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AI Is Coming To Take Your Mortgage Woes Away

(Forbes) Over the next two years, the use of AI and machine learning in the mortgage industry is going to boom. And that will be a good thing for borrowers and the market.

ZestFinance Using AI To Bring Fairness To Mortgage Lending

(Forbes) Zest launches ZAML Fair to target discrimination in lending, eliminating inherent biases.

Study Finds 70% of Americans Would Share More Personal Data for Fairer Credit Decisions

(PR Newswire) The Harris Poll, in conjunction with ZestFinance, has found that most Americans are looking for an update to credit decisioning.

A Crucial Step For Averting AI Disasters

(Wall Street Journal) Developers testing AI software often rely on software teams and data sets that lack adequate representation of women or minority groups. Eliminating bias up front among those who write the code for AI is essential. “That’s why we work so hard on building diverse teams,” says Douglas Merrill, CEO of Zest and a former CIO of Google.

AI Helps Auto-Loan Company Handle Industry’s Trickiest Turn

(Wall Street Journal) Prestige Financial Services turned to Zest to deploy explainable machine learning credit models that boosted growth without lowering lending standards. More data and deeper insights “allow us to be better at predicting the result of the loan,” says Prestige's top risk officer.

Can AI’s ‘black box’ problem be solved?

(American Banker) "Every large financial institution has someone in a lab working on machine learning, and all those people know these new algorithms are much better than the old ones," says ZestFinance CEO Douglas Merrill, "But none of them get into production,” primarily because of regulatory issues like explainability. ZestFinance presents solutions to the black box problem.

Microsoft Partners With Fintech Startup ZestFinance To Bring Transparency To AI-Powered Financial Models

(Forbes) Microsoft said Wednesday that it is entering a strategic partnership with financial technology startup ZestFinance to make it easier for its financial services customers to adopt AI and machine learning tools.

Is regulators' green light on AML tech a game changer?

(American Banker) Bankers know AI can combat money laundering, but face skeptical regulators. ZestFinance's CEO: "This space is ripe for machine learning.”

2018

FinTechs are Keeping Banks Relevant, 10 Years After the Financial Crisis (The Economist)

Ten years after Lehman's collapse, a look at how the banking system has (and hasn't) changed. Zest CEO Douglas Merrill chimes in on the changes in underwriting.

How AI Helped Double Volume at This Auto Lender (American Banker)

Until recently, Prestige Financial Services was struggling to cope with a down market in which the delinquency rate for subprime auto loans is higher than it was even during the financial crisis.

Tech Gurus Discuss the Future of FinTech (ThinkAdvisor)

ZestFinance's Merrill discusses FinTech policy at the recent Financial Services Roundtable FinTech Ideas Festival.

A Look Inside Machine Learning's Powers and Quirks (PYMNTS.com)

Mapping The Black Box: Thoughts and insights following ZestFinance's webinar on applying machine learning to your lending business

AI will take over credit decisions… and that’s good (LinkedIn)

By the year 2030, artificial intelligence will have replaced humans in underwriting. We’re not there yet, but the AI train has already left the station.

How ZestFinance maintains a consistent company culture (Built in Los Angeles)

Los Angeles companies Tinder, ZestFinance, and SteelHouse answer how to maintain a company culture when growing beyond startup sizes.

ZestFinance honored on the AI 100 list (CB Insights)

ZestFinance is one of the five most promising financial artificial intelligence companies in the world.

8 tips for marketing to millennials as sales slip (Powersports Finance)

Using alternative data and machine learning will help lenders reach untapped markets, says Zest CEO.

ZestFinance seeks growth in "huge" Chinese market (Auto Finance News)

There is great opportunity for machine learning underwriting for auto in China's burgeoning auto finance market.

Can words used in loan applications reveal creditworthiness? (American Banker)

Subtle signs in loan applications could be revealing, but Zest CEO Douglas Merrill is concerned that these could be discriminatory.

Auto Finance heats up as FinTechs save automakers millions (Auto Finance News)

Inspired by the examples of ZestFinance and others, venture capital firms look to innovate FinTech firms working in auto

Ford to look beyond credit scores in sales push (The Wall Street Journal)

Ford Credit expands in critical partnership with ZestFinance

Wal-Mart nears a pilot deal to offer customers installment loans (The Wall Street Journal)

Wal-Mart and Synchrony looking to FinTech firms like ZestFinance to increase revenue

Recognized among the prestigious LA 500: Douglas Merrill (Los Angeles Business Journal)

ZestFinance CEO profile

10 Auto finance and mobility companies tackling AI (Auto Finance News)

#1: ZestFinance applying big data to auto loans for thin-file borrowers

Big banks turn to new technology as branches close (Quartz)

Banks are partnering with companies like ZestFinance to use far more financial data

ZestFinance named among prestigious FinTech 250 (CB Insights)

CB Insights recognizes ZestFinance for its game-changing technology.

Machine learning promises to shake up large swathes of finance (The Economist)

ZestFinance among the companies using machine learning to revolutionize the financial industry

ZestFinance CEO Discusses the State of FinTech (The Native Society)

The old models for credit are out, and machine learning is in

FinTechs and Banks are becoming increasingly collaborative (The Economist)

FinTechs like ZestFinance modernize banks, top-down and bottom-up

Interview with ZestFinance CEO Douglas Merrill (Talk Markets)

Merrill answers questions about ZestFinance, ZAML, and present and future partnerships

Douglas Merrill: A Math Problem (C-Suite Quarterly)

What success means to ZestFinance's CEO

ZestFinance is Using Math to Comply with Disparate Impact (Auto Finance News)

ZAML platform provides more data than FICO to comply with CFPB rules on disparate impact

FinTechs using AI to transform payday lending (American Banker)

ZestFinance creates the only machine learning platform for credit that solves the black box problem

ZestFinance takes on the millennial credit crisis (Crain's)

ZestFinance corrects misperceptions about millennials' creditworthiness

Zestfinance works with a "big three" auto lender (Auto Finance News)

Captive auto finance company uses ZestFinance ML platform to reduce losses

Expanding the lending pool (CNBC)

ZestFinance's ZAML platform makes machine learning accessible to financial services

ZestFinance introduces machine learning platform for credit (Business Wire)

ZAML allows lenders to underwrite millennials and other consumers with limited credit history

An AI-fueled credit formula might help get you a loan (MIT Technology Review)

ZestFinance builds a machine learning platform that finds new borrowers and protects against bias

Podcast: How to price loans to people with limited credit histories (Financial Times)

Banking Weekly Podcast talks to Zest CEO Douglas Merrill about pricing thin-file borrowers

The 30 Best Workplaces in Technology (Fortune)

The tech industry has long been famed for its luxe work environments—free lunches, ping pong tables, green juice on tap—but there's a lot more than perks that goes into creating a workplace employees love.

China’s big artificial intelligence push (Asia Times)

ZestFinance helps with China's push into the 21st century with new credit opportunities

Fortune's 100 best medium workplaces (Fortune)

ZestFinance in top 10 best medium workplaces for its sense of mission (and its gym)

Deep learning and AI in fintech (CloudTweaks)

ZestFinance redefining credit scores and challenging the use of "little data"

ZestFinance is one of Fortune's Best Workplaces for Women (Fortune)

Recognized on Fortune's annual list of best workplaces for women

ZestFinance bringing AI to FinTech (CB Insights)

One of 40 companies leading innovation in FinTech

Giving credit in a post-recession society (Los Angeles Business Journal)

Chinese search giant links with ZestFinance algorithm

Chinese search giant Baidu going deeper into banking (Fortune)

Invests in ZestFinance to assess creditworthiness of its users

What does that web search say about your credit? (LA Times)

ZestFinance's technology pairs with Baidu's search data to provide credit scores for Chinese consumers

ZestFinance and Baidu to transform financial services in China (Tech Crunch)

Companies partner to use search data for credit scoring

ZestFinance named to 2016 Forbes FinTech 50 (Forbes)

Named to Forbes' list of the 50 most innovative FinTech companies for second year running

Why we should expect algorithms to be biased (MIT Technology Review)

ZestFinance avoids biased machine learning algorithms with unique tools that prove results

The surprising benefits of unlimited vacation (Inc.)

ZestFinance's unlimited vacation policy benefits company and employees alike

Here Are Your 2016 Benzinga Fintech Award Winners (Benzinga)

ZestFinance named most innovative technology for Lending and Alternative Investments

Tech CEOs demand North Carolina repeal anti-LGBT law (TechCrunch)

ZestFinance among the companies who are standing up against discrimination

Artificial Intolerance (MIT Technology Review)

ZestFinance takes unmatched steps to prevent discrimination in its underwriting platform

How can banks accelerate digital learning (Forbes)

Innovative FinTechs speed up banks' lending processes

A shocking number of young people don’t think women should work in tech (Monster.com)

ZestFinance has a near-even gender breakdown, a rarity in tech

How alternative lenders are challenging traditional credit ratings (Finance Magnates)

FinTech companies have found better ways to measure creditworthiness

ZestFinance offers 6 months paid paternity leave (TechCrunch)

Believes the policy is integral to building a balanced, talented, and diverse workplace

China’s JD.com lands $1 billion at $7.1B valuation (The TechNews)

JD Finance's partnership with ZestFinance allows for continued growth

FICO faces federal legislators (PYMNTS)

More predictive underwriting may not be FICO's only problem

ZestFinance named to 2015 Forbes FinTech 50 (Forbes)

Recognized in Forbes' inagural list of the 50 most innovative FinTech companies

No credit history, no problem (Get.com)

ZestFinance can help you build credit on the go

The Uberization of money (The Wall Street Journal)

ZestFinance is a part of the changing financial world

LA Tech Summit announces speakers, agenda for third annual event (Business Wire)

ZestFinance president Mike Armstrong to speak on major FinTech trends

ZestFinance offers unlimited vacation (Today)

And executives lead by example

Online lender ZestFinance secures $150-million credit line (LA Times)

Funding will help ZestFinance provide lower interest rate loans to subprime borrowers

Work/Life: Douglas Merril (LA Business Journal)

CEO of ZestFinance on inclusive workplaces, living a healthy lifestyle, and taking pride in your work

ZestFinance tackles diversity gap in FinTech (Fast Company)

With careful hiring practices, ZestFinance pushes for diversity goals that are "core to winning"

FinTech one of 2015's most promising industries (Inc.)

ZestFinance part of this trend, aiming to expand its credit scoring into China

How tech start-ups are closing the gender gap (CNBC)

At ZestFinance, diversity is embedded in the company's culture

Using algorithms to determine character (New York Times)

Is data-driven personality analysis fairer than standard measures?

Google's former CIO is helping millions of Americans get emergency loans (Business Insider)

What inspires Douglas Merrill to change the world for the better

ZestFinance moves into near-prime lending with new Basix loan (Forbes)

Near-prime borrowers now have a way of getting fair, transparent credit

ZestFinance hopes to fill the credit rating void in China (LA Business Journal)

ZestFinance could become "the FICO of China"

ZestFinance and JD.com launch China joint venture (Forbes)

Together they'll expand credit to the 80% of Chinese consumers without a traditional credit score

JD.com takes on Alibaba (Reuters)

Launching credit-scoring joint venture with ZestFinance

JD.com the latest Chinese tech company to venture into consumer lending (Tech Crunch)

Partners with ZestFinance to use its technology in a new joint venture

This partnership wants to bring credit scores to China (Fortune)

ZestFinance forms joint venture with JD.com, China's second largest e-commerce company

3 myths about innovation debunked (Inc.)

ZestFinance CEO shares the lies and truths of innovations

Marketing you can measure (The Wall Street Journal)

Using machine learning to measure customers before and after the sale

Big data underwriting for small loans (The New York Times)

ZestFinance offers a much cheaper alternative to the payday loan

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