Using cash flow data to expand access to credit

Experian is a trusted name in credit with decades of experience in data and analytics. Now, the company is teaming up with Plaid to usher in a new era of financial insights—where traditional credit data can be paired with real-time cash flow data to give lenders a holistic picture of a borrower’s financial health.

In this conversation, Senior Vice President of Product Management at Experian, Ashley Knight, talks about the company’s vision for expanding credit access, why cash flow data matters, and how their new relationship with Plaid is helping lenders make faster, more informed decisions, and approve more borrowers with greater certainty.

Plaid: When it comes to alternative credit data, what’s Experian focused on these days?

Knight: We’re really focused on how expanded data sets—like buy now, pay later activity, cash flow data and more — can help drive financial inclusion and smarter risk assessment. It’s something we’ve believed in and invested in for a long time. By giving lenders more visibility into things like income and payment behaviors, we can paint a fuller picture of an individual’s financial health and help more people access the financial services they need.

Plaid: How does cash flow data—when combined with traditional credit data—help expand access to credit?

Knight: Cash flow data and analytics add another layer of understanding, helping lenders see not just where a consumer’s been, but where they’re going financially. That’s especially powerful when it comes to consumers with little or no credit history—remember, nearly 20% of Americans are living without a credit score today.

Adding cash flow insights to the mix gives lenders a way to evaluate those consumers with more confidence. And it’s not just about inclusion—it’s also good business. Lenders can reduce risk, uncover new opportunities, and make better decisions. Whether it’s understanding inflows and outflows, spending patterns, or derived income, cash flow analytics can reveal a lot about someone’s financial behavior—helping lenders grow their portfolios while staying competitive.

Plaid: Experian and Plaid recently teamed up to make it easier for lenders to securely access cash flow data and predictive insights. What does this look like in practice—and how is it changing Experian’s approach to credit data for decisioning?

Knight: We know that while lenders are excited about cash flow data, using it effectively can be a challenge. That’s what this collaboration with Plaid is all about—making it simple and seamless to leverage real-time cash flow insights along with Experian’s credit data.

Here’s how it works: when a consumer consents to share their bank account information during a loan application, a Consumer Report is created by Plaid’s consumer reporting agency and securely delivered to us. We then analyze the data and provide lenders with either our Cashflow Score or set of Cashflow Attributes—both of which have been shown to improve predictive performance by up to 25%.

By bringing our strengths together, we’re helping lenders make faster, more informed decisions—and opening more doors for consumers in the process. It’s a win-win.

Plaid: What kind of impact do you see this having on the market? What excites you most?

Knight: There’s a real appetite in the market for better data and insights, especially as lenders look to serve more people and manage risk more effectively. But for a lot of teams, the “how” has been a sticking point. Our partnership with Plaid removes that friction. With simple API integrations and real-time delivery of insights, we’re helping make alternative data usable—at scale. And this is really just the beginning of what we can do together.

Plaid: Both our companies believe in giving consumers more control over their financial data. How is Experian helping people see how cash flow data can work in their favor?

Knight: It all comes down to turning data into actionable insights. Whether someone is applying for an apartment, a car loan, or their first credit card, we know that credit is a gateway to many of life’s opportunities. But too many people are still left out of the system.

We’re working to change that by helping lenders make smarter decisions and by empowering consumers to take control of their financial story. Tools like Experian Boost and Experian Go are great examples. They let consumers permission their bank account data to self-report things like rent, utility, and streaming service payments—helping them build or strengthen their credit history and gain fairer access to financial services.

Plaid: Cash flow data is gaining a lot of traction with fintechs and digital lenders. What other segments of lending are you most excited to support?

Knight: Honestly, cash flow data can unlock opportunities across the board. From credit cards, personal loans, mortgages, auto financing and more—every segment can benefit from deeper insights. We’re focused on helping lenders across all these areas adopt cash flow analytics to make faster, more precise decisions, reduce risk, and ultimately provide better experiences for the people they serve.

To learn more about the new collaboration between Experian and Plaid, reach out to our team: experian@plaid.com.

Explore how Plaid’s credit solutions—powered by real-time cash flow data—can help you make smarter, faster lending decisions and expand access to credit today.