Do Lenders Use FICO (Fair Isaac) Or VantageScore?

Lenders typically check the FICO score. Most banks, mortgage lenders, auto financiers, and credit‑card issuers default to a FICO score because it's the industry standard and required by entities such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac; they pull the score from the bureau they query, for example a FICO scoring model used by major banks.

Some lenders, especially online‑only banks, fintech credit platforms, and student‑loan refinancers, may use VantageScore instead. These institutions often rely on VantageScore because it's freely available from the three bureaus and is common in pre‑qualification tools; a typical example is a VantageScore model used by fintech lenders.

Lenders usually disclose which model they run, so you can infer the score before they pull your file.

1. Visit the lender's website or loan‑application portal. Look for a 'Credit score model' note in the FAQ, disclosures, or underwriting guidelines.
2. Read the credit‑pull notice you receive via email or mail. It often states 'FICO® Score 8' or 'VantageScore 3.0' because the notice must tell you which score was requested.
3. Consider the loan type. Mortgage and auto lenders almost always use a FICO score, while some personal‑loan fintechs and newer credit‑card issuers lean toward VantageScore.
4. Check the lender's size and affiliation. Large banks and credit unions typically run FICO, whereas smaller online lenders and credit‑union fintech partners often employ VantageScore.
5. Call the lender's customer‑service line and ask directly, citing the specific product you're applying for. A brief conversation usually confirms the model they will use.
6. If you have a pre‑approval offer, examine the accompanying documentation. It normally lists the score model that generated the approval.
7. Cross‑reference with the upcoming section '5 lender types and the score models they typically use' for quick reference on common patterns.

Follow these steps and you'll know which credit score a lender will check before the hard inquiry hits your report.

• Large national banks - typically pull the latest FICO score (e.g., FICO 10) for mortgages, auto loans and credit cards.
• Credit unions - most often use FICO 9 or a custom FICO model; some smaller unions prefer VantageScore 4.0 for newer credit‑card products.
• Online direct lenders - generally rely on VantageScore 4.0 for personal loans and balance‑transfer cards; they may switch to FICO 8 for higher‑ticket items.
• Mortgage brokers - almost always request the FICO score versions required by the loan program (FICO 2, 4, 5 for conventional, FHA, VA).
• Auto‑finance companies - primarily use FICO 5, 6 or 8 for new‑car financing; they sometimes accept VantageScore 3.0 for subprime leases.

FICO scores dominate mortgage and auto lending because the largest investors, insurers and loan‑origination systems require them.

• GSE mandates - Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac accept only FICO scores for most conventional mortgages, so banks and mortgage brokers default to FICO (Fannie Mae's credit score policy).
• Industry‑specific models - Auto financiers such as Ally, Capital One and GM Financial have built underwriting algorithms around the FICO Auto Score, which captures vehicle‑loan risk better than generic models.
• Granular risk tiers - FICO provides 4‑digit and industry‑specific versions, letting lenders price interest rates with fine‑tuned buckets.
• Regulatory comfort - Regulators and auditors are accustomed to FICO's methodology, making compliance reviews smoother.
• Legacy infrastructure - Credit bureaus, loan‑origination software and risk‑management platforms were designed for FICO, so switching costs are high.

Because of these factors, borrowers seeking a mortgage or car loan will almost always encounter a FICO score, which explains why later we discuss the few scenarios where a lender might still opt for VantageScore.

Credit card issuers typically begin with a FICO score - most often FICO Score 8 or the newer FICO Score 9 - because those versions are the industry's default and are supplied by all three bureaus (FICO Score 8 overview).

A smaller group of issuers, such as Capital One and Discover, sometimes use VantageScore 3.0 for entry‑level or promotional cards; even then they combine the score with internal metrics like utilization, payment history, and recent inquiries, which leads into the next discussion on when a lender might choose VantageScore over FICO.

Lenders choose VantageScore when they need a single, bureau‑agnostic number that can be produced for thin or newer credit files and when they have a licensing agreement with VantageScore Solutions, LLC.

Small banks, credit unions, and niche online lenders - such as rent‑to‑own platforms - often favor VantageScore because it generates a score after as little as one month of reporting and may carry lower licensing fees. These lenders typically offer low‑balance, quick‑approval products where speed and coverage matter more than the traditional FICO pedigree.

Most large‑scale lenders - mortgage banks, auto financiers, and fintech leaders like Upstart or LendingClub - still rely on FICO scores, so VantageScore usage remains confined to lenders whose risk models are built around its algorithm or who value its ability to score consumers with limited histories. For licensing specifics, see VantageScore licensing details.

Lenders see the exact score that comes from the credit bureau they query, so three different bureaus can produce three different numbers for the same FICO score or VantageScore.

When a lender requests a score they usually specify a bureau, and the result varies because each bureau's file can differ in:

• reported balances (one bureau may have a newer credit‑card statement, another an older one)
• missed‑payment dates (a 30‑day delinquency might appear on one report but not yet on another)
• public‑record updates (bankruptcies, tax liens) that some bureaus have processed earlier

If a lender pulls all three reports, they often take the middle score, the lowest score, or a weighted average, which can shift the number you see on your application.

Understanding which bureau a lender uses - covered earlier when we predicted lender score choice - helps you anticipate the score they'll see and prepares you for the next section on how your credit actions affect FICO versus VantageScore differently.

FICO and VantageScore weigh the same five credit‑building factors, but they assign different sensitivities to each action.

A single late payment drops a VantageScore faster than a FICO score, because VantageScore flags 30‑day delinquencies within weeks, while FICO often waits 60‑90 days before penalizing. Utilization above 30 % can shave 20‑30 points off a VantageScore instantly; FICO usually requires a sustained high ratio before a similar hit. Length of credit history matters more to FICO - new accounts erode the score longer - whereas VantageScore gives modest credit to accounts older than five years. Hard inquiries within a 45‑day window count as one inquiry on VantageScore, but FICO treats each 14‑day cluster separately, so multiple recent applications hurt FICO more. Paid collection accounts remain on VantageScore for up to seven years, still affecting the score, while FICO often removes them after they're marked paid.

Lastly, credit‑mix contributes up to 10 % of a VantageScore but up to 20 % of a FICO score, so adding a mortgage helps FICO more than VantageScore.

Small banks and credit unions pick the credit model that aligns with their underwriting guidelines, licensing costs, and data‑feed agreements; they usually run the FICO score because it integrates with legacy loan‑approval systems, but they may switch to a VantageScore when a lower‑cost license or a fintech partnership makes that model a better fit for a specific product.

Decision factors include (1) the expense of the score license, (2) how the score's risk parameters match the institution's loss‑history data, and (3) which bureau delivers the most timely reports for the loan type.

For example, a community bank that originates mortgages will almost always use the FICO score, echoing the earlier discussion on why FICO dominates mortgages and auto loans, whereas a credit union offering a rapid‑approval personal loan through a fintech platform often relies on the VantageScore because the platform only supports that model.

This practice ties directly into the 'what to do when a lender checks a different score than you' section that follows. (FICO's official score model guide)

If a lender pulls a score you didn't expect, immediately request the exact model used, compare it to the score you track, and correct any mismatch before the decision finalizes. This situation often follows the variations described in 'how to predict which score a specific lender will use' and may affect the next steps in 'how multiple credit bureaus change the score lenders see for you'.

• Ask the lender for a copy of the credit report and the specific FICO score or VantageScore version they accessed.
• Pull your own report from the same bureau and locate the matching score model to see the true gap.
• If the pulled score is lower, inquire whether the lender will consider your higher FICO score (or VantageScore) as a supplement and provide the relevant printout.
• Check for errors on the report (misattributed accounts, outdated balances) and dispute them with the bureau; a corrected report can raise the pulled score.
• If the lender remains firm on the lower score, shop other lenders who rely on the model where you perform better, as discussed in 'what credit card issuers actually prefer when approving you'.