Alternative data

In economic policy, alternative data refers to the inclusion of non-financial payment reporting data in credit files, such as telecom and energy utility payments. Only 39 of 178 economies (22 percent) have credit bureaus that currently track alternative data^[1].

Types of alternative data

Alternative data in the broadest sense refers to any non-financial information that can be used to estimate the lending risk of an individual. Information includes:

• Utility bills (such as electricity, gas, and heating oil)
• Telecommunications bills (such as landlines and mobile phones)
• Rental payments
• Electronic payments (remittances, withdrawals, transfers, etc)

Research by PERC suggests that utility and telecom payments are most accurate at scoring individuals^[2].

Alternative data in North America

United States

In the United States, credit files include negative information, such as delinquencies as well as positive information, like repayment of debts. Still, an estimated 35 to 54 million Americans have insufficient credit information to qualify for mainstream credit^[3]. If illegal immigrants in the United States are included, that number exceeds 70 million ^[4]. Access to credit is thus a Catch-22 for many poorer Americans—one needs credit to get credit. Research suggests that the inclusion of alternative data in credit files could bring many of these individuals into the credit fold^[5]. That is, non-financial positive payment information, like rents or utility payments, can give credit agencies enough information to rate previously unscorable individuals known as the unbanked. These newly-scored individuals have risk profiles similar to those already in the mainstream credit system^[6]. Racial minorities, women, and the poor disproportionally benefit ^[7]. Furthermore, loans become smarter. Including alternative data has little effect on the credit mainstream, those already scorable in the current system.^{[citation needed]} Furthermore, this increase in data actually decreases the number of bad loans.^{[citation needed]}

Current use of alternative data

Utilities and telecoms firms in several states have started reporting their data to CRAs. PRBC, a consumer credit reporting agency based in Annapolis, Maryland, allows consumers to self-enroll and build a positive credit file based on their timely payments for bills such as rent, utilities, cable, telephone, and insurance that are not automatically reported to the other bureaus^[8]. TransUnion, First American CredCo, and LexisNexis have all recently released products involving alternative data.

Concerns about the use of alternative data in credit files

Some concerns about the use of alternative data have been raised over the long-term consequences of fully reporting utility and telecom payments to Credit Rating Agencies^[9]. There are concerns that state and local incentives to not pay bills on time (for example, some states provide heating oil subsidies if payments are missed) may cause deterioration in credit scores over time. There is also concern that people who open accounts with only alternative data will become over-extended. Recent research shows, however, that the inclusion of alternative data does not degrade credit scores over a one year period^[10].

Alternative data in low-income countries

In low-income nations, alternative data is often the only type of data available for credit scoring. The population is often not formally employed, lacks a credit history, cannot fulfill loan application requirements, and has insufficient capital. Even when these requirements are fulfilled, lending institutions often have very little experience with clients’ economic activity leading to untailored loan products.

Alternative data can circumvent all these issues. Gathering this data through microfinance institutions, however, is labor and time intensive, resulting in high interest rates^[11].

Electronically available alternative data, such as bill payments, mobile phone bills, rental payments, and electronic transaction data, could be used to score these individuals and enter millions in low-income countries into a more modern credit ratings system.

An especially promising option is the full reporting of trade credit data, such as records from cash and carry warehouses^[12].

References

See also

• Policy and Economic Research Council
• PRBC