Staking Out the Stats

WASHINGTON — An American Bankers Association survey finds that given the spread of identity theft, more consumers are keeping a close watch on their credit report. “Consumers are getting smart about their credit and using the resources available to them to protect it,” said ABA Senior Federal Counsel Nessa Feddis. Thirty-two percent of consumers said they requested a free copy of their credit report because they were concerned about identity theft, 29% obtained it because it was free, 27% got it when applying for a loan, and 5% of consumers request it annually. The survey also finds that the younger generations understand the importance of credit with 41% of surveyed consumers who obtained their credit report ranging between the ages of 18 and 34. In addition, 61% of Americans still have not taken advantage of the free offer and 65% are over the age of 55.