Block partners with Nova Credit to share Cash App Score with lenders

Block is introducing its Cash App score to external lenders for the first time, according to a Sept. 1 announcement. The proprietary, cash flow-based credit score will be accessible through Nova Credit's Cash Flow Intelligence Platform. Block's head of credit and underwriting, Juan Hernandez, explained that the company built the Cash App Score to capture the financial activity of millions of individuals that traditional credit systems often overlook.

By partnering with Nova Credit, Block aims to make this capability available to lenders through trusted infrastructure, allowing more consumers to be reached responsibly while keeping their data under control. Cash App Score considers signals from across the Cash App ecosystem, including spending, saving, repayment behavior, paycheck deposits, and peer-to-peer activity.

Lenders can now use this score for various purposes, such as credit cards, auto lending, device financing, personal lending, and tenant screening, all while providing a comprehensive, near real-time view of a consumer's ability to pay. Misha Esipov, co-founder and CEO of Nova Credit, emphasized the joint goal of helping Americans showcase their best financial selves using apps they already use daily.

Recent PYMNTS Intelligence research highlights the challenges faced by subprime consumers, with 35% lacking both credit and store cards in February.