SAN CARLOS, May 09, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Oportun , a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) with a mission of providing affordable personal loans that help people with little or no credit history establish credit and build a better future, today announced that its loans are now available to residents of Wisconsin.
Oportun uses advanced data analytics and technology to lend money to individuals who other lenders consider ‘unscoreable,’ and has already helped more than half a million people establish a credit score for the first time. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) estimates that there are 45 million people in the United States whose lack of a credit score translates into limited options if they need money for an emergency or larger expense.
“We are pleased to be able to help Wisconsin residents move forward with their lives, whether they need to borrow money to address a pressing need or to take advantage of an opportunity,” said Oportun CEO Raul Vazquez. “We also aim to help them establish the credit history they need to open doors and build a better future.” Wisconsin residents can apply for Oportun loans by using their mobile phone, tablet, or computer to go to Oportun.com. Later this year, Oportun hopes to open retail locations for those customers who prefer in-person customer service.
Oportun customers have saved more than $1.1 billion dollars by choosing Oportun loans instead of one of the other alternatives widely available to individuals with limited credit history, according to research commissioned by Oportun and conducted by the Center for Financial Services Innovation (CFSI), a leading authority on consumer financial health. Those alternatives — which include payday, pawn loans and others — are four times more expensive on average but can be up to seven times more expensive.
Since its founding in 2005, Oportun has served more than 1.1 million customers and disbursed more than $5 billion through 2.3 million affordable, small dollar loans by using a proprietary risk engine capable of ‘scoring the unscoreable.’
About Oportun
Oportun is a mission-driven financial services company that helps people establish and maintain financial stability despite a lack of credit history or low and volatile incomes.
Oportun uses advanced data analytics and technology to provide responsible, affordable personal loans to people with little or no credit history so they can establish credit. The company’s centralized system calculates each loan applicant’s ability to repay, approves those loans the company believes can be paid back, and sets loan amounts and terms to fit customer budgets. Customer account information is reported to two nationwide credit bureaus to help customers establish credit history.
Oportun operates more than 270 retail locations and delivers bilingual (English/Spanish) customer service via retail locations, contact centers, and mobile to customers in ten states: Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, and Wisconsin.
In April 2018, Oportun announced that it would soon commence testing of a new, no-cost service, OportunPath, that will help people avoid the negative consequences of cash shortfalls to help them maintain a path to financial stability. OportunPath will monitor a customer’s bank account balance and provide daily alerts so the customer is aware of low balances. For eligible customers, it will also offer to bridge cash flow shortfalls with a small deposit to top up their bank account.
In recognition of Oportun’s goals of increasing economic opportunity for its clients, promoting community development, and serving low-income or underserved communities, Oportun is certified by the United States Department of Treasury as a Community Development Financial Institution or CDFI.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Michael Azzano Cosmo PR for Oportun (415) 596-1978 michael@cosmo-pr.com
Marivi Lerdo de Tejada Sr. Director of Corporate Communications (415) 577-4318 marivi.lerdo@oportun.com
