Credit Scores | FEDERAL HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY

FHFA, along with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises), is committed to regularly assessing and modernizing the credit score models used by mortgage lenders and other stakeholders in the housing finance system. This process is governed by the 2018 enactment of the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act (Section 310) and the Validation and Approval of Credit Score Models Rule (12 CFR Part 1254), and is consistent with FHFA’s commitment to accuracy and inclusivity in credit scoring, as well as the safety and soundness of the Enterprises. FHFA and the Enterprises are currently implementing key updates to the Enterprises’ credit score model requirements. FHFA expects this implementation will be a multiyear effort.

Recent Updates

On July 11, 2024, FHFA announced that the Enterprises released historical credit scores associated with the VantageScore 4.0 model on tens of millions of loans acquired beginning in April 2013, the earliest point at which trended consumer credit data is reliably available across the three nationwide consumer reporting agencies. This release will provide market participants the ability to better analyze and understand the VantageScore 4.0 model.

Background

On October 24, 2022, FHFA announced the validation and approval of two new credit score models, FICO 10T and VantageScore 4.0, for use by the Enterprises. Once implemented, lenders will be required to deliver both FICO 10T and VantageScore 4.0 credit scores, when available, with each single-family loan sold to the Enterprises. The announcement followed a lengthy process of reviewing potential updates to the Enterprises’ credit score requirements, as required by statute and regulation. During this time, the Enterprises undertook rigorous testing of the models for which an application was received. Both of the newly approved models exceeded the required thresholds for accuracy, reliability, and integrity.

On October 24, 2022, FHFA also announced that the Enterprises would permit lenders to use either tri-merge credit reporting, in which credit reports from each of the three nationwide consumer reporting agencies are used, or bi-merge credit reporting, in which credit reports from two of the nationwide consumer reporting agencies are used. FHFA expects this update will promote competition in the market while supporting robust risk management.

On March 23, 2023, FHFA provided an update on the Enterprises’ implementation plans and opportunities for stakeholder engagement. FHFA and the Enterprises reiterated their commitment to working with stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition to the new credit scores and the new credit reporting requirements, in a manner that avoids unnecessary costs and complexity.

As part of the March announcement, FHFA and the Enterprises released a proposed timeline that was designed to elicit stakeholder feedback on various elements of the implementation of both the new credit score models and the updated credit reporting requirements. Additionally, the Enterprises conducted extensive outreach to stakeholders in the form of targeted discussions with a variety of market participants and engagement in industry conferences and webinars, as well as through a stakeholder survey, which generated nearly one thousand responses. Many of the themes identified by respondents included perspectives on the proposed timeline, the need for data to perform analysis of the new models and requirements, the importance of federal agency coordination, and views about mechanisms for FHFA and the Enterprises to receive feedback.

On September 11, 2023, FHFA announced the next phase of ongoing public engagement for the updated Enterprise credit score requirements. This engagement includes stakeholder forums and serves to identify a wide variety of issues, opportunities, and challenges related to successful implementation of the new requirements, including potential refinements to the timeline for adoption. Interested parties who wish to participate in this process should send their name, affiliation, and contact information to CreditScores@fhfa.gov.

On February 29, 2024, FHFA announced several updates related to the implementation of the updated Enterprise credit score requirements. Following extensive stakeholder input, FHFA amended the proposed implementation timeline to align the implementation of the bi-merge credit reporting requirement with the transition from the Classic FICO model. To better support market participants as they engage in this transition, FHFA further announced that the Enterprises would accelerate the publication of historical data specific to the VantageScore 4.0 model to early in the third quarter of 2024, while continuing to work towards publication of similar data to support the transition to the FICO 10T model.

Fannie Mae Credit Score Transition Page

Freddie Mac Credit Score Transition Page