New Applications of GIS 1: Location Analytics in Banking

Mobile GIS & LBS

Matt Sheehan
Matt holds an MSc in Geography and GIS. He has been working with clients solving problems with GIS for over 17 years. Matt founded WebMapSolutions whose mission is to put innovative, intuitive GIS driven applications into the hands of new and existing users.

New Applications of GIS 1: Location Analytics in Banking

April 9th, 2014 by Matt Sheehan

Why title this post ‘New Applications of GIS’?

Location technology and GIS are being used in so many new and exciting areas, we wanted to write about new ideas and applications. Here we discuss applications of GIS in the world of banking, and in particular loans.

Reducing Loan Risk with Location Analytics

Loaning money is at the very heart of our banking system. If we wish to buy a house, a car, remodel; often we will turn to a bank for a loan. But any loan comes with risk to the bank. Thus the paperwork and background checks. Banks need to feel comfortable you are I will pay back this borrowed money. GIS and location analytics in particular are now playing a key part in helping banks in this decision making process.

Today most loan applications are made online. The process involves providing detailed information about your job, and background. Your application is then processed, with credit reports generated and algorithms run to qualify or disqualify your application. This is a person-centric approach. So where does GIS come in?

Location analytics provides the bigger picture. By generating data about where you live; your neighbourhood, banks are provided with a deeper, richer picture. Greater insight means better decision making. This in turn helps to reduce risk.

New data sources like that provided by the GeoEnrichment service from Esri are making the generation of dynamic demographic data much easier. We have a number of clients in both the US and overseas for whom we are building GIS Web and mobile based applications leveraging this service. Not just limited to the US, this service offers data for a whole host of countries.

Next time you apply for a loan, it is quite possible GIS is quietly helping in the decision making process!

Categories: ArcGIS Online, Mobile ArcGIS, Mobile GIS, Web and mobile GIS

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