Which FICO (Fair Isaac Corporation) Score Do Lenders Use?

Most lenders read the FICO Score 8 that appears on the tri‑merge credit report they pull; that's the number they use to decide loan eligibility and pricing for everyday credit products. When a lender belongs to a regulated industry, they swap in the model they're licensed for - mortgage banks use FICO 2, 4, or 5, auto financiers use FICO Auto 2/4/5, and many credit‑card issuers compare the middle of the three FICO scores on the report.

Because the tri‑merge contains all three consumer scores, a bank underwriting a personal loan will look at the Score 8, while a mortgage officer will pull the mortgage‑specific version, and an auto dealer will run the Auto model. The next sections break down how each sector chooses among these scores and why the 'middle' score often wins for credit‑card approvals.

Most lenders request a tri‑merge credit report because it gives them a complete, cross‑checked view of a borrower's credit history.

A tri‑merge credit report bundles the three major consumer bureaus - Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion - into one file. It shows the same account on all three pulls, flags discrepancies, and reveals any gaps a single‑bureau report might miss. Lenders use it to verify identity, confirm the accuracy of debts, and assess overall risk with the fullest data set available.

Mortgage lenders typically pull a tri‑merge to calculate industry‑specific models such as mortgage FICO 2, 4, or 5 before issuing a pre‑approval. Auto lenders often rely on the same three‑bureau snapshot to generate a FICO Score 8, which drives their financing terms. Credit card issuers frequently request a tri‑merge for risk‑based pricing, using the combined data to decide which of your three FICO scores to apply.

For example, many banks require a tri‑merge for their home‑loan pipelines, while a popular online auto lender lists a tri‑merge pull as a condition for competitive APRs. FICO Score 8 overview demonstrates how the same tri‑merge feed can feed multiple industry‑specific models.

Lenders disclose the exact FICO model they use in their paperwork, direct communications, or the tri‑merge credit report they provide.

1. Ask the lender outright - Call or email the loan officer and request the specific FICO version (e.g., FICO Score 8, mortgage FICO 2, auto FICO 4). Most lenders will state it when asked.
2. Scrutinize the loan documents - Pre‑approval letters, rate‑lock agreements, and closing disclosures often list the score model in the 'Credit Score' line. Look for language such as 'based on FICO Score 8' or 'using mortgage FICO 5.'
3. Request a copy of the tri‑merge credit report - The report the lender pulls includes a field that identifies the scoring model applied to your file. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act you can ask for this report after a hard pull.
4. Check the lender's website or FAQs - Mortgage banks, auto financiers, and credit‑card issuers frequently publish the FICO version they employ for underwriting. A quick search for 'FICO model' on the site usually yields the answer.
5. Use a specialized guide - The Credit People's FICO model guide aggregates the most common models by loan type and can confirm which version 'most lenders' in a given sector typically use.

Most mortgage lenders look at the mortgage‑specific FICO models on the tri‑merge credit report.

• FICO Score 2 (formerly 'FICO 04') - the default for conventional, FHA, VA, and USDA loans; used by the majority of lenders.
• FICO Score 5 (formerly 'FICO 03') - gaining traction because it captures newer credit‑card activity and often yields a higher score for the same file.
• FICO Score 4 (formerly 'FICO 02') - still employed by some lenders on legacy or portfolio loans, especially when older credit data dominates.
• Automated underwriting systems (e.g., Fannie Mae's Desktop Underwriter) automatically select the appropriate mortgage‑specific model based on the loan program, so borrowers don't need to know which one is used.

For a deeper dive on each model, see FICO's mortgage score overview.

Auto lenders pull the tri‑merge credit report and run the FICO Auto Score (most commonly FICO Auto Score 5 or the newer FICO Auto Score 8) to decide whether to approve you and what rate to offer.

This industry‑specific model looks at the same 10 major factors as FICO Score 8 but weights recent auto‑related activity - such as past auto loans, lease payments, and the length of time you've held a vehicle - more heavily, so lenders get a clearer picture of your car‑payment risk.

• Model used - most lenders apply FICO Auto Score 5; a growing few have switched to FICO Auto Score 8 for its updated predictive power.
• Why it matters - the Auto Score isolates vehicle‑payment behavior, allowing lenders to price loans tighter than they would using the generic FICO Score 8 alone.
• Typical cutoffs - scores 660 and above usually qualify for standard rates; 600‑659 may still get approved but at higher APRs; below 600 often results in denial or a subprime product.
• Impact on you - a recent auto loan or lease can boost your Auto Score even if your overall FICO Score 8 is modest, while a missed car payment drags both scores down.
• Source - FICO's official Auto Score overview.

Credit‑card issuers pull a tri‑merge credit report that contains three FICO Score 8 values - one from each bureau - and most of them base both approval and rate‑setting on the middle (median) score.

Capital One confirms it uses the median score for underwriting, and American Express follows the same practice, applying that middle value to decide whether to extend a card and to place the applicant in an APR band (Capital One underwriting uses median FICO Score 8, American Express relies on median FICO Score 8).

A minority of issuers adjust the rule for high‑risk products: they may look at the lowest bureau score to protect against out‑liers, especially for subprime or secured cards. Even then, the median score still serves as the default reference; the lowest score only triggers a tighter offer or a higher APR, not a complete denial in most cases. This nuance explains why a borrower can see different APR tiers across cards while the underlying decision still hinges on the middle FICO Score 8 from the tri‑merge file.

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• Quicken Loans (Rocket Mortgage)  -  most mortgage lenders, including Quicken, request a tri‑merge report and apply the 'FICO 2/4/5' model; they usually take the middle score of Experian FICO 2, Equifax FICO 4, and TransUnion FICO 5 to set rates.
• Wells Fargo Mortgage  -  uses the same FICO 2/4/5 tri‑merge approach, but for FHA loans they may weight the TransUnion FICO 5 more heavily, while conventional loans often rely on the middle score.
• Capital One Auto Finance  -  commonly pulls the industry‑wide FICO Score 8 from the tri‑merge file and bases loan approval and APR on that single score.
• CarMax Auto Finance  -  typically uses the Experian‑based FICO Auto Score 2, which emphasizes recent auto‑payment behavior rather than the general FICO Score 8.
• Chase Credit Cards  -  generally checks the highest of your three FICO Score 8 values (one from each bureau) and uses that number to decide approval and credit limit.
• Citi Premier Card  -  commonly looks at the FICO Score 9 when you have a strong credit file, but most Citi cards still default to the highest FICO Score 8 across the tri‑merge report.

Preapproval uses a soft pull or a preliminary tri‑merge credit report that typically shows the same FICO Score 8 (or the industry‑specific model a lender has disclosed) the borrower had at the time of request. Final approval triggers a hard pull, pulls a fresh tri‑merge report, and may let the lender look at a different model - most mortgage lenders switch from mortgage FICO 2 for preapproval to mortgage FICO 5 for the closing, for example - so the score can shift by a few points and affect loan terms.

Because the preapproval score reflects a snapshot taken days or weeks earlier, lenders treat it as an indicator, not a guarantee. When the final approval score arrives, lenders re‑evaluate the application against the same thresholds they used for preapproval; a drop below those thresholds can cause a denial or a higher rate. This is why the next section on soft pull versus hard pull impact on the FICO lenders see matters for understanding how score changes can alter your loan outcome.

A soft pull shows lenders a 'view‑only' version of your FICO Score 8 that does not create a credit inquiry, while a hard pull delivers the same score but records an inquiry that can lower the score by one to five points for up to a year.

When lenders evaluate a tri‑merge credit report, the pull type influences three practical outcomes:

• Score visibility - soft pulls reveal the current score without the inquiry flag; hard pulls reveal the same score plus the inquiry.
• Score change - hard pulls may drop the score modestly, affecting eligibility for the best rates.
• Future applications - multiple hard pulls within a short window can compound score reductions, whereas soft pulls have no cumulative effect.

Most lenders rely on the hard‑pull FICO Score 8 (or the appropriate industry‑specific model such as mortgage FICO 5) for final underwriting, so a soft pull is useful only for prequalification or personal monitoring; the hard pull determines the rate you actually receive. Understanding credit inquiries and their impact

Lenders slice borrowers into bands, then attach the most favorable APR to the highest band and progressively higher rates to lower bands.

• 740 + - excellent. Most mortgage lenders using mortgage FICO 2/4/5 grant the lowest rate spread; auto financiers and credit‑card issuers often offer their 'best‑price' or 0 % introductory APR.
• 720‑739 - very good. Mortgage rates rise 0.125‑0.250 percentage points above the best‑price tier; auto rates stay within the 'prime' range; credit‑card rewards remain generous but introductory offers may be shorter.
• 680‑719 - good. Mortgage borrowers receive the 'average' rate tier; auto loans see a modest markup; credit‑card issuers typically issue cards with standard APR and modest rewards.
• 620‑679 - fair. Mortgage lenders may require a higher down payment or add points; auto lenders charge 0.5‑1 percentage point above prime; credit‑card issuers often apply a higher variable APR and limit credit limits.
• Below 620 - subprime. Mortgage approvals become rare unless a large cash‑down is present; auto loans carry steep markups and may need a co‑signer; credit‑card offers are limited to secured cards or very high APRs.

These bands reflect the FICO scores most lenders pull from the tri‑merge credit report and align with industry‑specific models. The next section explains how thin or mixed credit files fit into these thresholds.

When you have a thin or mixed credit file, most lenders request a tri‑merge credit report and evaluate the FICO Score 8 each bureau can calculate, even if only one or two tradelines exist. FICO Score 8 details show it can still produce a number with limited data, though the score may be lower than for a robust file.

If the FICO 8 output is unavailable or unusually low, lenders typically fall back to industry‑specific models that tolerate sparse histories - mortgage FICO 2, 4, or 5 for home loans, and FICO 9 or the FICO Banking Score for credit‑card applications. These models often apply higher score thresholds because they weigh the few existing accounts more conservatively.

Because the three bureau scores can differ, most lenders take the middle or lowest number from the tri‑merge set, and they may ask for supplemental data such as utility or rent payments to enrich the file before issuing a final decision. This practice sets the stage for how co‑signers, authorized users, or business credit can further influence the score used.

Most lenders pull the same FICO version for every applicant, e.g., FICO 8 for a credit‑card loan or FICO 2/4/5 for a mortgage, and evaluate each score independently; a co‑signer does not create a blended score but adds a separate credit file that the lender checks, so a strong co‑signer can satisfy the lender's cut‑off even if the primary's score is lower. Adding someone as an authorized user improves the primary's FICO 8 (or the relevant industry‑specific score) because the account history flows onto the primary's tri‑merge report, but the authorized user's own score that a lender might pull remains based on that user's personal file, not on the primary's history.

Business credit operates outside the personal FICO system, lenders may request a D‑U‑N‑S or Experian Business report for a commercial loan, yet if the loan requires a personal guarantee they still pull the applicant's personal FICO (same version as used for consumer loans) and treat it separately from any business score, so co‑signers, authorized users, and business credit affect the decision‑making process without changing which FICO model the lender uses for each individual's credit pull.