Up to 45 million Americans can’t access credit because they do not have scorable records, potentially leaving them unable to obtain a home, car, healthcare, or even a job. How is Petal making it easier and more affordable for young people and marginalized groups to gain access to a credit card?

Dealing with finances can be intimidating, but Americans are taking their finances into their own hands, with an upswing in people accessing their credit score reports. This leaves opportunity for finance brands to help enable access to this information and in turn, boost customer loyalty.

Gen Y are driving the market for personal loans in the US, moving away from traditional credit cards. Despite the burden of student debt, fiscal responsibility is high on the agenda as they seek to build better credit, consolidate debts and pay for large ticket items, such as cars and weddings.

Young people's trust in financial services is at an all-time low; 71% of Gen Yers would rather visit their dentist than hear what banks have to say. But San Francisco-based Affirm is hoping that a transparent approach to lending can restore some faith in customers and show that credit isn’t all bad.