Finding the Lending Diamonds in the Rough

The better-than-expected September Jobs Report adds to the list of data that suggests the U.S. economy is heading for a soft landing. While challenges remain, the current backdrop is one of strong economic activity, a solid labor market, and a more accommodative Fed. Get North America Chief Economist Joseph Mayans’ charts and key takeaways on recent developments.

Explore Gen Z's habits and attitudes toward credit, personal finance, marketing, fraud and more.

Gen Z fast facts:

• There are 69.3 million Gen Z-ers in the United States.
• They spend six or more hours per day on their cell phones.
• They collectively demand purpose and accountability from brands they interact with.

They demand the creation of more opportunities for people of diverse and underrepresented backgrounds. Lack of financial resources and funding options are seen as barriers in achieving their goals.

Source: Statista, McKinsey & Company.

Learn how credit unions can optimize their credit limit strategies to grow card use, increase member loyalty and manage risk.

Fast facts:

• Credit card balances increased by $55 billion in December 2023, about four times the increase from November.
• 35% of holiday shopping was done in December 2023, peaking at 9% of total holiday sales the week before Christmas.
• 68% of credit card owners regularly use at least two credit cards.
• 41% opened their recent credit card because they wanted to build their credit score and history."

As interest rates soften, pent-up demand stands poised to surge once affordability shifts. Given this environment, it's imperative to reassess your lending strategy to recognize new avenues for growth. We've examined the first-time homebuyer segment to identify credit-qualified prospects and offer insights on potential opportunity areas.

Download our white paper to deepen your understanding of first-time homebuyers and learn best practices for how to successfully identify and engage this audience to help your business drive more sustainable growth.