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Matthew Palese serves as senior vice president of consumer lending, overseeing data and analytics and credit strategy. In this role, he manages our NaviRefi product and serves as the chief risk and data officer of Earnest. Mattā€™s team uses data to deliver insights that improve borrower outcomes and help consumers lower the total cost of their student loan debt. Matt joined the company in 2009 and has more than 20 years of experience in consumer finance serving in numerous capacities, including credit and consumer lending, data and analytics, risk management, and operations. He previously worked at Sallie Mae, Credit One, Wells Fargo and MBNA. Matt earned his degree in business management from Wilmington University and jumpstarted his consumer lending career working part-time at MBNA in a variety of call-center roles while pursuing his bachelorā€™s degree as a full-time student.

Matt lives in West Chester, Pennsylvania, with his wife and two children, and spends most of his free time coaching his kids' sports.