Costa Mesa, Calif., OCT. 4, 2023 – Amid tailgating and touchdowns, football fans are planning to blitz their budgets and spend $743 on average this season on football-related expenses, according to a national survey by Experian®[1]. To avoid a financial fumble, Experian is helping consumers learn more about building credit without debt[2] and getting the most out of their money launching a campaign with two-time professional football champion Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs. The campaign will generate awareness about the new Experian Smart Money™ Digital Checking Account & Debit Card[3] that embeds the game-changing feature Experian Boost®[4].
Quarterback your credit and finances
How passionate are football fans? The Experian survey revealed that 68 percent of consumers will spend the same or more this year on football expenses than in 2022 and 1 in 5 fans would take on $5,000 in debt if that meant their team would win the Superbowl[5].
There’s no stopping diehards from overspending on their team, but they will learn about a new program to better manage their credit and finances via a series of ads that introduces the new Experian Smart Money Digital Checking Account. The digital checking account integrates the one-of-its-kind feature Experian Boost®, which delivers a seamless connection. With Experian Boost, consumers can contribute payments for eligible bills such as utilities, residential rent, and telecom to their Experian credit file to potentially increase their FICO®[6] Score instantly. Consumers who see an initial increase from boosting receive an average FICO® Score boost of nearly two touchdowns (13 points).
To join the season’s revelry, Experian is partnering with tight end Kelce for commercials that will be featured during National Football League (NFL) and college football telecasts this fall. The ad will also run across most broadcast networks and streaming services including Hulu, Netflix and Roku®. The first commercial of the series, “Stats,” made its debut during NFL games on October 1st, highlighted by the Chiefs vs. Jets game on NBC Sports Sunday Night Football. To view the commercial: https://youtu.be/RHb63pZ39FY
“When it comes to finances, it’s better to work smarter rather than harder,” said Kelce. “This is a great opportunity for me to spread the word about the resources available like Experian’s new digital checking account to help fans become the champion of their finances.”
“The passion that fans have for Travis and football is a great way to think about your finances – we want consumers to have that same passion for their financial health,” adds Dacy Yee, Chief Marketing Officer, Experian Consumer Services at Experian. “Experian is here to help every consumer take control of their finances and the excitement around football reaches a diversity of people from college students to seasoned professionals. This new digital checking account can help everyone along their financial journey, including building their credit strength.”
Die-hards, fair-weathered fans and everyone in-between are invited to join a football-themed X #CreditChat on October 11 from 12:00pm-1:00pm PST. Participants will have the opportunity to win a Kelce-signed football and deluxe tailgate prize package.
How to start building credit without debt
To open an Experian Smart Money Digital Checking Account[7], consumers must enroll in a free or paid Experian membership through the Experian app found on Apple and Google Play or at Experian.com/smartmoney. Existing Experian members can simply login to their Experian account and enroll.
In addition to the integrated connection to Experian Boost, the account benefits include:
An Experian membership also delivers access to an Experian credit report and FICO® Score[12],
auto insurance comparison shopping service, credit card marketplace, dark web monitoring, credit monitoring and more.
Avoid penalties and don’t let your credit score get sacked
For credit education, visit the Ask Experian education blog at www.experian.com/education. A few strategies for fans’ credit playbook include:
For more football & finance survey findings, click here.
About Experian
Experian is the world’s leading global information services company. During life’s big moments – from buying a home or a car, to sending a child to college, to growing a business by connecting with new customers – we empower consumers and our clients to manage their data with confidence. We help individuals to take financial control and access financial services, businesses to make smarter decisions and thrive, lenders to lend more responsibly, and organisations to prevent identity fraud and crime.
We have 22,000 people operating across 32 countries and every day we’re investing in new technologies, talented people, and innovation to help all our clients maximise every opportunity. With corporate headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, we are listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN) and are a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.
Learn more at www.experianplc.com or visit our global content hub at our global news blog for the latest news and insights from the Group.
Experian and the Experian marks used herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Experian and its affiliates. Other product and company names mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.
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[1] Experian survey, August 2023
[2] Results will vary. Not all payments are boost-eligible. Some users may not receive an improved score or approval odds. Not all lenders use Experian credit files, and not all lenders use scores impacted by Experian Boost®. Learn more.
[3] The Experian Smart Money Debit Card™ is issued by Community Federal Savings Bank (CFSB), pursuant to a license from Mastercard International. Banking services provided by CFSB, Member FDIC. Experian is a Program Manager, not a bank.
[4] Results will vary. Not all payments are boost-eligible. Some users may not receive an improved score or approval odds. Not all lenders use Experian credit files, and not all lenders use scores impacted by Experian Boost®. Learn more.
[5] Experian survey, August 2023
[6] Credit score calculated based on FICO® Score 8 model. Your lender or insurer may use a different FICO® Score than FICO® Score 8, or another type of credit score altogether. Learn more.
[7] Only available in the fifty U.S. states and the District of Columbia
[8] To be eligible for the $50 bonus, your Experian Smart Money™ Digital Checking Account must be credited with at least $1,000 in direct deposits within 45 business days of opening your account, and your account must stay active and in good standing at the time the bonus is paid. The bonus will be deposited into your account within 10 business days, once earned. Limit 1 bonus per cardholder. Offer subject to change by Experian at any time without prior notice. Terms and conditions apply. See the Incentives section in the Cardholder Agreement to learn more.
[9] Early access to your direct deposit depends on the timing of receipt of the incoming direct deposit file. We generally make direct deposits available up to 2 days earlier than the payment date specified in the direct deposit file. Early availability of direct deposits is not guaranteed and may vary from deposit to deposit. Daily and monthly deposit limits apply. See Cardholder Agreement.
[10] Access to over 55,000 surcharge-free ATMs with the Allpoint ATM network. You may be charged a fee for attempting a cash withdrawal with an out-of-network ATM or point-of-sale device by Experian and/or the operator including for a balance inquiry even if you do not complete a cash withdrawal. Learn more.
[11] See the full Experian Smart Money™ Digital Checking Account & Debit Card Agreement.
[12] Credit score calculated based on FICO® Score 8 model. Your lender or insurer may use a different FICO® Score than FICO® Score 8, or another type of credit score altogether. Learn more.