Subprime Borrower Activity Fuels Bankcard Growth
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 3 days ago
0mins
Source: PRnewswire
- Record Consumer Debt: As of March 2026, U.S. consumer debt balances reached an all-time high of $18.19 trillion, primarily driven by subprime borrowers opening new bankcards and carrying higher balances, indicating a deepening reliance on credit among lower-income groups in the economy.
- Growth in Bankcard Accounts: New bankcard accounts grew by 8.1% year-over-year as of January 2026, with subprime originations specifically increasing by 18.6%, suggesting that financial institutions are expanding credit support for the subprime market to address rising living costs.
- Rising Student Loan Delinquencies: Although the number of new student loan accounts declined by over 10% in January 2026, the delinquency rate reached 17.01% in March, reflecting the impact of rising education costs on borrowers' repayment capabilities and potentially disrupting traditional payment hierarchies.
- Improving Delinquency Rates but Rising Write-Offs: Most consumer credit indicators showed improvements in 60+ day delinquency rates, yet rising write-off rates in bankcard and auto loans indicate that financial institutions are adjusting risk levels to meet the challenges of the 2026 fiscal year.
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Analyst Views on EFX
Wall Street analysts forecast EFX stock price to rise
14 Analyst Rating
10 Buy
4 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 163.840
Low
195.00
Averages
232.08
High
283.00
Current: 163.840
Low
195.00
Averages
232.08
High
283.00
About EFX
Equifax Inc. is a global data, analytics, and technology company. The Company is engaged in helping financial institutions, companies, employers, and government agencies make critical decisions. The Company’s Workforce Solutions segment provides services enabling customers to verify income, employment, educational history, criminal justice data, healthcare professional licensure and sanctions of people in the United States. The Company’s U.S. Information Solutions (USIS) segment provides consumer and commercial information solutions to businesses in the United States, including online information, decisioning technology solutions, identity management services, analytical services, e-commerce fraud and charge back protection services, portfolio management services, mortgage information and marketing services. The Company’s International segment provides products and services similar to those available in the USIS segment but with variations by geographic region.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Subprime Borrower Activity Fuels Bankcard Growth
- Record Consumer Debt: As of March 2026, U.S. consumer debt balances reached an all-time high of $18.19 trillion, primarily driven by subprime borrowers opening new bankcards and carrying higher balances, indicating a deepening reliance on credit among lower-income groups in the economy.
- Growth in Bankcard Accounts: New bankcard accounts grew by 8.1% year-over-year as of January 2026, with subprime originations specifically increasing by 18.6%, suggesting that financial institutions are expanding credit support for the subprime market to address rising living costs.
- Rising Student Loan Delinquencies: Although the number of new student loan accounts declined by over 10% in January 2026, the delinquency rate reached 17.01% in March, reflecting the impact of rising education costs on borrowers' repayment capabilities and potentially disrupting traditional payment hierarchies.
- Improving Delinquency Rates but Rising Write-Offs: Most consumer credit indicators showed improvements in 60+ day delinquency rates, yet rising write-off rates in bankcard and auto loans indicate that financial institutions are adjusting risk levels to meet the challenges of the 2026 fiscal year.
See More
Canada's Q1 2026 Credit Trends Report Highlights Rising Insolvencies
- Consumer Debt Growth: As of Q1 2026, total consumer debt in Canada reached CAD 2.66 trillion, a 3.8% year-over-year increase, although non-mortgage debt fell by over CAD 487 million in the first quarter, indicating a post-holiday financial restraint among consumers.
- Rising Bankruptcy Rates: In Q1 2026, insolvency volumes hit their highest level since 2009, increasing by 18.8% year-over-year, suggesting that many consumers may have reached a financial inflection point amid escalating economic pressures.
- Decline in Credit Demand: Following reduced spending at the end of 2025, new credit card originations fell to a four-year low in Q1 2026, with average credit limits for higher-risk consumers reduced by 15% to 20%, reflecting tightening credit market conditions.
- Automotive Loan Slowdown: Despite lower vehicle prices, new captive auto loans fell nearly 5% year-over-year in Q1 2026, while bank installment loan volumes dropped by 9.5%, indicating that consumers are becoming more cautious before committing to new vehicle purchases due to rising insurance and maintenance costs.
See More
Equifax Expands Partnership with GBG in the U.S.
- Partnership Expansion: Equifax and GBG announced an expansion of their partnership in the U.S., integrating Equifax's identity and fraud solutions into GBG's adaptive identity platform, GBG Go, to tackle increasingly sophisticated fraud threats.
- Enhanced Real-Time Verification: The integration will enable customers to improve real-time identity verification, detect synthetic identity fraud, and combat credit ghosting, thereby enhancing customer trust and security.
- Future Plans: Equifax plans to integrate GBG's data verification capabilities into the U.S. market later this year, with broader global implementation scheduled for 2027, indicating a long-term strategy for global market penetration.
- Market Impact: According to the Deloitte Center for Financial Services, synthetic identity fraud is projected to cause at least $23 billion in losses by 2030, underscoring the significance of this partnership in mitigating financial losses.
See More
Equifax Declares Quarterly Dividend of $0.56 per Share
- Dividend Declaration: Equifax's Board of Directors has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.56 per share, payable on June 15, 2026, to shareholders of record as of May 22, 2026, reflecting the company's strong cash flow and commitment to shareholder returns.
- Long-standing Dividend History: With over 100 consecutive years of cash dividend payments, Equifax demonstrates its stable financial performance and dedication to shareholders, which enhances investor confidence.
- Global Operations: Equifax operates or has investments in 24 countries and employs nearly 15,000 people, indicating its significant global presence and market position in the data, analytics, and technology sectors.
- Economic Contribution: As a global data and analytics company, Equifax plays a crucial role in the economy by providing critical decision-making support to financial institutions and businesses, thereby driving progress and confidence in economic activities.
See More
Shift in Credit Scoring Impacts Homebuying Loans
- Credit Score Update: The government has announced that mortgage lenders can now use VantageScore 4.0 as a new credit scoring standard, which will impact loan approvals by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, potentially allowing more consumers to qualify for loans.
- Advantages of New Scoring Models: VantageScore 4.0 and the upcoming FICO 10T will consider rental and utility payment histories, meaning consumers with limited credit reports may benefit from better loan rates due to these additional data points.
- Data Reporting Challenges: Although the new models can utilize rental payment data, only 13% of consumers' rent payments are currently reported to credit bureaus, limiting many renters' opportunities to improve their credit scores and highlighting deficiencies in the credit reporting system.
- Impact of Trended Data: The new scoring models will incorporate trended data based on credit behavior over the past 24 months, allowing lenders to more accurately assess borrowers' credit risks, which will encourage consumers to manage their credit card debt more effectively before applying for mortgages.
See More
Equifax to Participate in Multiple Upcoming Investor Conferences
- Investor Conference Schedule: Equifax will participate in the Baird 2026 Global Consumer, Technology & Services Conference on June 2, 2026, with CEO Mark W. Begor and CFO John Gamble engaging in a Fireside Chat at 10:50 AM, which is expected to attract significant investor interest.
- Live Webcast Invitation: The company invites investors to join the live webcast of the upcoming Fireside Chats, with replays available within 24 hours post-event, enhancing investor engagement and transparency.
- Multiple Conference Participation: CFO John Gamble will attend the Bernstein Annual Strategic Decisions Conference on May 27, 2026, while Senior VP Trevor Burns will participate in several conferences, including the Barclays Americas Select Franchise Conference on May 5, demonstrating the company's commitment to investor communication.
- Global Business Presence: Equifax operates in 24 countries with nearly 15,000 employees, leveraging its unique blend of data, analytics, and cloud technology to assist financial institutions and businesses in making more confident decisions, thereby reinforcing its critical role in the global economy.
See More
Subprime Borrower Activity Fuels Bankcard Growth
- Record Consumer Debt: As of March 2026, U.S. consumer debt balances reached an all-time high of $18.19 trillion, primarily driven by subprime borrowers opening new bankcards and carrying higher balances, indicating a deepening reliance on credit among lower-income groups in the economy.
- Growth in Bankcard Accounts: New bankcard accounts grew by 8.1% year-over-year as of January 2026, with subprime originations specifically increasing by 18.6%, suggesting that financial institutions are expanding credit support for the subprime market to address rising living costs.
- Rising Student Loan Delinquencies: Although the number of new student loan accounts declined by over 10% in January 2026, the delinquency rate reached 17.01% in March, reflecting the impact of rising education costs on borrowers' repayment capabilities and potentially disrupting traditional payment hierarchies.
- Improving Delinquency Rates but Rising Write-Offs: Most consumer credit indicators showed improvements in 60+ day delinquency rates, yet rising write-off rates in bankcard and auto loans indicate that financial institutions are adjusting risk levels to meet the challenges of the 2026 fiscal year.
See More
Canada's Q1 2026 Credit Trends Report Highlights Rising Insolvencies
- Consumer Debt Growth: As of Q1 2026, total consumer debt in Canada reached CAD 2.66 trillion, a 3.8% year-over-year increase, although non-mortgage debt fell by over CAD 487 million in the first quarter, indicating a post-holiday financial restraint among consumers.
- Rising Bankruptcy Rates: In Q1 2026, insolvency volumes hit their highest level since 2009, increasing by 18.8% year-over-year, suggesting that many consumers may have reached a financial inflection point amid escalating economic pressures.
- Decline in Credit Demand: Following reduced spending at the end of 2025, new credit card originations fell to a four-year low in Q1 2026, with average credit limits for higher-risk consumers reduced by 15% to 20%, reflecting tightening credit market conditions.
- Automotive Loan Slowdown: Despite lower vehicle prices, new captive auto loans fell nearly 5% year-over-year in Q1 2026, while bank installment loan volumes dropped by 9.5%, indicating that consumers are becoming more cautious before committing to new vehicle purchases due to rising insurance and maintenance costs.
See More
Equifax Expands Partnership with GBG in the U.S.
- Partnership Expansion: Equifax and GBG announced an expansion of their partnership in the U.S., integrating Equifax's identity and fraud solutions into GBG's adaptive identity platform, GBG Go, to tackle increasingly sophisticated fraud threats.
- Enhanced Real-Time Verification: The integration will enable customers to improve real-time identity verification, detect synthetic identity fraud, and combat credit ghosting, thereby enhancing customer trust and security.
- Future Plans: Equifax plans to integrate GBG's data verification capabilities into the U.S. market later this year, with broader global implementation scheduled for 2027, indicating a long-term strategy for global market penetration.
- Market Impact: According to the Deloitte Center for Financial Services, synthetic identity fraud is projected to cause at least $23 billion in losses by 2030, underscoring the significance of this partnership in mitigating financial losses.
See More
Equifax Declares Quarterly Dividend of $0.56 per Share
- Dividend Declaration: Equifax's Board of Directors has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.56 per share, payable on June 15, 2026, to shareholders of record as of May 22, 2026, reflecting the company's strong cash flow and commitment to shareholder returns.
- Long-standing Dividend History: With over 100 consecutive years of cash dividend payments, Equifax demonstrates its stable financial performance and dedication to shareholders, which enhances investor confidence.
- Global Operations: Equifax operates or has investments in 24 countries and employs nearly 15,000 people, indicating its significant global presence and market position in the data, analytics, and technology sectors.
- Economic Contribution: As a global data and analytics company, Equifax plays a crucial role in the economy by providing critical decision-making support to financial institutions and businesses, thereby driving progress and confidence in economic activities.
See More
Shift in Credit Scoring Impacts Homebuying Loans
- Credit Score Update: The government has announced that mortgage lenders can now use VantageScore 4.0 as a new credit scoring standard, which will impact loan approvals by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, potentially allowing more consumers to qualify for loans.
- Advantages of New Scoring Models: VantageScore 4.0 and the upcoming FICO 10T will consider rental and utility payment histories, meaning consumers with limited credit reports may benefit from better loan rates due to these additional data points.
- Data Reporting Challenges: Although the new models can utilize rental payment data, only 13% of consumers' rent payments are currently reported to credit bureaus, limiting many renters' opportunities to improve their credit scores and highlighting deficiencies in the credit reporting system.
- Impact of Trended Data: The new scoring models will incorporate trended data based on credit behavior over the past 24 months, allowing lenders to more accurately assess borrowers' credit risks, which will encourage consumers to manage their credit card debt more effectively before applying for mortgages.
See More
Equifax to Participate in Multiple Upcoming Investor Conferences
- Investor Conference Schedule: Equifax will participate in the Baird 2026 Global Consumer, Technology & Services Conference on June 2, 2026, with CEO Mark W. Begor and CFO John Gamble engaging in a Fireside Chat at 10:50 AM, which is expected to attract significant investor interest.
- Live Webcast Invitation: The company invites investors to join the live webcast of the upcoming Fireside Chats, with replays available within 24 hours post-event, enhancing investor engagement and transparency.
- Multiple Conference Participation: CFO John Gamble will attend the Bernstein Annual Strategic Decisions Conference on May 27, 2026, while Senior VP Trevor Burns will participate in several conferences, including the Barclays Americas Select Franchise Conference on May 5, demonstrating the company's commitment to investor communication.
- Global Business Presence: Equifax operates in 24 countries with nearly 15,000 employees, leveraging its unique blend of data, analytics, and cloud technology to assist financial institutions and businesses in making more confident decisions, thereby reinforcing its critical role in the global economy.
See More
