This research analyzes a series of questions pertaining to the impacts on microfinance institutions (MFIs) when using credit bureau data (conventionally referred to as credit files) for purposes of underwriting credit; for the same purposes, it also analyzes credit scoring models and credit decisioning platforms that use credit bureau data.
Data Protection and Credit Information Sharing
This white paper discusses different data protection regimes and argues that whether a system is considered siloed or omnibus what really matters (in a practical sense) are the details and whether there is sufficient regulatory flexibility to account for “on the ground” realities. Credit information sharing is a focus of the white paper.
Changing the Lending Landscape: Credit Deserts, the Credit Invisible, and Data Gaps in Silicon Valley
This report presents findings from the pilot effort of the Credit Deserts Project, which aims to map the incidence of Credit Invisibility, in which consumers have credit reports with no or insufficient data with which to generate a traditional credit score. Previous research suggests that Credit Invisibles disproportionately live in lower income areas of communities and help form what we call Credit Deserts.
Thought Paper – Credit Reputation Ransoming: Held Hostage to Zombie Debt
This Thought Paper describes a way debt collectors can leverage the credit reporting of newer debt to have consumers pay older debt which is no longer credit reporting.
Personalized Credit Education: Consumer and Small Business Owner Attitudes, Impacts and Impediments
This study is the final report on research that examines resulting credit score changes and consumer attitudes following the use of personalized credit education sessions by study participants. The credit education service examined is offered by a national credit bureau. Such services (offered by for-profit non-lender/non-creditor entities) are covered and inhibited by CROA.
CRA Credit Education Services: An Examination of Consumer Impacts
This study was designed to gauge the impact of a personalized credit education service from a national credit bureau on consumer understanding of credit reports and scores as measured by changes in credit scores and results from a participant survey.
Implications of Siloed and Segmented Data in Credit Markets
This white paper examines implications of fragmented data in credit markets, with particular focus on commercial / small business credit data and lending.
Predicting Financial Account Delinquencies with Utility and Telecom Payment Data
This paper examines whether utility and telecom payments (non-financial data) are predictive of either future delinquencies on traditional credit accounts (bank card or mortgages) or of having future derogatory public records.
Is CROA Choking Credit Report Literacy?
This report examines whether the Credit Repair Organizations Act (CROA) is unduly inhibiting the use of needed credit report and education services. It then explores whether the 20 year old CROA could be revised in ways that maintain consumer and credit market protections.
Research Consensus Confirms Benefits of Alternative Data
This paper reviews research carried out by score developers, CRAs, and other organizations on the impacts and potential of alternative data.