After more than 25 years with Experian, one of the most common questions I get when talking with people outside of the industry or in my personal life is, “oh, you make credit scores, right?”
This is a common misperception. While the terms ‘credit reports’ and ‘credit scores’ are sometimes used interchangeably, at our core, we are a data and technology company. Experian collects, provides and protects the data that makes credit scores possible and helps enable financial power for all.
The Federal Housing Finance Agency’s (FHFA) recent decision to approve more modern scores for use in mortgage sparked a flurry of industry discussions. Some of the oversimplified sound bites do not accurately capture the value and unique role credit information plays in the mortgage lending process.
The difference between a credit report and a credit score
- Credit Report – Experian credit reports include detailed data of a consumer’s credit history, including accounts, balances, payment behavior, inquiries, and more, and reflect the financial decisions consumers make over time.
- Credit Score – A number developed by a separate company – such as FICO or Vantage Score – that’s generated by applying a mathematical software model to the credit data Experian maintains. It’s a moment-in-time assessment of creditworthiness based solely on the information in the report.
To be clear, credit scores are only as predictive and relevant as the data that powers them. Simply put, credit scores would not exist without credit data.
Credit report infrastructure and investment
Each month, Experian processes more than 1.3 billion updates and we collect, maintain and secure data on 220 million Americans from more than 12,000 data contributors across the nation. The investment associated with this massive undertaking is more than $1 billion annually.
We’ve built systems to ensure this data is current, accurate and relevant so lenders can make fair and informed decisions. We meet the needs of clients and consumers by delivering this data in a secure and timely manner, often in a matter of seconds.
As the steward of consumer support, Experian handles disputes, education, access, and we ensure transparency, which are core elements of our regulatory obligations. We operate under strict compliance and regulatory frameworks that govern how we collect, manage, and share consumer credit data. Navigating complex regulatory landscapes comes with significant financial and operational responsibilities that we manage, which is the cornerstone of lending in the U.S.
This all occurs while we continually enhance our systems to meet complex and evolving regulatory requirements and prioritize data security against the backdrop of consistent and rapidly evolving threats.
While credit scores are essential to lending decisions, the companies that create them are not subject to the same regulatory scrutiny and costs as credit reporting agencies. This distinction matters: we are responsible for the integrity, accuracy, and security of the information that is indispensable to powering the entire credit ecosystem.
Evolving to meet consumer needs
As consumer behavior has changed, so have we. We’ve helped more than 15 million consumers expand their credit histories through our free Experian Boost feature and were the first credit reporting agency to allow for the inclusion of positive rent payments, buy now pay later loans, and more on credit reports — all aimed at empowering more consumers to participate in the mainstream financial ecosystem.
Experian data powers the scores that help consumers qualify for mortgages, auto loans, credit cards, and many of the financial products that move us forward in life. It enables lenders to extend credit responsibly and advances the economy. And it helps consumers understand and improve their financial health.
A new inflection point
When I joined Experian, the primary credit score for mortgage decisioning was already in use and has been the case for more than two decades. We’ve long advocated for score choice in mortgage and, today, we’re at an exciting inflection point with the introduction of newer models that can use broader data sets. As a result, the new scores are more predictive, more inclusive, and better aligned with the way consumers manage credit in the modern world.
As the industry and consumer behavior continue to evolve, we are committed to leading with integrity, innovation, and a deep respect for the consumers we serve.
We look forward to offering our mortgage clients a choice in credit scoring models for the first time. Competition in this space is not only healthy, but also necessary to ensure the system evolves to meet the needs of today’s consumers and lenders.
