Affordability, modelled from bureau data
TU Affordability estimates income and expenditure from bureau data. It is one honest leg of an affordability decision: a fast, modelled figure that is strongest when you read it against what the bank account actually shows through open banking.
What it is
TU Affordability gives you a modelled view of what someone earns and spends, built from bureau data, without asking the applicant to connect an account. That makes it quick and low-friction, and a sound first read on affordability.
It is a model, though, not a measurement. Bureau-modelled figures and open-banking-observed figures do not always agree. Credit Canary's value is showing you the variance between the two, so you know how far to trust the number rather than taking it on faith.
Where it wins, and where it doesn't
- A fast first read on affordability, with no account connection
- High-volume journeys where open banking would add friction
- Cases read against open banking, so you see the variance
- Decisions in principle, as the affordability leg
- Being treated as a measured figure when the stakes are high
- Proving identity, which is CallValidate
- Showing the direction of travel, which is TrueVision
Footprint and permissible purpose
TU Affordability is read for affordability assessment, under a permissible purpose. It is a modelled assessment, not a hard or soft credit search, so it does not change the applicant's score the way a full search does.
Because it is modelled, the figure is an estimate. Where a decision rests heavily on affordability, reading it against open-banking-observed income and spend tells you whether the model holds for this applicant.
Getting access
TU Affordability is used to assess affordability, under a permissible purpose for which you are approved. We set this up alongside your other products.
Credit and identity data is only available for a permissible purpose, and you need to be approved for that purpose before you can use it. We handle the integration and the onboarding once, so a single approval covers credit, identity, affordability and open banking together.
- 1Due diligenceWe run due diligence on you and submit the application to TransUnion.
- 2ApprovalTransUnion approve it and give the authority to contract.
- 3ContractWe issue your contract and pass it to TransUnion.
- 4KeysTransUnion issue your unique keys.
- 5LiveYou go live, and billing starts.
The reason to take TransUnion data through Credit Canary is a better rate, on one integration that also gives you open banking, decisioning and payments.
Best for
Where this does the most work. Each has its own data mix.
Model it, then check it against the account
This is the clearest case for taking credit and open banking from one place. TU Affordability gives you a fast modelled figure; Open Banking affordability shows what the account actually does. Credit Canary puts the two side by side and shows the variance, so you lean on the model where it holds and ask for an account connection where it does not.
TU Affordability: FAQs
No. TU Affordability is modelled from bureau data; open banking affordability is observed from the real account. They answer the same question from different sources, and they do not always agree.
A model estimates from history; an account shows what is actually happening now. Credit Canary shows the variance so you know how far to trust the modelled figure.
No. That is its advantage: a fast, low-friction read. Where a decision needs certainty, you add an open banking connection.
It is modelled from bureau data on income and expenditure. The key point is that it is an estimate, best read against the real account through open banking, and we will walk you through how it is built for your use case.
Get a fast affordability read, and know when to trust it
Tell us how you assess affordability, and we will quote TU Affordability with open banking alongside, on one integration, at a better rate.