COSTA MESA, Calif., and NEW YORK, July 15, 2014 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Experian Consumer Services-Affinity, the unit of Experian that provides credit monitoring and identity protection products as co-branding opportunities to businesses, and Univision Communications Inc., the leading media company serving Hispanic America, today announced the launch of a Spanish-language, credit-focused product and online financial resource center for the U.S. Hispanic community.

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140714/126884

Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140714/126801

Each organization has contributed its respective expertise creating Credito y Mas, a customized and culturally-relevant product to serve the approximately 55 million Hispanics in the U.S.[i] who are driving growth in the financial services sector. A 2012 Experian Simmons study, “Consumer Payments in the U.S.: The Latino Market,” shows Hispanic credit cardholders increasing more than 20 percent and the number of Hispanics with debit/ATM cards more than doubling compared to non-Hispanics. A 2013 study found that 82 percent of Hispanics believe that staying informed on one’s credit history is important[ii].

“Univision is the most respected, go-to source for the Hispanic community,” said Allen Anderson, president, Experian Consumer Services-Affinity. “We recognized tremendous synergy in joining together with their organization to bring credit education and products to the Hispanic market. It gives Experian a way to deliver a much-needed solution in the marketplace and develop a closer relationship with Hispanic consumers.”

“As the gateway to the thriving Hispanic community in the U.S., Univision is pleased to join forces with Experian, a leading brand in the credit score and report space, to bring the Hispanic community a customized credit solution building on our efforts to provide access to innovative financial products and services,” said Kevin Conroy, president of Digital and Enterprise Development, Univision Communications Inc. “This partnership with Experian speaks to our mission-driven focus of informing, entertaining, providing access and empowering the U.S. Hispanic community.”

“As credit and debit card penetration among Hispanics grows by double digits we recognized there was a need to offer an in-language solution that will allow consumers to better manage their finances in their language of preference,” said Conroy.

With Credito y Mas, consumers can check their credit score, receive a credit report, and have credit monitoring, among other benefits for a cost of $12.95 per month. The additional unique features include:

• Bilingual Website – the consumer can select Spanish or English and toggle back and forth between languages
• Access to VantageScore® 3.0. – with scores ranging from 300 to 850, VantageScore® 3.0 is a user-friendly credit score model developed by the three major nationwide credit reporting agencies, Experian®, TransUnion®, and Equifax®
• Centro de Informacion – the website contains a robust resource center with educational content along with selectable user profile settings and information specific to lifestyles that affect credit such as being a family or a small business owner
• Communication Preference Settings – the member can select to receive communications (email and SMS) in either Spanish or English
• Instructional Guides – an interactive experience provides clarity in Spanish and English around how to read a credit report and the information found in each section of the website
• Bilingual Agents – members will have access via phone to Experian Customer Service representatives and Fraud Resolution Agents for support that are fully bilingual
• Identity Theft Insurance* – the $10,000 insurance policy can cover legal fees, lost wages and other costs resulting from identity theft

For more information and to enroll in the product membership, consumers can visit www.creditoymas.com.

About Experian and Univision Communications

Experian and Univision Communications Inc. began their collaboration in 2013 to provide valuable credit and financial education and services to the U.S. Hispanic community. This association joins two leading companies in their respective industries. Experian is the leading global information services company that helps individuals to check their credit report and credit score, and protect against identity theft, while Univision is the leading media company serving Hispanic America. Each organization brings its expertise to provide the Hispanic consumer with Credito y Mas, a Spanish-language, credit-focused service and online financial resource center to help the Hispanic community become more knowledgeable and empowered regarding their credit and financial future. 

About Experian Consumer Services-Affinity

The Experian Affinity group delivers industry leading credit and identity protection products to top financial institutions and recognized organizations enhancing portfolios and increasing revenue. Through strategic collaborations, businesses gain a strategic advantage and consumers benefit every day from value-add protection products powered by Experian with features such as Lost Wallet protection, Credit Score Tracker, award-winning fraud resolution and restoration assistance, credit monitoring and more. For information about how to attract new customers and drive customer engagement, loyalty and retention, visit www.experian.com.  

About Univision Communications Inc.

Univision Communications Inc. (UCI) is the leading media company serving Hispanic America. Its assets include Univision Network, one of the top five networks in the U.S. regardless of language and the most-watched Spanish-language broadcast television network in the country reaching 96% of U.S. Hispanic households; UniMas, a leading Spanish-language broadcast television network reaching 89% of U.S. Hispanic households; Univision Cable Networks, including Galavision, the country’s leading Spanish-language cable network, as well as Univision tlnovelas, a 24-hour cable network dedicated to novelas, Univision Deportes Network, a 24-hour cable network dedicated to sports, ForoTV, a 24-hour Spanish-language cable network dedicated to news, and an additional  suite of six cable offerings – De Pelicula, De Pelicula Clasico, Bandamax, Ritmoson, Telehit and Distrito Comedia; UVideos, the first bilingual digital network serving Hispanic America; Univision Studios, which produces and co-produces reality shows, dramatic series and other programming formats for the Company’s platforms; Univision Television Group, which owns and/or operates 62 television stations in major U.S. Hispanic markets and Puerto Rico; Univision Radio, the leading Hispanic radio group which owns and/or operates 68 radio stations in 16 of the top 25 U.S. Hispanic markets and Puerto Rico; Univision Interactive, a network of products and offerings including Univision.com, which continues to be the No. 1 most-visited Spanish-language website among U.S. online Hispanics, Univision Movil, a longstanding industry-leader with unique, relevant mobile products and services, and Univision Partner Group, a specialized advertising and publisher network. Headquartered in New York City, UCI has television network operations in Miami and television and radio stations and sales offices in major cities throughout the United States. For more information, please visit Univision.net

*Identity theft insurance underwritten by insurance company subsidiaries or affiliates of American International Group, Inc. The description herein is a summary and intended for informational purposes only and does not include all terms, conditions and exclusions of the policies described. Please refer to the actual policies for terms, conditions, and exclusions of coverage. Coverage may not be available in all jurisdictions. Review the Summary of Benefits at www.creditoymas.com.

[i] US Census Bureau, 2012

[ii] Experian Consumer Insights online survey, June 2013

Contacts:
Sandra A. Bernardo, APR
Experian Consumer Services
1 949 567 3676
[email protected]

Chris Allieri
Univision Communications Inc.
1 646 560 4975
[email protected]

SOURCE Experian; Univision Communications Inc.