In many markets, traditional credit systems often fall short, not because people lack character or potential, but because they lack data. Many potential borrowers operate outside formal economies and leave little trace in traditional credit systems. That’s where psychometrics come in: offering a fair, science-backed way to assess someone’s likelihood to repay a loan based not on their past, but on how they think, decide, and behave.
The Power of Gamified Psychometrics
Begini’s psychometric assessment platform helps lenders unlock access to fair credit for thin-file and invisible borrowers, without needing any personal or financial data. The solution is built around a series of gamified, interactive modules that assess traits like risk aversion, planning ability, impulsivity, and optimism. Users complete simple mobile games, allowing for high engagement and a seamless digital experience.
What makes the platform especially powerful, and privacy-friendly, is that it doesn’t rely on any personally identifiable information (PII). There are no questions about income, employment, education, or family history. Instead, it focuses solely on behavioural patterns and cognitive traits. That means lenders can make confident decisions without creating new data privacy risks or breaching customer trust.
“Our psychometric engine is designed to be fair, inclusive, and secure. By removing the need for any personal data, we eliminate privacy concerns while still providing deep insight into a person’s likelihood to repay,” says Rodrigo Rocha, Business Head, LATAM for Begini. “It’s a win-win. Lenders get the insights they need, and customers get evaluated on who they are, not what they lack.”
In Honduras, access to credit is limited to just a quarter of the population. Many individuals operate informally, with no financial records and little access to formal banking. For Solvenza, a fintech lender focused on serving the underserved, Begini’s psychometric approach offered a much-needed breakthrough.
In a pilot with 500 previously rejected applicants, 25% were approved for credit based on their psychometric assessments alone — a figure consistent with Begini’s typical 15–30% “rescue rate.” These borrowers — often farmers, fishermen, and informal workers — used their loans to purchase essential goods like motorcycles, smartphones, and TVs. Compared to the limited and often predatory alternatives available, Solvenza offered terms that were both fair and affordable.
“It’s going to be the main source [of data] for us now. The whole history behind a good [credit] score [is] not aligned. But with this alternative data, you see the real behaviour of people,” said Jacobo Santos, Head of Analytics and Risk Management, Solvenza
Solvenza’s longer-term vision is to offer cash loans to people in the informal sector — and according to Santos, psychometrics is the only path to getting there.
While borrowers have embraced psychometric assessments as a simple and intuitive alternative, some scepticism has come from within. Solvenza’s own staff were hesitant at first to approve loans without traditional documents or face-to-face judgment. But over time, the results — and the data — began to speak for themselves.
Removing human bias from the decision-making process doesn’t just support fairness — it expands opportunity. And for many borrowers, this is their first chance at formal credit.
Psychometrics aren’t just a stopgap for missing data — they’re a new frontier in financial inclusion. By understanding how people think and behave, rather than judging them by what they lack, lenders can unlock new markets, support better financial habits, and build trust with customers long excluded from traditional systems. In a world where billions are still credit invisible, it’s not just a smart strategy. It’s a moral imperative.
SaaS technology that provides alternative data credit scores for Banks, Micro Finance, Digital Lenders, Neo Banks, BNPL and Asset Financing.
