When financial times are tough, consumers are always the first to know. This was especially true immediately after the financial crisis of 2008/09, when most segments of the population had to adjust to a new relationship with money. While nearly everyone was affected by the economic downturn, young consumers who are new to the credit market have faced obstacles unique to them. And, they continue to do so. In 2015, research firm CreditCards.com found that a third of those aged 1 8 to 29 did not have credit cards. In 2009, the CARD Act limited the ability of companies to market credit cards on college campuses, cutting card issuance almost in half, according to CreditCards.com. As a result, the credit histories of millions of young adults are even more abbreviated than usual, contributing to the new subprime majority.

Clarity’s Clear Fraud™ for Online Installment is a new, targeted fraud solution that includes updated data attributes with a focus on consumer-not-present transactions – the most difficult to underwrite.

Young consumers represent an untapped market impacted in unique ways by the national financial climate and government regulations.
Tapping into the under-served young consumer market opens up new opportunities for lenders to create lifelong customers.
18-24 year olds already make up nearly 10% of new consumer loans. Alternative credit data can provide insights to significantly expand credit access to this market.

 

Though on average, 18-24 year olds consumer incomes are in the $20,000 range, the majority are still in the top 75% of earners in the United States.
With insights gathered through subprime credit data, lenders can extend credit to young consumers and help them establish credit faster.
Young consumers represent a diverse and often under-served customer base that with the right data can expand your portfolio without additional risk.

 

Our latest report details the tremendous opportunity that we think much of the credit industry is missing, in the form of the newest and youngest consumers in the market. In the report, we distinguish important differences between the general subprime population and young consumers, often unfairly labeled a higher credit risk.

Find out more by reading 5 Reasons Why Lenders Should Re-examine the Youngest Subprime Demographic.