Personality traits and online credit decisions: evidence from mobile phone data

This study explores the impact of personality traits on credit decisions in the context of online lending, utilizing mobile data to construct indicators of conscientiousness and neuroticism. We find that highly conscientious individuals have a lower probability of borrowing and defaulting, while those with high neuroticism are more likely to borrow and face higher default risk. Specifically, neuroticism plays a crucial role in impulsive borrowing, whereas conscientiousness significantly reduces the likelihood of default through diligent repayment willingness. This paper also reveals the moderating effects of self-control, family support, consumption amount, and loan amount on the influence of personality traits in credit decision-making. These findings highlight the psychological mechanisms of personality traits in credit decisions and provide practical implications for financial institutions to improve risk management and decision-making processes.