A question of character for SME lending
Getting to know the ‘missing middle’? ?Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are the lifeblood of economic growth; however, they need investment to thrive, and often face the same tough due diligence requirements as larger enterprises. Lenders often rely on limited data to make credit decisions, giving them little insight into who they are really […]
Does your personality change over time?
“People don’t change!” It’s a common expression, but is it true? Can our personalities change over time? How much? When we talk about personality, we are referring to individual differences in characteristic patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving. Psychologists have been studying and finding ways to measure personality for decades. Recent studies have looked at […]
Regional Focus: Credit inclusion in Latin America
Latin America and the Caribbean is a region of diversity and contrast. While it is home to hubs of innovation and technology, challenges to financial inclusion persist. Access to financial services varies widely between regions and segments of society. It is reported that 45% of the adult population do not hold a bank account and […]
What is a thin-file customer?
The financial systems, and the world of credit, have long been ruled by processes that entrench inequality. Financial inclusion is stifled by the fact that lenders rely on outdated systems such as credit files and bureau credit ratings and scores. These processes may serve those with a thick-file well, but this leads to the exclusion […]
Putting the S in ESG
Access to credit is access to opportunity. For too long there has been a lack of access to both for millions of people. The traditional bureau credit score is based on limited data. The system advantages certain people, in turn discriminates against many others. The credit playing field is far from level today. It entrenches […]
Global Open Finance Challenge
The future of finance is open Begini has been accepted to take part in the Global Open Finance Challenge. This initiative is being driven by four of the world’s leading banks – NAB, Banco Itaú, NatWest Group, and CIBC – and we are looking forward to engaging with their innovation teams in the coming weeks. […]
Why lenders should consider alternative data in credit scores
Lenders have traditionally relied upon a limited set of data to make lending decisions. Typically a credit file contains information relating to a person’s financial history. It gives detailed information in relation to how people have historically handled their credit responsibilities and this has been used as a way for lenders to mitigate any risk […]
