The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today issued a Request for Input (RFI) to obtain feedback about the operational and competition considerations of changing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s (the Enterprises) current credit score requirements. The credit scores being evaluated by FHFA and the Enterprises are Classic FICO, FICO 9 and VantageScore 3.0. The Enterprises currently use Classic FICO for product eligibility, loan pricing, and financial disclosure purposes. In addition, the Enterprises have recently implemented changes that allow their automated underwriting systems to evaluate borrowers who do not have a Classic FICO credit score.
The RFI provides background information about how credit scores are used by the Enterprises and the mortgage industry, about the credit score models that FHFA and the Enterprises are evaluating, and about the credit score model options under consideration by FHFA. The RFI also provides a discussion of operational and competition considerations in making a decision about the Enterprises’ credit score requirements.
“In issuing this RFI, FHFA hopes to obtain honest and reliable information and stakeholder feedback on the operational and competition aspects of changing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s credit score requirements,” said FHFA Director Melvin L. Watt. “Responses to the RFI will provide important details on the complexities of this decision, which is why I encourage stakeholders to respond in the most meaningful way possible.”
Input to the RFI should be submitted electronically (select “credit score” in pull down) or via mail by February 20, 2018 to the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Office of Housing and Regulatory Policy, 400 7th Street, S.W., 9th floor, Washington, D.C., 20219.