As part of its mission to use data to keep the credit economy open to more consumers, Experian released its latest State of Alternative Credit Data report. The study highlights consumer and lender perceptions about leveraging alternative credit data against the backdrop of COVID-19, revealing 80 percent of consumers feel including items such as utility or mobile phone payment history would have a positive impact on their credit score and nearly 90 percent of lenders believe alternative credit data allows them to extend credit to more consumers.
Read More: Doxim Announces Omnichannel Loan Origination and Account Opening in Partnership with Mobetize
Experian’s report also found 69 percent of consumers are worried about their finances and one in five plans to open a credit card within the next six months. At the same time, 96 percent of lenders believe using alternative credit data allows them to more closely evaluate consumer creditworthiness in times of economic stress.
Read More: Options Announces Expansion into Gemini Cryptocurrency Exchange
“There is no question COVID-19 has created a difficult economic reality for millions of Americans. As we think about economic recovery, all of us in the financial services industry must work together to support consumers and maintain the integrity and openness of the credit market,” said Greg Wright, executive vice president and chief product officer for Experian Consumer Information Services. “Incorporating alternative and consumer permissioned data attributes into decisioning processes empowers lenders to extend credit responsibly while helping consumers access the financial services they need in the current economic environment and beyond.”
Alternative credit data, sometimes called expanded FCRA-regulated credit data, refers to information not traditionally included in credit reports. Incorporating alternative credit data into credit decisioning can help consumers with limited or no credit histories gain access to financial services while providing a clearer picture of a prospective borrower’s creditworthiness.
Read More: GlobalFintechSeries Interview with Gerard Griffin, CEO at AnyDay
