Experian® today announced the launch of Cashflow Attributes™, a groundbreaking solution to help expand fair and affordable access to credit, particularly for thin-file and credit-invisible consumers. With over 900 income, cashflow and affordability attributes, Experian’s cashflow insights are available now and allow lenders to seamlessly integrate banking data into their decision-making*.

A consumer’s credit report is the most effective means to assess lending risk; however, nearly 106 million U.S. consumers are unable to secure credit at mainstream rates either because they are credit invisible, unscorable by conventional credit scores, or have a subprime or below credit score.1 Layering traditional credit report data with cash flow insights helps create a more detailed view of a consumer’s financial health and creditworthiness for lenders and can provide more opportunities for consumers.

Why it’s important:

• Financial inclusion: 42% of adults lack a conventional credit score in a range that typically grants access to credit at standard rates2. Cashflow Attributes, which leverages checking and savings account information, offers a more comprehensive view of an individual’s financial profile. Using traditional credit data with lender-obtained cash flow information may unlock opportunities for consumers who may not have qualified if a lender was using traditional credit data on its own.
• Enhanced predictive accuracy: While cashflow insights** are predictive on their own, when viewed with traditional credit information from Experian and expanded Fair Credit Reporting Act data, Cashflow Attributes can boost predictive accuracy by up to 20%3 allowing lenders to drive revenue growth while mitigating risk.
• Consumer willingness: Experian's research shows 71% of consumers are willing to share their banking information if it increases their chances of credit approval.4

“Supporting financial inclusion and creating an equitable path to credit is ingrained in our DNA,” said Scott Brown, group president Experian Financial and Marketing Services. “We believe banking information holds untapped potential and that our new Cashflow Attributes represent an exciting step forward that can easily be integrated into lending decisions. As we look ahead, we will continue to leverage our core credit data, new data elements and our analytics expertise to unlock new opportunities for both consumers and businesses.”