CBA’s unique business model can help you access reliable, high-quality data from community lenders on currently unbanked and underbanked borrowers. There are more than 1,000 community lenders in the United States that want to report the repayment history of their borrowers – but have been unable to meet credit bureau minimum loan requirements individually.  CBA as a data processor can provide you their loan portfolios in aggregate. 

In addition to processing data, CBA has developed a unique model to assure credit bureaus that its members are lenders that are reputable, longstanding community entities. Most community lenders are underwritten by foundations, after all, not to mention federal and local government entities, such as the CDFI Fund, Small Business Administration, and Departments of Housing. In addition, community lenders are not only willing but proud to provide information on their affiliations, staff accreditations, client demographics, loan portfolio management, and annual turnover.  

Equally important, CBA’s one-stop shop approach gives small lenders critical technical assistance to help them set up the appropriate technology, client services, credit bureau relationships, and organizational infrastructure to efficiently report and verify data. All this ensures that you can receive the quality, trustworthy data with few disruptions or demands on your staff time.

Why is CBA data important to you?

Community lenders build relationships and extend credit to borrowers who have no credit files or thin files as well as to clients who have a sub-prime scores. These lenders also invest in financial and credit education to graduate responsible borrowers to mainstream financial institutions. CBA offers an opportunity to for mainstream financial institutions to expand their markets.

“Enabling CBA’s clients to report data to us expands the credit system to many individuals who have not had the benefits of an established credit history in the past. We applaud CBA for their pioneering work, and we are looking forward to seeing the results of our joint efforts.”

Zaydoon H. Munir, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Product and Data Development for Experian.

CBA also believes that community lenders and financial educators collect additional data predictive of financial risk in underserved communities.CBA hosted a roundtable at the CFED 2006 Assets Learning Conference with Experian, Fair Isaac and IDA organizations to brainstorm potential data points for research and analysis including:

1. Financial Education Participation
2. Setting and reaching financial goals
3. Savings behavior
4. and more...