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Vola Finance launces CreditMap loan management dashboard
Vola Finance launces CreditMap loan management dashboard

Finextra

time5 days ago

  • Business
  • Finextra

Vola Finance launces CreditMap loan management dashboard

Vola Finance, a personal financial management platform, today announced the launch of its Vola CreditMap, a new loan management dashboard designed to help consumers take control of personal debt and increase their credit scores. 0 This content is provided by an external author without editing by Finextra. It expresses the views and opinions of the author. The tool provides a centralized, intuitive platform to manage everything from credit cards and student loans to rent and utility reporting. As the average U.S. consumer debt balance surpasses $104,000, borrowers, particularly Millennials and Gen Z, are managing more loans than ever before. With student loan repayments resuming and Buy Now, Pay Later services now influencing credit scores, understanding and managing personal debt has become crucial. Unlike other financial tools that silo cash advances, credit-building, or budgeting features, Vola Finance unifies these into a seamless experience centered around debt reduction and credit improvement. CreditMap aggregates verified loan data directly from credit bureaus and financial institutions via Method Financial and actively optimizes repayment schedules to lower users' total cost of debt, something competitors don't offer. The dashboard then translates that data into real-time, actionable insights, helping users monitor loans, track payment timelines, understand what's affecting their credit score, and manage cash flow in one place. Through its partnership with Esusu, Vola also provides credit-building features like alerts and rent reporting that can count toward users' credit scores. "We believe that building strong credit shouldn't feel like a mystery. Vola CreditMap goes beyond simply showing users their credit score, we break down the specific factors influencing it and provide personalized guidance based on where they are in their financial journey," said Tushar Bagamane, CEO of Vola Finance. "Whether it's understanding credit utilization or identifying opportunities to improve their score, we're giving users real, actionable insights. With our growing library of financial literacy tools built directly into the dashboard, we're equipping them with the knowledge to make smarter decisions every step of the way." Key features of Vola CreditMap include: Centralized view of all active loans, including student, auto, credit card, and more Real-time alerts for upcoming payments and opportunities to boost credit Custom insights based on payment behavior and evolving credit bureau policies Rent and utility tracking for inclusion in credit scoring, where eligible Over 30,000 users have been using CreditMap in beta to gain deeper insight into their finances and credit health, and on average, users are managing five active loans. To date, the company supports 6,000+ banks and credit unions, and partners with banks and fintech solutions like Mastercard and FIS to help power Vola's platform.

Americans pay trillions in rent, but few get credit score boost for it
Americans pay trillions in rent, but few get credit score boost for it

CNBC

time11-06-2025

  • Business
  • CNBC

Americans pay trillions in rent, but few get credit score boost for it

An estimated $1.4 trillion is paid to landlords of residential properties every year in America, but only 20% of those landlords choose to report the rent paid. That has big implications for the credit scores and credit histories of millions of Americans. Reporting rent paid on time to credit bureaus can significantly boost credit scores, but since it has not traditionally been a common practice, some renters end up having no credit history at all, making them "credit invisible," limiting their ability to get a loan, a car, a house and a lot more. Over 50 million Americans lack a credit history with the three major credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. "We're leaving over $5.3 trillion on the table, we've got to do better," said Wemimo Abbey, the CEO and co-founder of Esusu, which was named to the 2025 CNBC Disruptor 50 list, in an interview on CNBC's "Worldwide Exchange" on Wednesday. Esusu is a credit score reporting service which has partnered with 75% of the largest rental companies and more recently created a direct line for renters to report their rent payments. "We have democratized access because you have a long tail of people who don't live in commercially managed housing," Abbey said. Esusu has deals with Goldman Sachs, Mercy Housing, and Cushman & Wakefield, and partnerships with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, to increase the number of units nationally that report rent as part of credit. Credit scores, which range on a scale of 300-850, indicate the ability to pay back bills such as credit cards, and manage and limit debt owed. The lower a score, or the lack of any credit score at all, makes lenders hesitant to extend money, or they might charge extreme interest rates on a loan. Some landlords require a credit score on file to determine eligibility for a rental application, and while it's not the only considered data point, it may influence the landlord to not approve an application. This financial inequity significantly impacts minorities, with approximately 26% of Hispanic consumers and 27% of Black consumers being credit invisible or unscorable, compared to 16% of White and Asian consumers, according to data from Oliver Wyman. Immigrants are also more susceptible to invisibility as their credit file in the U.S. does not take into account their credit history in their origin country. Esusu founders Abbey and Samir Goel grew up watching their families struggle financially as immigrants from Lagos, Nigeria, and New Delhi, India, respectively, which was a founding motivation for Esusu. "When we came here, we didn't have a credit score. We went to one of the biggest financial institutions to borrow money; we were turned away and had to go borrow from a predatory lender who wanted to lend at over 400% interest rate," Abbey said. "My mother sold my dad's wedding ring. We borrowed money from church members and that's how we got started." Abbey said when Esusu started, only 10% of rent payments were reported to credit bureaus. Esusu has established credit scores for 250,000 Americans leading to $50 billion in credit activity, Abbey said. The startup's valuation has now reached $1 billion based on demand for the services. Rent is one of the largest expenditures for most Americans who do not own a home. More than 90% of renters pay rent on time, but since it's not reported, there's no record of it. Reports can be initiated either by the landlord or by the tenant. Commercially managed housing services may already have connections with one or all three credit report services, but may charge a fee to report it. Renters also have the option to directly connect with rent reporting services like Esusu, which charges a monthly fee of $2.50 to report timely payment on the renter's behalf. The record of the amount paid is expected to show up roughly 30 days after it's been paid. But paying rent is not enough; it needs to be paid on time. While some agencies may give 30 days to make up for the missed payment, others may not, and that can negatively impact a credit score. There are some other ways to build credit in addition to the rent reporting for those who lack credit histories or are looking to increase their credit scores. Becoming an authorized user on a family member or friend's credit card is one way. Getting a secured credit card, that has no annual fee, is another option. Using a credit-builder loan, in which banks provide the total loan amount after you've made a certain number of payments, and report your payment activity to the credit bureaus, is also an option for those with limited credit history and those who are credit invisible.

49. Esusu
49. Esusu

CNBC

time10-06-2025

  • Business
  • CNBC

49. Esusu

Founders: Wemimo Abbey (CEO), Samir GoelLaunched: 2016Headquarters: New York CityFunding: $145 millionValuation: $1 billionKey Technologies: N/AIndustry: FintechPrevious appearances on Disruptor 50 list: 0 Nearly 50 million people in the U.S. are considered to be "credit invisible," a number that disproportionately includes low-income and minority Americans, according to research from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. When a consumer is credit invisible, it means that they don't have a credit history with any of the three major credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. That is an institutional hurdle which can hold many Americans back from ever reaching financial security. Fintech startup Esusu is looking to change the way credit is scored, with a focus on housing. On-time mortgage payments are known to increase one's credit score, while on-time rent payments have not typically been factored into credit reports. Many renters don't have any history of credit. Esusu records rental payment data and reports the information to credit bureaus. Since its launch, Esusu has helped renters by generating over 200,000 new credit scores and raising existing credit scores by an average of over 100 points. Property managers also benefit from the on-time rent payment system. Esusu founders Wemimo Abbey and Samir Goel grew up watching their families struggle financially as immigrants from Lagos, Nigeria, and New Delhi, India, and those financial obstacles were a founding motivation for Esusu and its goal of helping Americans build strong credit histories. "When my folks moved here, our journey to pursue the American Dream was just harder than it should have been," Goel told to CNBC in a 2021 interview. "I remember just watching my parents work miracles with no credit and limited financial resources. Abbey and I like to say we are inspired by our experiences." Esusu has paved a path for itself in the fintech industry by serving as a rent reporting provider for major names in finance and real estate including Goldman Sachs, Mercy Housing and Cushman & Wakefield. Last year, Esusu expanded its presence in the direct-to-consumer market. Previously, the company was only available for renters living in an Esusu-participating property. With the launch of myEsusu, all renters are now able to use the application and can choose between a free account or a membership that offers additional tools for $2.50 per month, or $29.99 per year. Application users are able to gain credit for paying their rent on time, learn about credit building products and services, view a credit score hub and access financial resources. Esusu also has partnerships with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to increase the number of units nationally that report rent as part of credit and improve the credit scores across more Americans. The company has received backing from tennis legend Serena Williams' venture capital firm Serena Ventures.

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