Finder’s Credit Building Innovation Awards for 2024

Finder’s Innovation Awards recognize financial providers that are innovating in their field by launching impactful features and delivering benefits to customers in new ways. Finder’s subject-matter experts drew up a shortlist of innovative providers in 2024, which was then assessed by an expert panel of judges. We’re delighted to announce the winning and highly commended companies in credit building.

See our awards announcement or click on the categories to reveal our winners!

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• Credit Building Innovation

  

  Winner:

  Step

  Read our review of Step

  

  Highly commended:

  Current

  Read our review of Current

  Finalists:

  Experian
  Freekick
  Cleo
  Credit Sesame
  Current
  Step

Judging process

The shortlist of finalists in each category was selected by Finder’s subject-matter experts, who identified the providers they felt displayed key innovations in their field.

The shortlist was then passed to an expert judging panel, who decided the winning and highly commended companies by assessing the finalists across three different criteria: uniqueness of innovation, impact in the market and value to customers.

Credit Building Innovation judges

• Alexa Serrano Cruz, senior banking editor at Finder
• Laura Adams, money expert and spokesperson at Finder
• Judith Fox, Clinical Professor Emerita of Law at The University of Notre Dame
• Anna Serio, writer, editor and former Certified Commercial Loan Officer (CCLO)

Judging panel

Alexa Serrano Cruz is a senior editor at Finder, specializing in banking. As a personal finance expert and certified anti-money laundering specialist, she helps Americans make informed decisions about their finances.

Judith Fox is a Clinical Professor Emerita of Law at the University of Notre Dame where she has taught alternative dispute resolutions, housing and consumer law, and more. She has also served as a member of the Consumer Advisory Board of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Anna Serio is a writer, editor and former Certified Commercial Loan Officer. Her expertise and analysis on personal, student, business and car loans has been featured in publications like Business Insider, CNBC and Nasdaq, and she has appeared on NBC and KADN.

Laura Adams is a money expert and spokesperson for Finder. She’s one of the nation’s leading personal finance and business authorities. As an award-winning author and host of the top-rated Money Girl podcast since 2008, millions of readers, listeners and loyal fans benefit from her practical advice.

Written by

Alexa Serrano Cruz

Lead Editor, Personal Finance

Alexa Serrano Cruz is Deputy Editor at Forbes Advisor and was the lead editor at Finder, specializing in banking. As a personal finance expert, she helps Americans make informed decisions about their finances. Her expertise includes savings, budgeting, kids' banking, and more. Prior to joining Finder, Alexa worked as an editor in Miami and New York. Alexa is a certified anti-money laundering specialist and her personal finance expertise has earned recognition from reputable publications such as Nasdaq, Best Company, U.S. News & World Report, MSN, Yahoo, and Valuewalk. Alexa has also made notable appearances on platforms such as Winnie Sun TV, money podcasts like LifeBlood, and broadcast news publications like Fox News and NBC News. Alexa also served as an editor for ACAMS Today, a prominent publication dedicated to anti-financial crime detection and counter-terrorist financing. See full bio

Alexa's expertise

Alexa has written 17 Finder guides across topics including:

• Personal finance
• Kids' banking
• Budgeting and saving
• Anti-financial crime