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Whether it’s pursuing homeownership, purchasing a family car, renting an apartment, or simply trying to secure everyday financial products, recent industry conversations have put a spotlight on the indispensable role data plays in driving smart decisions and improving access to credit.  In my role, I have the unique opportunity to demonstrate how data, including cash flow insights, can drive meaningful progress towards financial inclusion. At Experian, we believe these insights represent the next great evolution in credit.   Cash flow data is transforming how we understand consumer behavior, assess risk and open doors for consumers who have been historically left out of the mainstream financial ecosystem.  While cash flow insights are becoming central to the future of credit, it’s critical we lean not just on the data itself, but on the infrastructure, trust and stewardship that support it.   Our Commitment to Open Banking and Cash Flow Innovation    Experian has been leading open banking solutions internationally for over a decade and we’ve been building cash flow-based solutions in the U.S. for more than eight years. We are the only credit reporting agency offering both traditional credit scores and cash flow-based scoring solutions developed in-house. This unmatched vantage point allows us to uniquely understand how cash flow analytics, when leveraged with traditional credit data, can reveal a more complete picture of consumer financial health and help lenders distinguish between risk and resilience with greater precision.  Our cash flow-based solutions are designed to power smarter, more inclusive credit decisions across a variety of credit products and industries, including credit cards, personal loans, auto, housing and more.  For example, our Cashflow Score and Cashflow Attributes deliver up to a 25% lift in predictive performance when compared to conventional credit scores, while improving financial access for consumers historically left behind. In addition, our research shows that leveraging cash flow insights in the mortgage space results in a 35% increase in model accuracy and risk differentiation, underscoring its potential to transform credit evaluation in the housing industry.   These solutions are exclusive to Experian and powered by our Categorization Engine – a dynamic, machine learning model that processes approximately 30 million transactions every day with remarkable accuracy. And because the system learns continuously, it grows more intelligent and more precise with every interaction.   Infrastructure, Trust, and Scale  Our ability to help lenders use these insights at scale is grounded in our unmatched expertise and infrastructure. We’ve built one of the most sophisticated and secure data ecosystems in the world, underpinned by decades of responsible data stewardship. That foundation allows us to deliver new cash flow innovations to fintechs, credit unions, mortgage lenders and resellers, as well as large banks with confidence and integrity.  Our data science teams are among the most sophisticated in the industry, with deep expertise in developing predictive models and scores that power billions of lending decisions globally.  We know what it takes to translate data into meaningful, actionable insights that help lenders of all sizes make confident, fair and inclusive decisions, including tailoring their offerings and delivering the right products and services to consumers at the right time.   Leading the Industry Forward  Cash flow insights are a catalyst for a complete, inclusive view of financial health. And realizing that promise requires the right foundation: trusted data, powerful infrastructure, rigorous analytics, and the scale to make it work.  We have long served as a trusted backbone of the credit ecosystem, operating with governance, transparency, and accountability at our core. That same commitment extends to our work in cash flow analytics today.  As the industry embraces this new frontier, we are uniquely positioned to lead and help our clients turn these insights into action, enabling them to deepen customer relationships, tailor offerings to evolving needs, and ultimately empower more consumers to achieve meaningful financial milestones.  To learn more about Experian’s suite of cash flow-based solutions, please visit: https://www.experian.com/business/products/cashflow-score

Every American deserves a fair shot at homeownership and high-quality data makes it happen. That’s why, as of today, Experian will provide free access to VantageScore 4.0 indefinitely. We’ve championed the Federal Housing Finance Agency and Director Pulte’s decision to approve modern scores and support their call to uncover creative ways to make the credit scoring industry more competitive and mortgages more affordable for Americans. Today, we’re responding to Director Pulte’s call with this exciting step forward. By giving our clients the resources and flexibility to evaluate the benefits of modern scoring in real workflows, we can make homeownership more accessible to more people, in more places, more of the time. This is about accelerating score choice in a responsible, transparent way so lenders can test and learn, and more consumers can be seen for the full picture of their financial behavior. Total transparency. Total utility. Flexible. Secure. Reliable.  To deliver this, we’re proud to introduce the Experian Score Choice Bundle, a first-of-its-kind credit scoring solution for the mortgage market. The bundle provides lenders with both VantageScore 4.0 and FICO 2 on every transaction, offering the freedom to choose the score that best fits their needs. The result: reduced costs for lenders, expanded access to credit, and a clearer path to homeownership for millions of consumers. When you buy from Experian, here’s exactly what you’ll pay: Credit Profile: One fee for the credit profile with trended data Data for Score Processing: One fee for data used to process both scores: VantageScore 4.0 and FICO 2 3rd Party Support: A fee to account for additional risk and operational complexity associated with third-party processing (if applicable) Score Algorithm Licensing: Any royalty charged by the score algorithm providers (if applicable) This is what lenders pay for today, but with added transparency. We’ve separated our Data for Score Processing fee from Score Algorithm Licensing fee, so lenders know exactly who they’re paying and for what. Lenders will now receive both scores on every transaction, allowing them to: Evaluate VantageScore 4.0 against new GSE LLPA guidelines Fund loans that qualify with VantageScore 4.0 that may not have qualified otherwise Pass both scores to the secondary market for evaluation against real lending decisions and evolving GSE standards The Experian Score Choice Bundle builds on what has always set Experian apart – the quality, accuracy, and depth of our data, supported by the technology and infrastructure that make it all possible. Our trusted data powers the mortgage ecosystem, giving lenders the confidence to make informed, responsible decisions while helping consumers build stronger financial futures. For decades, we’ve invested in the integrity, predictiveness, and security of our data and in the systems, compliance frameworks, and technology that deliver millions of credit reports and scores securely, consistently, and in real-time. This same infrastructure also supports consumers directly – helping them understand their credit, resolve questions, and take control of their financial health. Together, these investments ensure the mortgage market remains stable, transparent, and trusted. To accelerate score choice adoption, VantageScore 4.0 is available within Experian’s award-winning Ascend Analytical Sandbox, enabling lenders, resellers, and other market participants to model, test, and analyze score performance. Lenders can also enhance decisioning with Experian’s Cashflow Score and Cashflow Attributes, which provide deeper insights into borrower financial behavior (such as income, expenses, and cash reserves) to better serve consumers with limited or emerging credit histories. Experian’s commitment to innovation that fuels competition and expands access to credit is unwavering. From VantageScore to our award-winning Experian Verify and Power Profile Plus solutions, we’re transforming how lenders evaluate consumers and make confident, informed credit decisions. At the same time, we’re empowering millions of consumers directly through Experian Boost, which helps expand credit histories by adding positive cell phone, utility, insurance, and rent payments, and Experian RentBureau, the nation’s largest database of rental payment history. Together, these innovations give lenders a more complete view of financial behavior and open the door to affordable credit and sustainable homeownership for more consumers. Ultimately, this is about greater choice, lower costs, and broader access – helping lenders serve more borrowers and creating a mortgage market that works better for everyone.

Experian is a cornerstone of the U.S. housing finance system, empowering millions of consumers to achieve the dream of homeownership and enabling lenders to make safe, sound, and inclusive credit decisions. At the heart of every credit score is data – and there is no FICO score without credit bureau data. Our information powers the accuracy, reliability, and fairness of scores across the market. FICO is now proposing an aggressive strategy to restructure distribution in order to push through an unprecedented price increase for its own benefit. The new direct licensing model introduces unnecessary technological, operational, and regulatory complexity for lenders and other market participants – complexity that ultimately increases costs and risks for the housing ecosystem. On pricing, the math speaks for itself. FICO has now more than doubled its fee from $4.95 to $10, and it’s an even worse increase under the proposal for a $33 closing fee. Make no mistake, this will place an even greater financial burden on the industry, that will inevitably be passed to consumers. Experian has long supported the industry’s evolution toward more modern, inclusive, and efficient credit solutions. We have a track record of partnering with lenders, agencies, and regulators to ensure innovation strengthens – not hinders – the system. FICO’s actions only underscore the need for alternatives that deliver value, not additional burden. As a result, we are committed to accelerating the adoption of VantageScore – an innovative, proven, and cost-effective solution that better serves both lenders and consumers. We remain confident in our position, our client partnerships, and our ability to deliver solutions that balance affordability, fairness, and accuracy. Experian will continue to work with the industry to drive innovation, empower consumers, and strengthen the housing finance system for the future.