Fair Isaac Corp (FICO) has announced it will license its credit scores directly to mortgage resellers, bypassing the traditional gatekeepers—Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.https://t.co/gQK6LY0COw
— Mortgage Professional America Magazine (@MPAMagazineUS) October 2, 2025
The CDIA also highlighted concerns about the integrity of credit scoring. “FICO is also ignoring the reality that comprehensive data is the foundation of powerful and predictive credit scores and the safe and sound functioning of the U.S. mortgage market,” the association said.
The group voiced support for Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Bill Pulte’s call for “creative and constructive action” to foster competition, including the introduction of VantageScore as an alternative for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans.
FICO CEO Will Lansing defended the move, stating, “Direct licensing of the FICO Score brings transparency, competition, and cost-efficiency to the mortgage lending process. This change eliminates unnecessary mark-ups on the FICO Score and puts pricing model choice in the hands of those who use FICO Scores to drive mortgage decisions.”
The direct licensing model arrives amid a year of upheaval in mortgage credit scoring, with regulators and industry players pushing for greater competition and innovation.
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