TransUnion Launches Express Portfolio Review

TransUnion today unveiled Express Portfolio Review, a new service that helps credit unions and small to mid-sized banks measure the fluctuating level of risk within their portfolios. Armed with this information, customers can make better decisions on either an individual or aggregate basis to increase the overall level of return.

TransUnion Express Portfolio Review works by selecting up to two of five industry-proven credit risk scores that are built into the offering, including the new VantageScore(sm). Customers can then run a query weekly, monthly, quarterly or on an ad-hoc basis to see how the aggregate portfolio scores are changing over time, as well as monitor individual accounts that may require action.

“Once considered only applicable for larger financial institutions, TransUnion is helping to make portfolio management solutions practical for organizations of all sizes,” said John Card, vice president of Credit Unions for TransUnion. “TransUnion Express Portfolio Review gives credit unions and small to mid-size banks a flexible, easy-to-use tool to manage portfolio risk over time. Organizations can evaluate specific changes within their portfolio on a schedule that best fits their needs. This gives them a cost-effective way to make proactive and profitable decisions about how to do business with their members and customers.”

Express Portfolio Review results are delivered exclusively through TransUnion’s Web environment, called TransUnion Desktop, within 48 hours. The insight that comes from the offering benefits organizations by allowing them to increase profitability at each of the following levels:

• Member account management – make timely, sound decisions about credit limits, interest rates and payment terms based on current changes to an individual accountholder’s credit file.
• Portfolio management – stay on top of changes in a portfolio’s overall level of risk to make better credit policy decisions.
• Portfolio valuation – assess the performance and value of existing portfolios to help prevent losses and make better purchase decisions.

According to the American Bankers Association’s 2005 Community Bank Competitiveness Survey, 62 percent of respondents said “not at all” when asked whether they “measure the profitability of consumer banking relationships.”

“Express Portfolio Review is designed with this need in mind,” said FJ Guarrera, vice president of Mid-tier Banking for TransUnion. “At our company, we believe that in order to understand how to increase profitability and efficiency, you need to know how to measure the results of your actions. Express Portfolio Review offers risk managers an actionable way to achieve this understanding.”