Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming a cornerstone of modern lending, and new research from Experian shows just how central it has become to financial institutions’ strategies. According to the latest Experian Perceptions of AI Report, adoption is accelerating as lenders look to AI to improve efficiency, sharpen decisioning and manage risk in an increasingly complex environment.
The study surveyed more than 200 senior decision makers across leading financial institutions. An overwhelming majority of respondents view AI as either critical or a high priority over the next two years. Even more telling, nearly nine in ten believe AI will play a vital role across the entire lending lifecycle, from application and underwriting to fraud prevention and portfolio management.
What is driving this momentum is clear. Respondents expect AI investments to deliver meaningful gains in operational efficiency, stronger credit accuracy, and more proactive risk mitigation. These benefits are no longer theoretical. Many institutions are already seeing measurable improvements as AI becomes embedded in everyday decisioning processes.
At the same time, adoption is not without its challenges. Regulatory uncertainty remains a top concern, with many leaders carefully navigating evolving compliance expectations. Data readiness is another critical hurdle. Nearly two-thirds of respondents identified having AI-ready data as one of their biggest obstacles. In fact, data quality emerged as the single most important factor influencing trust when selecting an AI partner.
Experian is uniquely positioned. With an industry leading data ecosystem and advanced analytics capabilities, Experian helps lenders move faster from model development to real-world impact. Recent AI powered enhancements to the Experian Ascend Platform empower more intelligent, proactive decisioning that anticipates customer needs, detects risk in real time, and uncovers new growth opportunities.
To learn more click here: Experian Perceptions of AI Report.
