One issue our Housing Task Force aims to address is the lack of credit too many consumers face due to the limited information that credit bureaus collect. A recent report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office adds some fresh findings that illuminate the problem.
Credit bureaus analyze loans and credit card information to determine consumers’ credit scores, which influence the ability to obtain a mortgage with reasonable terms. But 45 million Americans don’t have a credit score from one of the three major consumer reporting agencies. These consumers have not previously needed to obtain a loan and tend to rely on cash and debit cards.
The GAO notes that these consumers tend to be low-income and minorities, citing a report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Office of Research. The CFPB found that about 15 percent of Blacks and Hispanics are credit invisible (meaning they are without credit records from nationwide credit reporting agencies) compared to 9 percent of Whites. Additionally, almost 30 percent of consumers in low-income neighborhoods are credit invisible compared to only 4 percent of adults in upper-income neighborhoods. That means traditionally disadvantaged communities are being disadvantaged further when seeking a mortgage due to our imperfect credit-reporting system.
A solution to this problem is expanded use of what the GAO calls “alternative data,” which includes payment histories for telecom, utility, and rent bills. A consistent record of on-time payments for these kinds of bills demonstrates a financial responsibility that credit agencies and lenders should consider when determining credit scores and ability to pay.
For a PDF copy of the blog click below:
FSIC Housing Task Force Blog Post – Alt Data for Credit Reports 1-7-22
