Do lenders look at FICO or Vantage?

Asked by: Nash Reichert MD  |  Last update: February 9, 2022
Score: 4.1/5 (69 votes)

Mortgage lenders typically use FICO Scores 5, 2 and 4 when determining whether or not to approve a loan. Additionally, one type of credit score to keep an eye on moving forward is the VantageScore, a score that was developed by the three main credit bureaus and currently serves as a competitor to FICO.

Do any lenders use VantageScore?

A 2019 third-party market study found that VantageScores are widely used by credit card issuers, and secondly by both installment loan and fintech lenders. According to the study, nine of the 10 largest banks and 29 of the 100 largest credit unions used VantageScore credit scores in one or more lines of business.

Which is more accurate FICO or Vantage?

At first, VantageScore credit scores featured a different numerical scale (501 to 990). However, VantageScore 3.0 and 4.0 adopted the same 300 to 850 scale that FICO uses. With both FICO and VantageScore models, higher scores are better.

Why is my VantageScore higher than FICO?

VantageScore counts multiple inquiries, even for different types of loans, within a 14-day period as a single inquiry. Multiple inquiries on your reports for the same type of loan or credit, spanning more than a 14-day period, may have a greater impact to your VantageScore® credit scores than to your FICO® scores.

Do mortgage companies use VantageScore vs FICO?

The FICO® Score versions used in mortgage lending and the more recently released versions, such as FICO® Score 9 and 10, have the same 300 to 850 range. VantageScore, a competing maker of credit scores, also uses that range for its latest VantageScore 3.0 and 4.0 model credit scores.

WHAT is the DIFFERENCE between VANTAGESCORE vs FICO SCORE | What CREDIT SCORE Do Lenders Use?

30 related questions found

What is a good FICO score to buy a house?

It's recommended you have a credit score of 620 or higher when you apply for a conventional loan. If your score is below 620, lenders either won't be able to approve your loan or may be required to offer you a higher interest rate, which can result in higher monthly payments.

Does FHA use VantageScore?

VantageScore has begun to get lenders' attention, and it is widely offered to (10)… Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the FHA all use rely on FICO scores for evaluating credit, and as they go, so goes the mortgage industry.

Do car dealers use FICO or Vantage?

VantageScore. The FICO credit scoring model is the most commonly used credit scoring model by auto lenders and car dealerships, and is also the oldest and first-ever credit scoring model. It's estimated that 90% of auto lenders use the current FICO Score 8 model when making lending decisions.

Does Credit Karma use FICO?

Though Credit Karma does not currently offer FICO® scores, the scores you see on Credit Karma (VantageScore 3.0 credit scores from TransUnion and Equifax) provide valuable insight into your financial health. It's important to keep in mind that no one credit score is the end-all, be-all.

Why is Credit Karma so far off?

Credit Karma receives information from two of the top three credit reporting agencies. This indicates that Credit Karma is likely off by the number of points as the lack of information they have from Experian, the third provider that does not report to Credit Karma.

Why is my FICO score lower than Vantage?

Although unpaid collections can lower both the FICO and VantageScore credit score, collection accounts are treated differently depending on whether they are medical or have been repaid. ... Both versions ignore collection accounts when the original unpaid balance was less than $100.

Is a VantageScore of 4.0 good?

What Is a Good VantageScore? A score from 750 to 850 is considered to be excellent or super prime, while scores between 700 to 749 are considered to be good. Scores between 650 and 699 are viewed as fair, scores in the 550 to 649 range are poor, and 300-549 are very poor scores.

Is 3.0 A good VantageScore?

What's a Good Score on the VantageScore 3.0 Model? The VantageScore model runs from 300 to 850. According to VantageScore, a good credit score on their model would be 661 to 780, and an excellent score would be anything above that.

What is a fair VantageScore?

Fair credit scores fall at the lower end of the credit-scoring spectrum. For FICO, they generally range from the upper 500s to the mid-600s. Fair VantageScore® credit scores fall in the low- to mid-600s.

Is Experian VantageScore accurate?

Is Experian Accurate? ... If it is, your Experian credit scores are accurate. If your credit report is not accurate, you'll want to look into your credit repair options. Our free Credit Report Card offers the Experian VantageScore 3.0 so you can check it regularly.

Does Navy Federal use FICO or VantageScore?

Navy Federal uses all three bureaus. They HP EQ FICO 9 when evaluating auto and lines of credit, HP TU FICO 9 for credit card apps, and they SP EX as well.

Does checking my FICO score hurt my credit?

No. The FICO® Score and other credit information we provide will never hurt your credit score. In fact, you can check as often as you like – it will never affect your score. ... We also monitor your Experian credit report and notify you whenever any new credit inquiry or new account is reported.

Is a FICO score of 8 good?

FICO 8 scores range between 300 and 850. A FICO score of at least 700 is considered a good score. There are also industry-specific versions of credit scores that businesses use. For example, the FICO Bankcard Score 8 is the most widely used score when you apply for a new credit card or a credit-limit increase.

How do I get my FICO score without hurting my credit?

Luckily, many financial institutions offer access to your FICO® scores for free.
...
  1. Discover Credit Scorecard. One of the best ways to access your FICO® credit score for free is through Discover Credit Scorecard. ...
  2. American Express® credit cards. ...
  3. Citibank® credit cards. ...
  4. Bank of America. ...
  5. Credit unions. ...
  6. Ally Bank.

What credit score does car dealerships look at?

Most auto lenders use FICO Auto Score 8, as the most widespread, or FICO Auto Score 9. It's the most recent and used by all three bureaus. FICO Auto Score ranges from 250 to 900, meaning your FICO score will differ from your FICO Auto Score.

What is a good FICO score to buy a car?

What Is the Minimum Score Needed to Buy a Car? In general, lenders look for borrowers in the prime range or better, so you will need a score of 661 or higher to qualify for most conventional car loans.

Do car dealers lie about your credit score?

Some dealers rely on the fact that many car shoppers don't know their own credit score. ... All it takes is for the dealer to lie to you about your credit score. After they do a credit check, they don't have to reveal what your score is, they can just tell you that you won't qualify for competitive financing rates.

What credit score do you need to buy a house in 2021?

The Federal Housing Administration, or FHA, requires a credit score of at least 500 to buy a home with an FHA loan. A minimum of 580 is needed to make the minimum down payment of 3.5%. However, many lenders require a score of 620 to 640 to qualify.

Is 700 a good credit score to buy a house?

A conventional mortgage is often best for those with a credit score of 700 or higher. (Generally, the credit score requirement is 620 and above.) Benefits of a conventional loan include: Buy a house with as little as a 3% down payment.

What credit score is needed to buy a house in South Africa?

The minimum credit score for a home loan in South Africa is around 640. A score of 600+ will give you a fair chance of home loan approval - although this may vary according to which bank you use. A score of 670+ is considered an excellent credit score, significantly boosting your chances of home loan approval.