SBIR Phase I: Digital Underwriting Platform for Underserved Borrowers

这一小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力将提高对缺乏传统贷款和信贷渠道的借款人的违约风险预测的理解。该项目将产生一个数字平台，使用创新的技术方法有效地为借款人提供小额美元贷款。该项目将允许任何贷款人利用该平台有效地发放小额贷款，使传统上服务不足的借款人免受昂贵的替代金融产品的影响。这项技术帮助财务脆弱的家庭在财务紧急情况发生时保持稳定。 这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目开发了更有效的方法，为传统上服务不足的借款人提供小额贷款。美国近一半的成年人缺乏足够高的基本信用评分，无法获得贷款和信贷。 传统的贷款机构不愿意向信用评分较低的申请人贷款，因为他们认为损失的风险更高。用于生成信用评分的系统和信息具有限制，可能会阻止信誉良好的借款人获得小额美元贷款。该项目将调查为小额美元贷款申请人提供担保的其他方法。这项研究将测试这些替代方法，并将其与传统的信用评分作为信用风险的决定因素进行比较，并将其扩展到贷款申请审批。完成后，该项目将证明，与传统的信用评分相比，一种替代的承保方法可以为小额贷款产生更低的违约率和更公平的贷款决策。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will enhance the understanding of predicting default risks for borrowers that lack traditional access to loans and credit. The project will result in a digital platform that efficiently underwrites borrowers for small dollar loans using an innovative technical approach. The project will allow any lender to use the platform to efficiently make small dollar loans, sparing traditionally under-served borrowers from costly alternative financial products. This technology helps financially vulnerable households maintain stability when financial emergencies strike. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project develops more effective ways to underwrite small dollar loans for traditionally underserved borrowers. Nearly half of the adults in the U.S. lack a prime credit score that is sufficiently high to allow them access to loans and credit. Traditional lenders are hesitant to lend to applicants with lower credit scores, due to a perceived higher risk of loss. The systems and information that are used to generate credit scores have limitations that can prohibit credit-worthy borrowers from receiving small dollar loans. The project will investigate alternative methodologies of underwriting small dollar loan applicants. The research will test these alternative methodologies and compare them to traditional credit scoring as a determinant of credit risk, and by extension, loan application approval. Upon completion, the project will demonstrate that an alternative underwriting methodology can generate lower default rates and more equitable lending decisions for small dollar loans when compared to traditional credit scores.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.