Card credit limits on the rise but utilisation is falling, suggesting lenders should reassess targeting

FICO (NYSE:FICO), a leading predictive analytics and decision management software company, today released its quarterly UK cards data showing that average credit card limits are at their highest point in over two years. Consumer spending has also increased, while delinquency rates are down. However, card utilisation rates are at a two-year low, suggesting that some card issuers may need to reassess how and when they offer more credit.

Data from the latest FICO® Benchmark Reporting Service revealed that the average credit limit for Classic credit cards has risen by 3.9 percent over the year. The increase was primarily driven by new accounts (under a year old) and established accounts (open between one and five years), which have both seen an increase of more than 6 percent in the last 12 months. Veteran accounts (those that have been open for more than five years) have experienced a more modest average increase of 1.4 percent.

Consumer card spending has also increased to its highest point in two years (up 7.6 percent year-on-year), perhaps indicating a strengthening of consumers’ confidence in their ability to repay card debt. This is borne out by the latest data around delinquency patterns. One-cycle balances (where a customer misses a payment for one month) are at their lowest in more than two years, having dropped by more than 16 percent in the last 12 months.

“The increase in consumer spending and reduction in delinquencies are good news for card issuers,” said Nigel Brayne, senior director of Global Business Consulting at FICO. “When they see that these areas are becoming more stable, lenders may offer higher credit lines in order to increase individual customer value.

”However, the lower utilisation figure suggests that card issuers are not always offering additional credit to the customers most likely to use it,” Brayne added. “We believe there is scope for lenders to review their offer qualification criteria to ensure they are targeting not only low-risk, profitable customers, but those most likely to spend the extra credit that is made available to them. Ensuring that funds are used will not only help card issuers to operate more efficiently and profitably, but it will also help them mitigate the potential impact of unused exposure on their Basel Capital Reserves.”

About FICO® Benchmark Reporting Service
The card performance figures are part of the data shared with subscribers of the FICO® Benchmark Reporting Service, which compares overall market performance in the UK cards market with individual card issuers’ performance. The data sample studied represents 26 million accounts, or about half of all credit cards issued in the UK, and comes from client reports generated by the FICO® TRIAD® Customer Manager solution in use by most UK card issuers.
Card issuers that subscribe to the FICO Benchmark Reporting Service receive a quarterly review of their portfolio compared to the industry, with 24 months’ worth of data. For greater insight, subscribers can explore the data by vintage of accounts. For information on the FICO Benchmark Reporting Service, contact Stacey West at [email protected].

About FICO
FICO (NYSE: FICO) is a leading analytics software company, helping businesses in 80+ countries make better decisions that drive higher levels of growth, profitability and customer satisfaction. The company’s groundbreaking use of Big Data and mathematical algorithms to predict consumer behavior has transformed entire industries. FICO provides analytics software and tools used across multiple industries to manage risk, fight fraud, build more profitable customer relationships, optimize operations and meet strict government regulations. Many of our products reach industry-wide adoption — such as the FICO® Score, the standard measure of consumer credit risk in the United States. FICO solutions leverage open-source standards and cloud computing to maximize flexibility, speed deployment and reduce costs. The company also helps millions of people manage their personal credit health. FICO: Make every decision count™.
For FICO news and media resources, visit www.fico.com/news.

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