Experian, a global information services company, announced in mid-December the launch of a new tool, called the Financial Stability Risk Score, that allows credit and lending professionals to identify accounts at the highest risk of business failure.

Use of the new scoring model brings improved financial results by enabling users to segment businesses into risk categories, identify the accounts that are most likely to fail, and set policies to limit risk exposure, Experian claims.

"In today's economic climate, it's become increasingly important for organizations to improve efficiencies and reduce losses," says Allen Anderson, president of Experian's business information services. "Financial Stability Risk Score provides our clients with a powerful segmentation tool, allowing them to make better decisions and to identify accounts with the greatest risk of business failure."

Using Experian's analytical tools and database, the new score specifically is designed to predict the likelihood of business failure during the next 12 months.

Experian says clients can use the risk score to accelerate decisions by segmenting risk and putting applications on a fast track for approval, decline, or review; increase profits by screening out the riskiest accounts; and improve efficiencies by focusing resources only on accounts that require review.

Experian says the new risk score is intended to complement its suite of predictive business credit scores. The tool provides a quick assessment of risk with a one-to-100 score and a one-to-five ranking according to risk level. For more information about Experian's Financial Stability Risk Score or its other business-to-business products and services, visit www.experian.com/b2b.

Experian provides data and analytical tools to clients in more than 80 countries.