Among the findings:
48 percent said they would be open to having their utility bills scrutinized by lenders.
39 percent said they would appreciate it if lenders would consider their savings or checking account history.
38 percent said they would prefer that lenders also looked at their cellphone payments.
Meanwhile, more than half of consumers said that their credit scores would likely benefit if the scores included nontraditional data.
Where am I in these statistics? I am in favor of alternate credit data – as long as it is accurate. (More on my take on alternate scoring later.)
Alternative data can help people get credit
Proponents of the use of alternative data have long argued that incorporating nontraditional information into credit decisions could help many people with thin or nonexistent credit files finally gain access to affordable credit.