Surprise Me!

Why more data matters: The big three credit bureaus break their silence on mortgage innovation

2025-12-10 3 Dailymotion

Three industry leaders from each of the bureaus come together and the message is unmistakable: the future of mortgage lending depends on an inclusive, data-rich approach to credit qualification. HousingWire’s Clayton Collings moderates a conversation with Joel Rickman of Equifax, Michele Bodda of Experian, and Satyan Merchan from TransUnion to pull back the curtain on one of the industry’s hottest topics: credit. This executive panel delves into how the talk around moving from tri-merge to bi-merge and the associated data reduction is shortsided, risky and misaligned with consumer needs. Lenders choosing to start with all three reports aren’t just checking a box, they’re eliminating surprises that cost borrowers time, money and trust.

As credit files expand with new sources, alternative data, and more contributors than ever, the panel outlines how industry-wide collaboration is strengthening credit access and transforming the mortgage process. This conversation gets straight to the point: more dvata leads to better decisions, more qualified borrowers and a stronger housing finance system.