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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.

Every year, I look forward to sharing Experian’s Future of Fraud Forecast because it’s more than just a report —  it serves as a trusted guide for the industry and a way to cut through the noise to spotlight the trends that will matter most over the next year. Fraud isn’t just a business problem. It’s also a human problem that impacts real people. Every time we stop fraudsters, we protect people’s identities, their financial security, and their trust in the digital world. That’s the mission that drives me. As we head into 2026, the fraud landscape is evolving in ways we couldn’t have predicted 20 years ago. We’re entering an era where AI is making fraud more sophisticated, autonomous and scalable than it was even just 12 months ago. For example, agentic AI can help book a vacation with just a single prompt. Meanwhile, tried and true schemes that have been around for years are still happening and are being accelerated by AI. This isn’t science fiction, it’s happening now and requires modern fraud mitigation strategies to combat. If we fail to act, businesses and consumers will face risks that are harder to detect and easier to exploit, leaving millions vulnerable. This year, our forecast highlights five fraud threats including: Machine-to-machine mayhem: As organizations race to leverage agentic AI, the sheer volume of players entering the space will make fraud inevitable and impossible to ignore. Fraudsters will exploit agentic AI to commit new levels of digital fraud. With machine-to-machine interactions initiating transactions without clear ownership of liability, businesses will face growing uncertainty around agent ownership, intent and risk. Experian predicts fraud will reach a tipping point that will spark major conversations and decisions around liability, regulation and the role of agentic AI in shaping responsible digital commerce. Deepfakes outsmart HR: Employment fraud is set to escalate in the remote workforce as generative AI (GenAI) tools generate hyper-tailored resumes and deepfake candidates capable of passing interviews in real time. Experian forecasts that employers will unknowingly onboard individuals on a much larger scale who aren’t who they say they are, giving bad actors access to sensitive systems. This emerging threat is expected to reshape how organizations verify identity and intent in the hiring process. Smarter homes, scarier threats: Smart homes are introducing new entry points for fraud. Devices like virtual assistants, smart locks, security systems, smart appliances and the coming use of humanoid robots will be exploited by bad actors to access personal data, monitor household activity and even take control of physical access points. Experian predicts that as the adoption of smart home devices continues to grow, so will the risk, with new forms of ransomware and opportunities for account hijacking, turning convenience into vulnerability for consumers. Website cloning will overwhelm fraud teams: Cloned websites, where fraudsters replicate legitimate sites to phish consumers, are becoming easier to create through AI tools and harder to eliminate. Notably, even after takedown requests, spoofed domains continue to resurface. As companies are forced to play whack-a-mole to address these threats, they risk being distracted from broader fraud strategies, allowing other threats to escalate. Experian forecasts that cloned sites will continue to cause significant losses for online retailers and businesses by tricking consumers into sharing their credentials, fueling credit card fraud, accelerating identity theft and synthetic identities, and facilitating other forms of financial fraud. Bots will break hearts and bank accounts: Emotionally intelligent bots powered by GenAI will accelerate the scale of their complex scams, like romance fraud and relative-in-need scams, without a human behind the keyboard. These bots will respond convincingly, build trust over time, and manipulate victims with precision and emotion. As they become harder to distinguish from real people and good bots, Experian predicts fraud will scale faster and become more financially and psychologically damaging. Fraud is becoming more adaptive, autonomous, and intelligent. But the good news is we can fight back. At Experian, we’re committed to helping businesses outpace these threats by combining differentiated data, advanced analytics, and AI-powered technology. Together, we can protect consumers without sacrificing experience and make a real difference in people’s lives. Learn more about Experian’s fraud prevention solutions here.

At Experian, we believe that financial education and opportunities should be accessible to everyone, and sometimes the best way to share that message is through something that unites us all, like sports. As part of our latest installment of the “BFF” - Big Financial Friend – ad campaign, we celebrate smarter money moves with two professional athletes and real-life best buddies San Francisco linebacker Fred Warner and Los Angeles wide receiver Puka Nacua. These pro football stars bring authenticity and energy to the campaign by showing how Experian can be the ultimate teammate, helping consumers save money and make better financial decisions. In the new commercials developed by Experian’s in-house creative agency The Cooler, Fred and Puka talk life, football, and finances. Their chemistry illustrates what Experian stands for: being by consumer’s side like a trusted friend who’s always looking out for them. Sports as a bridge to financial empowerment Sports have a unique ability to bring people together across backgrounds, circumstances, and financial situations. Whether fans are watching from home or in the stadium, sports create shared experiences that transcend differences. That’s why we continue to leverage this powerful platform to reach as many people as possible with our message of financial empowerment and to share our products and services. We’re thrilled to work with athletes like Fred and Puka, whose energy and authenticity help us connect with millions of fans during some of the biggest sporting events of the year. These moments aren’t just games, they’re cultural touchpoints, and we’re harnessing them to reach more people with knowledge and tools that make a real difference. This campaign is a great example of how we’re combining creativity, culture, and technology to make financial wellness accessible to everyone. Watch the new ad here and keep an eye out for it during the College Football and pro football playoff season.

As we approach 2026, artificial intelligence is no longer just a tool for innovation—it’s a weapon in the hands of cybercriminals. Our 13th Annual Data Breach Industry Forecast, released today, highlights how AI is poised to redefine the cybersecurity landscape, introducing a new era of highly personalized, persistent, and technologically advanced attacks. We outline six key predictions, with AI emerging as the central theme. From synthetic identities and autonomous AI agents to shape-shifting malware and even vulnerabilities in brain-computer interfaces, the forecast paints a picture of a threat environment that’s evolving faster than many organizations can keep up with. The stakes are high. In the first half of 2025 alone, more than 8,000 global data breaches exposed approximately 345 million records [1]. Experian’s clients in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada were among the hardest hit. Consumers Are Feeling the Impact To check the pulse of how consumers are feeling about the impact of AI on security, we recently conducted a national survey in the U.S. and UK. The findings reveal growing anxiety around AI-driven threats. In both the U.S. and U.K., more than 80% of respondents expressed concern about AI being used to create fake identities indistinguishable from real people. Millennials appear especially vulnerable, with 1 in 4 reporting identity theft in the past year and nearly a quarter falling victim to phishing attacks. The findings also show a lack of confidence in corporate defenses: 69% of U.S. adults don’t believe their bank or retailer is prepared for AI-driven attacks. 76% believe cybercrime will continue to escalate and become impossible to slow down due to AI. 35% worry about being held personally liable for cybersecurity mistakes at work. Preparing for the AI-Driven Future While the threats are daunting, organizations can turn the tide by adopting AI defensively. Proactive investments in AI-powered threat detection, employee training, and incident response planning will be critical in 2026 and beyond. Experian Data Breach Resolution has more than 20 years of experience helping companies manage a security incident and it’s no different today than it was two decades ago – the same technologies that are being used against us can also be used to protect us. AI can help detect anomalies faster, automate responses, and reduce human error. But it requires investment, training, and preparation. To review all six predictions, download the paper here. Understanding what’s coming is the first step toward building a stronger, more resilient cybersecurity strategy. [1] Data Breach Statistics 2025: Key Trends, Costs & Risks Revealed, SQ Magazine, October 6, 2025

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.

For the sixth year in a row, Experian North America has been named to Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For. This year, we ranked 60. I could not be prouder of the culture we’ve built on a foundation of support, collaboration and inspiration. Because of our team’s commitment to our shared mission, we are a trusted consumer brand, empowering consumers in more ways than we ever have before. And, because of our team’s commitment to innovation, we are a leader in data and technology, helping our clients excel in their industries every day. The list is based on the results of the Great Place to Work survey: 92% of colleagues say Experian’s flexible ways of working enable them to work productively and that they’re made to feel welcome when they join our team. And 90% feel good about the ways we contribute to the community. The year ahead is about unlocking our full potential which brings together our unmatched data, market opportunities and a team that’s passionate about building what’s next. Experian is poised to deliver some of our most impactful solutions yet for the clients and consumers who count on us. Our commitment to bring Financial Power to All has been honored with the 2025 BIG Innovation Award for groundbreaking generative AI-powered tool, Experian Assistant, Top Score in the 2025 Corporate Equality Index, Top Workplace for Disability Inclusion, and as one of the 25 World’s Best Workplaces™ 2024. Learn more about Experian in our Experian Power of YOU Report 2024 available in English, Portuguese and Spanish. 

In some instances, the ways in which lenders make decisions is not unlike looking through a keyhole. From this vantage point, there is some information, but it isn’t the whole picture. Lenders are often making decisions on a subset of information about a consumer. And for millions of people in America, including those who are thin-file or credit-invisible, the amount of information available is limited.   Our goal is to help our clients gain a more representative understanding of consumers to better inform their decisions and ultimately better serve consumers.   Credit reports and traditional credit scores will continue to be an extraordinarily important part of the process, but we’re continually asking ourselves: how we can leverage our unique vantage point to help our clients obtain a more complete picture to create new opportunities for consumers?   One proven way we can achieve this is by helping financial services companies more easily leverage consumers’ banking and transaction information through open banking. This information can advance financial inclusion by providing a more comprehensive and accurate view of a consumer while giving consumers greater control of their data. And our research shows most consumers are onboard, with 71% stating they’re willing to provide this information if it increases their likelihood of qualifying for credit.1 Introducing Cashflow Score  Today, we’ve unlocked an exciting milestone in making the use of this information more accessible with the launch of Cashflow Score. This is the latest in a short list of products that can be used to make lending decisions, leveraging consumer-permissioned transaction information to more accurately assess risk, particularly for credit invisible or un-scorable consumers who have a bank account.  The score provides lenders with a clearer view of an applicant’s financial behavior, including income, expenses, cash reserves, and more, to enhance risk assessments with up to 25% lift in predictive performance.2 Our solution can easily integrate into lenders’ existing workflows in conjunction with traditional credit scores for credit decisions.   This means lenders can now leverage Cashflow Score in first and second chance credit decisions to assess applicants with limited or nonexistent credit histories, using only bank account data.    The future of financial inclusion  Open banking and transaction data can help create a future where we can help bring financial power to all.    As the only financial services company offering both traditional scores and cashflow-based scoring solutions developed in-house, we are uniquely positioned to connect credit outcomes with transaction data. And we’re just scratching the surface with solutions like Cashflow Score.   As we continue to innovate and embrace the possibilities of open banking, I am optimistic about what lies ahead and how we can expand the keyhole even further.   Together, we can create a more inclusive financial system where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.  [1]  Experian commissioned Atomik Research to conduct an online survey of 2,005 adults throughout the United States. The makeup of the sample is representative of the U.S. population based on national census data regarding demographic variables such as gender, age and geographical regions. The margin of error for the overall sample is +/- 2 percentage points with a confidence level of 95 percent. Fieldwork took place between March 17 and March 21, 2024. [2]  Based on Experian analysis when Cashflow Score is compared to conventional credit scores, tailored to targeted risk tiers. Predictability based on KS. Related Posts

Experian’s groundbreaking agentic AI-powered tool, Experian Assistant, has earned the prestigious 2025 FinTech Breakthrough Award for Analytics Innovation. This recognition comes on the heels of the product solution winning the BIG Innovation Award. These awards underscore Experian’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation by helping our customers achieve success. 24/7 Data Expert Integrated with the Experian Ascend Platform™, Experian Assistant functions as a 24/7 data expert, enabling financial institutions to optimize their credit and fraud models with ease. Using natural language processing (NLP), the virtual assistant guides users providing insights, recommendations and coding assistance. The impact is transformative: Experian Assistant cuts model-development timelines from months to just days—and even hours in some cases. By helping users analyze credit and fraud data, adjust model attributes and streamline workflows, it empowers organizations to innovate faster and make data-driven decisions with confidence. Powered by agentic AI technology, Experian Assistant reimagines how data scientists and analysts approach their work. It accelerates insights, fosters collaboration and empowers businesses to deliver exceptional customer experiences while reducing the time and resources needed to bring new initiatives to market. Driving Results While tailored for financial services, Experian Assistant’s capabilities extend across industries. Customers can leverage it for data exploration, model deployment, performance monitoring and faster time-to-market for new offerings. With Experian Assistant, users gain a powerful edge in scoring more consumers, optimizing processes and enhancing overall customer satisfaction. Commitment to Customers  Experian received this prestigious award that recognizes those “who are dedicated to reshaping the FinTech industry through innovative technologies.”  This accolade continues to build Experian Assistant’s position as a game-changing solution for Experian’s customers in financial services and beyond. Related Posts