Automated Credit Limit Increases and Consumer Welfare

Vitaly Bord, Agnes Kovacs and Patrick Moran

No 20622, CEPR Discussion Papers from Centre for Economic Policy Research

Abstract: In the United States, credit card companies frequently use machine learning algorithms to proactively raise credit limits for borrowers. In contrast, an increasing number of countries have begun to prohibit credit limit increases initiated by banks rather than consumers. In this paper, we exploit detailed regulatory micro data to examine the extent to which bank-initiated credit limit increases are directed towards individuals with revolving debt. We then develop a model that captures the costs and benefits of regulating proactive credit limit increases, which we use to quantify their importance and evaluate the implications for household well-being.

Keywords: Behavioral finance; Credit cards; Consumer protection (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D14 D18 D91 G28 G40 G51 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025-09
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