AI-Based Alternative Credit Scoring for the Unbanked

AI-Based Alternative Credit Scoring for the Unbanked Over 1.4 billion adults globally remain unbanked, according to the World Bank. They lack access to traditional credit due to missing banking history, payroll documentation, or formal IDs. This financial invisibility presents both a societal challenge and a business opportunity. AI-based alternative credit scoring offers a path to financial inclusion by analyzing non-traditional data—smartphone usage, social signals, transaction behavior—and applying machine learning to assess creditworthiness in a new way. 📌 Table of Contents ➤ Why Traditional Credit Scoring Excludes the Unbanked ➤ Data Sources for Alternative Credit Models ➤ AI Models Used in Alternative Scoring ➤ Use Cases in Emerging and Developed Markets ➤ Challenges & Regulatory Considerations 🚫 Why Traditional Credit Scoring Excludes the Unbanked Most credit bureaus rely on data from banks, credit cards, and loans. If a person d...