FICO Releases Alternative Credit Pilot Program

Fair Issac Corp. (FICO) in partnership with LexisNexis Risk Solutions, and Equifax announced Thursday a pilot program is in the works that will allow people who have difficulty getting approved for financing, creditworthy. The Fico pilot program allows 12 of the largest credit card issuers in the United States to use alternative data to identify creditworthy individuals who would otherwise be unlikely to obtain traditional credit.

After extensive research, data scientists from FICO found that info such as property records, telecommunications, and utility information can be used as reliable sources to score 15 million consumers who do not have enough credit data to generate FICO score. By using this alternative data from LexisNexis and Equifax, FICO will give card issuers a FICO score that complies with relevant regulations that they can use to extend credit responsibly to millions of additional people.

"Working with Equifax and LexisNexis, we set out to help unbanked, under-banked and disadvantaged people gain equal access to the standard credit products enjoyed by millions of Americans," said Jim Wehmann, FICO’s EVP for Scores. "We’re excited by our pilot program’s strong results thus far. FICO’s focus is on expanding access to credit; not simply scoring more people. Our approach also addresses a paradox for people seeking their first traditional credit product – you often need a credit history before you can get traditional credit."

The data used in FICO’s pilot program includes telecommunications and utility bills from Equifax as well as property and public records from LexisNexis.  This new FICO Score is engineered to work alongside existing FICO® Scores. Card issuers will be able to use the alternative score without having to "rip and replace" existing systems, significantly lowering the cost and accelerating time to market.

"Card issuers are seeking opportunities to safely expand access to credit based on new data sources that are reliable, compliant and predictive and we have received an incredible response to this pilot program," said Rick Trainor, CEO, LexisNexis Risk Solutions, Business Services.  "LexisNexis data, which the financial services industry has trusted for more than 40 years, provides additional insights about creditworthiness that can help bring millions of consumers into the financial mainstream."

Creditworthiness has been a big obstacle for many consumers looking to buy a home. This week HUD Secretary Julian Castro said the FHA is exploring alternative credit options to help mortgage borrowers.

"FHA's work alone will not solve all the industry's challenges, which is why I appreciate this focus today on out-of-the-box thinking," he said. "I know that new credit scoring models are being developed so that non-traditional factors can be considered when determining creditworthiness."