The deal will provide Lending Works with access to Experian’s credit and affordability data to help underpin its credit decisioning engine and fraud prevention strategies.

Experian’s Trended Data solution will help Lending Works understand whether consumers are on an upwards or downwards trajectory in their capacity to afford credit.

Lending Works will also use Experian’s Affordability IQ service to identify if a customer has experienced a recent reduction in or loss of income as a result of the pandemic.

Access to this data will help Lending Works to understand a customer’s affordability. It will also help Lending Works to proactively manage its customers’ financial wellbeing, ensuring they are treated fairly and responsibly throughout the life of a loan.

The partnership will allow Lending Works to accelerate its growth whilst maintaining high credit standards.

Ines Maia, Chief Revenue Officer of Lending Works, said: “Understanding and assessing affordability is critical in the current environment. Experian’s in-depth and granular insight is the most predictive available, and we expect the quality to continue to improve as it expands traditional and new data sets.”
Paul Speirs, Managing Director of Digital Consumer Information at Experian, said: “The uncertain economic environment means it’s essential for lenders to have the most up-to-date and accurate insights available to make the highest quality lending decisions and protect customers.

“As Lending Works’ primary bureau of choice, we will help them to understand which consumers are on an upward trajectory and in a better position to take on finance than a static credit score would suggest.

“The sensitivity that our income shock data offers will provide Lending Works the insight to proactively manage customers and safeguard them. We continue to seek new, growth-hungry partners in the fintech sector and improve their customer insight using a combination of bureau and Open Banking data to broaden the range of options available to people.”