- Financial information company Experian is using the NCAA basketball tournament to promote financial literacy and the importance of managing debt with the help of Louisiana State University women’s basketball star and rapper Flau’jae Johnson.
- As part of the campaign, the company announced it would relieve $5 million of consumer debt for 5,000 families in Louisiana and contribute another $100,000 toward consumer debt relief (up to $500,000) for every LSU victory in the NCAA Women’s basketball tournament.
- Consumer debt is one of the greatest obstacles to building credit and financial stability, and Louisiana is one of the states with the highest percentage of poverty in the U.S., according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The beneficiaries of the relief program will also receive a one-year premium Experian membership, which includes access to their credit report, FICO scores, credit monitoring, assistance with canceling subscriptions and negotiating bills for lower rates.
As part of the campaign, Johnson will appear in advertising, speaking about the importance of financial literacy and Experian’s role in helping families find stability. In one spot, Johnson speaks about her upbringing in a community where many people were not financially educated and how she is now inspired to pass along what she has learned as a business major and sports star who has signed lucrative Name, Image and Licensing deals. She also speaks about how Experian’s app has helped her manage her money and accounts.
In a second spot, Johnson speaks about Experian’s debt relief program for the 5,000 families. “I love that Experian is giving these families financial freedom,” Johnson says. “That’s going to open up so many opportunities for them. That’s big.”
“Unmanageable debt prevents consumers from achieving their goals,” said Dacy Yee, president of Experian Consumer Services at Experian, in a statement. “During these challenging economic times, Experian offers resources that can help consumers save time and money as well as improve their overall financial health. We hope this debt relief and access to Experian tools will help beneficiaries in Louisiana move towards a healthier financial future.”
The spots will run throughout both the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments and in digital channels. The campaign will continue throughout April, which is Financial Literacy Month.
