Russian Banks Increase Use of FICO Analytics and NBKI Data to Improve Risk Management

MOSCOW, July 30, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- FICO (NYSE:FICO), a leading predictive analytics and decision management software company, and the National Bureau of Credit Histories (NBKI), Russia's leading credit bureau, today announced that Russian banks have dramatically increased their use of credit scores and credit bureau data in risk management. Six of the top 10 Russian lenders, and 15 of the top 30, now use FICO^® Scores based on NBKI data.

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"Russian banks and microfinance institutions are demonstrating a responsible approach to risk management," said NBKI CEO Alexander Vikulin. "During the first half of 2013, credit grantors ordered 41 percent more credit reports than in the same period last year, and twice as many as in the first half of 2011."

"As the Russian retail lending market matures, Russian banks are adopting more advanced risk management systems," said Evgeni Shtemanetyan, who directs FICO's operations in Russia. "We are seeing increased interest across the banking market for consulting services and software solutions for application processing, debt collection, customer management and fraud protection."

"Tinkoff Credit Systems started to use FICO scores during the crisis of 2008-2009," said Eugene Ivashkevich, the risk management director of Tinkoff Credit Systems Bank. "At the time, our retail client base was very small, and we had limited historical data on customer behavior. As a result, the effectiveness of our own internal rating models reduced during the crisis.

"In early 2009, we tested the FICO Scores and found that they could significantly improve the quality and stability of our systems. We have used FICO Scores since then. Thanks to them, the bank preserved the high quality of its credit portfolio and implemented its credit plans even in difficult market conditions. The predictive power of FICO Scores is consistently high, across all banking channels and regions."

About the FICO^® Score
With over 10 billion FICO^® Scores used worldwide to empower lenders to make credit decisions, the FICO^® Score has become the standard measure of credit risk worldwide. FICO^® Scores are used today in more than 20 countries on five continents, as well as all of the top 50 U.S. financial institutions and both the 25 largest U.S. credit card issuers and auto lenders. 

About FICO
FICO (NYSE: FICO), formerly known as Fair Isaac, 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^™. Learn more at www.fico.com.

For FICO news and media resources, visit www.fico.com/news.

About NBKI
National Bureau of Credit Histories (NBKI) is the largest credit bureau in the Russian Federation. It was created in 2005, and counts among its shareholders major commercial banks and international companies CRIF and TransUnion. Its main specialty is an integrated center that stores and processes comprehensive data for creditors' decision making. As of August 2012, NBKI consolidates data from more than 1,350 Russian creditors. The bureau provides the Russian market with modern high-tech solutions for risk assessment and control.

Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Information

Except for historical information contained herein, the statements contained in this news release that relate to FICO or its business are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including the success of the Company's Decision Management strategy and reengineering plan, the maintenance of its existing relationships and ability to create new relationships with customers and key alliance partners, its ability to continue to develop new and enhanced products and services, its ability to recruit and retain key technical and managerial personnel, competition, regulatory changes applicable to the use of consumer credit and other data, the failure to realize the anticipated benefits of any acquisitions, continuing material adverse developments in global economic conditions, and other risks described from time to time in FICO's SEC reports, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2012 and its last quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2013. If any of these risks or uncertainties materializes, FICO's results could differ materially from its expectations. FICO disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

FICO and "Make every decision count" are trademarks or registered trademarks of Fair Isaac Corporation in the US and other countries.

SOURCE FICO