Avant Leans Into Loyalty, Borrower Success with New Credit Builder

Avant, a financial technology company that serves middle-income Americans, has launched a free financial health tool for credit building.

Called Credit Builder, the tool offers personalized daily credit monitoring, month-to-month goal setting, insights for credit improvements, plus fraud resolution support for identity theft. 

Through a partnership with SavvyMoney, the Credit Builder tool also provides daily credit scores, access to credit reports, and a credit score simulator. This simulator allows users to test how a specific financial action, such as closing a credit card or paying down debt, would impact their credit. 

From Pilot to Successful Launch

The pilot launch for Credit Builder was April 2025, and 357,000 people had signed on for the tool by December 2025. According to Avant, 87% of enrolled users are monthly active customers who use the tool as part of their daily financial habits.

Seventy-five percent of Credit Builder users report a steady or improved credit score since enrolling with the product. 

“With Credit Builder, we are proud to offer a free tool that arms users with actionable insights to proactively manage and improve their financial health,” said Charles Whittaker, Chief Business Officer of Avant.

“Middle-income Americans are looking for a roadmap to financial stability, and we’re committed to providing the tools they need to move their financial lives forward.” 

Using Transparency When Assisting Consumers

JB Orecchia, President and CEO of SavvyMoney, spoke about the importance of transparency when it comes to aiding consumers about their credit. 

“Credit Builder is built on the foundational belief that financial progress begins by putting data in the hands of the consumer, empowering them to navigate their financial journey with transparency,” Orecchia said.

“By providing a clear, real-time view of their credit profile and report details combined with actionable steps for improvement, Avant is helping its users move from passive monitoring to active credit building.”

Credit Builder Cards Build Customer Loyalty

While Avant’s product isn’t tied to a specific card, credit builder cards enable banks and credit unions to retain customers and build loyalty leading to long-term relationships, and that includes subprime customers.

Loyal credit builder card customers stay with their cards and offer positive word of mouth on the product to other consumers, The Financial Brand reports.

In late 2025, subprime borrowers made up 16.2% of new card accounts revealing a growth opportunity for this demographic, according to The Financial Brand.

“Previously, credit builder cards were siloed and offered with only one purpose: to build or rebuild credit without any additional benefits or forethought of increasing the lifetime value of the relationship beyond a graduation to a non-secured card,” Lynn Nottingham, product manager at GTE Financial, told The Financial Brand. 

“We are now offering solutions and pathways that lead not only to better credit but also to long-standing relationships that continue to grow towards financial stability and freedom.”

Large Potential Customer Base

With 36 million North American underbanked consumers, according to Mastercard, the potential customer base for credit builder products is a big. This includes customers with subprime credit. These consumers could improve their credit while using the product.

The Bottom Line

Avant, through a partnership with SavvyMoney, is offering a free financial health product called Credit Builder. The tool offers insights for credit improvements, a credit score simulator, plus daily personalized credit monitoring.

Credit builder cards are a way for lenders to build customer loyalty and aid customer retention, including among customers in the subprime market.