Retail Credit Scorecard

From Open Risk Manual

Definition

A Retail Credit Scorecard is a type of Credit Scorecard used in the classification (scoring) of Credit Risk for Consumer Credit. The scorecard output is an assessment of the relative likelihood of a certain Credit Event occurring, given a number of observable inputs

Retail Scorecard Types

By usage

Retail Credit scorecards may be used for a number of distinct activities

By type of output

A scorecard might produce as output a Credit Score or an actual estimated Probability of Default

By nature of development

Generally speaking, retail credit scorecards are quantitative (statistical) scorecards (Credit Scoring Models) that use exclusively or primarily quantitative inputs and algorithmic processing (Machine Learning) to achieve the risk classification. This is enabled by the generally large size of retail credit portfolios and the relative simplicity of retail credit products

By algorithm

Quantitative scorecards employ one of several possible algorithmic classes (For complete list see Credit Scoring Models), e.g. linear discriminant analysis, logistic regression, decision trees etc.

Retail Scorecard Development

Development of credit scorecards is highly dependent on context. An overview is given in the How to Build a Credit Scorecard entry.

Issues and Challenges

  • Like with any statistical model, the predictive performance of scoring models exhibits Model Decay, as both the borrower's own characteristics may change and the external business and economic conditions evolve
  • The data eligible for use in the development of credit scorecards are generally regulated under Fair Lending laws

See Also