MicroBilt Invests in PRBC, Teams on Thin-File Creditors

The current credit crunch is forcing smaller businesses to demonstrate to their financial institutions that they’re being very cautious in originating new loans. As a result, it is more difficult than ever for historically underserved consumers with ‘thin” or no credit histories such as young adults, senior citizens, and new Americans to qualify for and receive competitive rates. Businesses in turn are being forced to turn away potential customers that pay bills on time but lack credit payment histories based on mortgages, auto loans or credit cards.

Joint efforts will leverage trade line data reported to MicroBilt by smaller businesses and financial institutions that originate credit as well as PRBC data from bill payment processors, billers and consumers, subject to a satisfactory independent verification.

“A major segment of the consumer market is still disadvantaged by the traditional reporting industry,” says Bob Raleigh, Chairman of MicroBilt Corporation. “PRBC has done a tremendous job in developing methods and systems of aggregating non-reported bill payment data to help consumers demonstrate good payment track records and qualify for credit at competitive rates. By combining PRBC’s data with the trade line data reported to MicroBilt by thousands of smaller companies, we can help this large sector build credit histories and receive FICO® Expansion® scores much faster, and in turn enabling businesses to grant more credit with less risk.”

The 125,000 users of MicroBilt’s credit origination services include tens of thousands of “buy here, pay here” auto dealers and local furniture stores, jewelers, RV and boat rentals, landlords, community banks and credit unions, many of whom work with immigrants, senior citizens, students and other consumers to purchase property, vehicles, etc. MicroBilt helps businesses verify credit and identity while originating credit, then allows those too small to work directly with national credit bureaus to report trade line data as customers make payments.

“In working with MicroBilt, we’re creating a win-win situation for both lenders and consumers,” said Michael Nathans, PRBC founder and chief development officer. “Just as many consumers are not recognized by the primary reporting system, many smaller businesses had no means of reporting good or bad debts directly to major national credit bureaus. MicroBilt’s established reporting capabilities will help increase the ability of the current credit scoring process to address this growing base of American consumers.”

By contributing consumer bill payment records and trade line data reported by smaller businesses to the calculation of FICO® Expansion® scores, MicroBilt and PRBC estimate smaller businesses, banks and credit unions could grow their overall addressable customer bases by as much as 25%. Because many businesses wanted help assessing the credit risk of applicants who lacked a traditional credit report, Fair Isaac Corporation introduced the FICO® Expansion® score in 2004 based on alternative credit data. By offering a richer data set to the FICO® Expansion® score for assessing risk, MicroBilt and PRBC expect their joint efforts will enable many consumers to get better loans and SMEs to do significantly more business.