How Lenders Use Credit Data to Build Pre-Screened Marketing Lists
Lenders build a prescreened marketing list from their own credit criteria. They set the criteria, run them against a credit file, and check the count before buying. The lender then sends its firm offer of credit to the matched consumers by mail or email.
With CRS, lenders build these lists in LeadsIQ. Set criteria across 50+ credit attributes and see how many of 280M+ US consumers match in about 20 seconds. Then buy the list with phone and email appended in the same pull.
Key takeaways
- Start from your credit criteria, not from a purchased contact list.
- Prescreening uses a soft inquiry, so it does not affect consumer credit scores.
- You can see how many consumers match before you pay for the list.
- Firm offers can go out by direct mail or email.
How do lenders build a prescreened marketing list from credit data?
A prescreen campaign runs in six steps.
- Define the offer. Start with the product, the terms and the credit profile you will approve. Your list criteria come from that profile.
- Set the credit criteria. Most lenders filter on score band, monthly debt payments, trade line detail and geography.
- Check the count. See how many consumers match before you buy. Widen or narrow the criteria until the audience fits your budget.
- Generate the list. Add phone and email to the matched consumers in the same pull.
- Send the offer. Mail it, email it or do both.
- Measure and refine. Compare response and approvals by segment. Then adjust the criteria for your next run.
What credit attributes can lenders filter on?
LeadsIQ offers 50+ attributes. These are the families lenders use most when they build a prescreened list.
| Attribute family | Examples | What it helps you decide |
|---|---|---|
| Credit score | FICO or VantageScore score bands | Which risk tier your offer fits |
| Debt payments | Monthly payments, balances and utilization | Whether the new payment is affordable |
| Trade line details | Account types and balances | Which consumers carry the debt your product targets |
| Geography | The state, city or zip code you choose | Where you offer the product |
| Contact data (appended) | Mobile phone, landline, email | How you deliver the offer |
Ask your CRS contact for the full attribute list.
How many consumers will match your criteria?
LeadsIQ shows a quick count before you buy. The matched count returns in about 20 seconds. If the audience is too small, widen the score band or add states. If it is too large for your budget, narrow it.
LeadsIQ has no minimum order size. You can test a small run before you commit a full campaign. Our guide to seeing your count before you buy walks through each step.
Can you prescreen a list you already have?
Yes. Upload your list to the CRS Portal, and LeadsIQ appends credit attributes and contact data to those records. Ask your counsel whether prescreen or account review covers your use.
Some teams only need to know which records match an offer. OffersIQ returns a match or no match from a name and address. It returns no credit data, has an 85%+ typical credit hit rate and charges nothing for non-hits. Read more in how to enrich your customer list for prescreen marketing.
What compliance steps come with a prescreened list?
In order to access LeadsIQ, companies must complete compliance vetting with CRS and confirm they are able to offer firm offers of credit. Since prescreen marketing falls under the Fair Credit Reporting Act be sure to settle these questions with your counsel before your first campaign:
- What firm offer will matched consumers receive, and on what terms?
- Which criteria select the list, and how will you document them?
- How will your mail and email offers present the prescreen opt-out notice?
- Which consumers will you exclude from the list?
- How long will you keep campaign records?
CRS does not give legal advice.
The primary sources are the CFPB’s Regulation V, section 1022.54, and the FTC’s guide to prescreened offers.
Prescreened list vs. generic marketing list
The difference is when you learn whether a consumer fits your offer.
| Dimension | Generic marketing list | Prescreened list |
|---|---|---|
| Targeting basis | Demographics or purchased contacts | Your credit criteria |
| Fit to your offer | Unknown until they apply | Known before you spend |
| Audience size | Total names on the list | Matched count, seen before you buy |
| Credit score impact | None | None. Prescreening uses a soft inquiry. |
| Offer type | Invitation to apply | Firm offer of credit |
How CRS builds prescreened lists with LeadsIQ
LeadsIQ is CRS’s prescreen list builder for lenders. You set the criteria in the CRS Portal, check the count and export the list.
- 280M+ US consumers on file
- 50+ credit attributes to build around your underwriting
- A live count in about 20 seconds, before you pay
- Phone and email appended in the same pull
- No minimum order size
Appended phone numbers are not scrubbed against federal or state Do Not Call lists. Ask your counsel how Do Not Call and consent rules apply before any call or text.
Teams that will not make a firm offer of credit use OffersIQ instead. It checks leads they already have, with no credit data returned. CRS has delivered 40M+ credit pulls, enabling $75B in lending decisions.
FAQ
How do lenders build a prescreened marketing list?
Lenders set credit criteria, run them against a consumer credit file and check the match count. They then buy the list and send a firm offer of credit by mail or email. CRS customers do this in LeadsIQ.
Does prescreening affect a consumer’s credit score?
No. Prescreening uses a soft inquiry, which does not affect credit scores.
Can a prescreened firm offer go out by email?
Yes. Your prescreened firm offer can go out by email. LeadsIQ appends email addresses in the same pull, so you can run email and direct mail from one list.
How do I know how many consumers will match?
Run a quick count in LeadsIQ before you buy. The count returns in about 20 seconds. You can adjust the criteria and recount as often as you need.
Is there a minimum list size?
No. LeadsIQ has no minimum order size.
What is a firm offer of credit?
It is the offer a lender makes to consumers selected through a prescreen. The FCRA defines the term at 15 U.S.C. 1681a(l). Our prescreen compliance sources page quotes the definition and links the source.
What is the difference between LeadsIQ and OffersIQ?
LeadsIQ builds prescreened lists for companies that make firm offers of credit. OffersIQ checks whether consumers match an offer and returns match or no match, with no credit data. OffersIQ charges nothing for non-hits.
Related resources
- LeadsIQ: build a prescreened list from your own criteria
- OffersIQ: match consumers to your offers
- How to see how many consumers match your prescreen criteria before you buy a list
- How to enrich your customer list with credit and contact data for prescreen marketing
- What credit data signals help lenders identify high-intent borrowers?
- How lead aggregators use OffersIQ to improve lead quality
See how many consumers fit your offer. Get started with LeadsIQ.