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Where does the US credit rating come from?

May 25, 2023
Atsi Sheth from Moody's gives us a behind the scenes look into the company's ratings process.
"In the most basic terms, a credit rating is really an opinion on the credit quality of any entity that borrows on the debt capital markets," said Atsi Sheth at Moody's Investors Service.
Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty Images

Why we're paying extra attention to senior loan officers right now

Apr 11, 2023
The recent banking turmoil could further tighten credit conditions and slow down the economy.
Kent Belasco of Marquette University believes the recent bank failures are isolated, but "it does have an impact on the banking industry as a whole."
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Americans’ use of credit is growing, but slowing 

Feb 8, 2023
In 2022, consumer credit increased 7.8% from the year before. But in December, the growth in borrowing decelerated.
Consumer credit increased 7.8% last year, according to recent Federal Reserve data. But some Americans appear to be getting more cautious about debt.
Scott Olson/Getty Images

Schools' creditworthiness could be challenged by new costs, report says

Jun 16, 2022
Teachers demanding higher pay is one example of new costs. That could make it harder for schools to borrow money, a new report says.
For large investments, schools can turn to the debt markets to raise money. But they're also facing rising costs, which could hurt their ability to borrow.
Jon Cherry/Getty Images

Children's data is showing up more often on the dark web

Jan 11, 2022
Some financial and cybersecurity experts say one of the best ways to combat ID theft is to freeze your credit — including your children's.
Retired dentist Anu Minocha with her family. She has frozen her kids' credit accounts, which is what experts recommend as one way to stop criminals from using data to do anything that requires a credit check, once it's in place.
Courtesy of Anu Minocha

New lender aims to boost access to credit for Native farmers, ranchers

Dec 20, 2021
Indigenous agricultural producers say they've had it with the federal government's loan programs.
The Native American Agriculture Fund’s financial institution will support the tribe-owned community banks that many Indigenous producers use.
Cavan Images via Getty Images

This lender wants young people to see the opportunity on the Pine Ridge Reservation

Dec 21, 2020
On the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, the woman running the sole business loan lender has a message: There's opportunity on the reservation.
A 2001 photo of the Wounded Knee cemetary and memorial, located in Badlands National Park on the Pine Ridge Reservation.
Francis Temman/AFP via Getty

For public good, not for profit.

Fed looks to overhaul laws meant to make sure lower-income Americans have access to loans

The law is meant to demand that when banks take deposits from a particular area, they also make loans there.
The Federal Reserve building in Washington, D.C.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

A corner of the bond market is showing signs of stress

Mar 13, 2020
After this week's global market crash, the credit market is showing signs of stress.
Bryan R. Smith/AFP via Getty Images

Not much has changed since the 2017 Equifax breach

Jul 22, 2019
Cyber security experts warn that consumers are as vulnerable to hacking now as they were back then.
Former Equifax CEO Richard Smith prepares to testify before the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee in October 2017 in Washington, DC.
Mark Wilson/Getty Images