate[3], with no minimum balance or direct deposit requirement. It’s seamlessly integrated into the Experian membership experience, making it easier for consumers to take action the moment insight appears. This launch builds on the success of our Experian Smart Money™ Digital Checking Account & Debit Card introduced in 2023 and reflects our continued commitment to creating products that meet consumers wherever they are on their financial journey. We believe saving is a foundational financial behavior—and one that plays a powerful, often underappreciated role in credit outcomes. Strong credit health isn’t just about borrowing; it’s closely tied to liquidity, cash flow stability, and financial resilience. Having accessible savings can help consumers stay current on bills during income disruptions, build buffers that reduce reliance on higher-cost credit, and create flexibility that can support long-term credit improvement. In this way, a high-yield digital savings account becomes more than a place to store money—it becomes a practical tool for building healthier financial habits. Whether it’s emergency savings, goal-based saving, or smoothing cash flow, an Experian Smart Money Digital Savings Account enables consumers to turn good intentions into consistent action. This launch also reflects our broader evolution beyond a traditional credit bureau. Today, Experian membership provides access to credit monitoring and improvement tools, identity protection, a credit card marketplace, auto insurance comparison shopping, and personalized guidance through our AI-powered virtual assistant, EVA. Adding a high-yield digital savings account allows us to take the next step with our members—bridging the gap between insight and action. Instead of stopping at “here’s where you stand,” Experian can now help consumers actively build positive financial momentum. We’re extending our role as consumers’ BFF—Big Financial Friend—by making it easier to save, plan, and grow within the same ecosystem they already trust. By innovating and delivering products that truly make a difference in people’s everyday financial lives, we’re continuing to advance our mission and help consumers turn knowledge into progress. Learn more at experian.com/smartmoney. [1] The Experian Smart Money™ Debit Card is issued by Community Federal Savings Bank (CFSB), pursuant to a license from Mastercard International. Banking services provided by CFSB, Member FDIC. Experian is a Program Manager, not a bank. See Experian.com/legal. [2] The Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is 2.00%, 3.00% or 4.00% as of today’s date based on the Experian membership status. The APY may change at any time before or after your account is opened. Changes to the Experian membership can impact the APY, interest rate, and features. The interest rate and APY may be lower during membership trial periods. No minimum deposit to open account. Balance must be at least $0.01 to earn APY. Learn more. [3] As of Dec. 15, 2025, the national average rate for savings accounts was 0.39%, according to the FDIC.
Editor's Note (February 2026): Since the publication of this post, Experian communicated to its mortgage partners a new strategic pricing structure designed to bring more value to the industry. Our commitment to transparency in mortgage credit reporting pricing remains unchanged. 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.