FinRegLab research highlights the benefits of combining short-term payment relief with longer term assistance plans for the most vulnerable of consumers struggling with credit card debt.

This research brief highlights the need for consumer engagement and administrative flexibility to help distressed borrowers transition smoothly into longer-term repayment plans as pandemic deferral programs end and new programs are implemented.

FinRegLab research finds that tools for managing explainability and fairness in machine learning underwriting models hold promise and that regulatory guidance could encourage more consistent, responsible use.

This paper summarizes the machine learning project’s key empirical research findings and discusses the regulatory and public policy implications to be considered with the increasing use of machine learning models and explainability and fairness techniques.

This empirical white paper assesses the capabilities and limitations of available model diagnostic tools in helping lenders manage machine learning underwriting models. It focuses on the tools’ production of information relevant to adverse action, fair lending, and model risk management requirements.

FinRegLab is investigating the financial inclusion and consumer protection implications of using new data sources for credit underwriting of micro and small enterprises (MSEs) in Kenya with a particular focus on women-owned small businesses.

This report surveys the options that are available to consumers who are struggling with unsecured debt, including available research on the options’ scope and outcomes. It provides an overview of market and policy challenges as stakeholders ponder strategies to help consumers recover more quickly from personal and broader economic crises such as COVID-19.

This executive summary highlights key themes from our longer market and policy context report, which surveys the options available to consumers who are struggling with unsecured debt and market and policy challenges to helping consumers recover more quickly from financial shocks.

FinRegLab partnered with the Urban Institute to detail twenty years of research and efforts to access utility, telecom, and rental payment history for credit scoring and underwriting. The paper describes recent initiatives and key challenges going forward.

Utility, telecom, and rental payment history can help to assess how credit applicants manage housing and other recurring expenses. FinRegLab and the Urban Institute have examined available research, historical and recent initiatives to increase data access and use for credit underwriting, and market and policy issues that will determine whether such efforts can reach scale.