A reminder on the wide variance of FICO scoring models.

[BallBounces]

This is not breaking news, but I thought interesting enough to share so that those newer to credit education could see tangible data of just how different the FICO scoring models can be.

January 26, 2025, all scores are TransUnion:

FICO 08:                734

FICO 09:                735

FICO CARD 09:  733

FICO AUTO 08:  720
FICO AUTO 09:  704

FICO SCORE 4:  662

FICO AUTO 4:     586

This is nearly a 150 point difference between the score an individual is most likely to look at, versus the score an auto lender might use.

This is important for several reasons:

Know what your lender is likely to pull.  Know the elements of the scores in order to maximize score utility.  Know when it may not be a good time to seek credit.

Like I said, not new news, but a reminder to those seeking to understand FICO scoring.  For what it is worth, all the new models were pretty close to my FICO AUTO 09 but I did not list them above.

[Thomas_Thumb]

Quite true. The range of Fico scores on some of my 3B reports have been:

Low ... High ... Diff

804 ....900 .... 96

777 .... 900 .... 123

790 ....900 .... 110

764 .... 900 .... 136

743 .... 878 ..... 135

738 .... 834 ..... 96

Low score was typically EQ Fico score 5 or EQ BCE Fico score 5 and high score was usually EX BCE Fico 8.

I found that reporting even small balances on 6 of 6 cards vs 2 of 6 could drop EQ score 5 over 40 points but not drop EX BCE Fico 8 even 1 point. I suspect hose practicing AZE1 may have a tighter 3B score range than those who report non trivial balances on most/all of their cards.

[Zoostation1]

Wow that's huge.  My gap from highest to lowest FICO score is 48pts.  EX Auto 2 is my lowest at 684 and TU Bankcard 9 is my highest at 732.

[BallBounces]

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@Zoostation1 wrote:

Wow that's huge.  My gap from highest to lowest FICO score is 48pts.  EX Auto 2 is my lowest at 684 and TU Bankcard 9 is my highest at 732.

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It is!  And bear in mind, that is all TU data in my example.  The gap is actually larger when you consider TU tends to have lower scores for me.  My highest score on any model from any bureau is actually 750! 

It really illustrates the difference in model methodology, not just data consistency.

[pizzadude]

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@BallBounces wrote:

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@Zoostation1 wrote:

Wow that's huge.  My gap from highest to lowest FICO score is 48pts.  EX Auto 2 is my lowest at 684 and TU Bankcard 9 is my highest at 732.

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It is!  And bear in mind, that is all TU data in my example.  The gap is actually larger when you consider TU tends to have lower scores for me.  My highest score on any model from any bureau is actually 750! 

It really illustrates the difference in model methodology, not just data consistency.

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Also worth pointing out that the max score range for the "industry" FICO scores can go up to 950, another hundred points over the standard scores.

[BallBounces]

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@pizzadude wrote:

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@BallBounces wrote:

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@Zoostation1 wrote:

Wow that's huge.  My gap from highest to lowest FICO score is 48pts.  EX Auto 2 is my lowest at 684 and TU Bankcard 9 is my highest at 732.

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It is!  And bear in mind, that is all TU data in my example.  The gap is actually larger when you consider TU tends to have lower scores for me.  My highest score on any model from any bureau is actually 750! 

It really illustrates the difference in model methodology, not just data consistency.

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Also worth pointing out that the max score range for the "industry" FICO scores can go up to 950, another hundred points over the standard scores.

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Correct!  And yet the industry score is the lowest score by a significant margin!

[Thomas_Thumb]

Industry option scores go from 250-900, not 950.

Bankcard and Auto enhanced versions are derived from the base classic model, 300-850 score range, by adding an overlay scorecard. The overlay has a +/- 50 point range. Thus, the industry enhanced score can be lower or higher.

[pizzadude]

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@Thomas_Thumb wrote:

Industry option scores go from 250-900, not 950.

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Thanks @Thomas_Thumb !  Appreciate the clarification

[Realist]

It's interesting to see the difference in the scoring models that's for sure.  Thanks for sharing this information.  Not to discount the information provided in anyway, but I don't sweat it personally.   When I need a loan, I expect the top tier rate advertised on the website, or in facility.   I know my place, as there was a time and place I had no place for a great rate, many years ago.

[BenConrad]

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The reality is that it's most important in applying for new credit and CLI's to know both which Credit Reporting Agency is being pulled as well as which specific model they will pull! (hard to obtain this info) The spreads are incredible... and the industry overlays completely change the picture.

In my case, with an auto loan--assuming the middle score is used, dependent on which model is used, I'm either tier 2 or tier 4.  

I don't qualify for a conventional mortgage loan, despite my 714 EX, because my middle score is 14 points shy of approval assuming a 620 minimum. 

I will easily be approved for a CC or CLI by any creditor pulling EX only... but surely not approved by any creditor pulling EQ or TU

There is some, but very limited information in the forums on who pulls what and which model is used--and I wish there was more. There needs to be more. I really urge the seniors and other high contributors here to start focusing on these specifics and urging the community to contribute information as it's learned.

Who pulls Auto Score 8--or better who pulls EX and doesn't use a middle score? Is there a mortgage lender that doesn't middle score but pulls only EX? Is there a CC that only pulls EX?

As so many of us have these huge point gaps, these are the answers that I and so many others would find incredibly useful and push this community to the next level as far as approval guidance--which is the missing part of the puzzle, considering the vast amount of knowlege and information in every other aspect of credit information and advice here. 

I look forward to your comments-- xo

Comparing all of my Fico Score Models:

My low: Eq Fico 5 mortgage score 591

My high: Ex Fico 9 Auto score 730

(139 point spread)

Comparing Industry specific:

Mort 5/4/2 score (the only mortgage model)

EQ 591

TU 606

EX 714

(113 point spread -- Mid Score 606)

Auto Score 8

EQ 678

TU 623

EX 730

(107 point spread -- Middle Score 678 )

Auto Score 5,4 & 2

EQ 622

TU 612

EX 694

(83 Point Spread -- Middle Score 622)

Bankcard Score 9

EQ 626

TU 618

EX 698

(80 point spread)

Comparing Fico 8 Score:

EQ 684

TU 666

EX 711

(55 point spread) 

@BallBounces  @Realist  @pizzadude  @Thomas_Thumb  

@BallBounces wrote:

This is not breaking news, but I thought interesting enough to share so that those newer to credit education could see tangible data of just how different the FICO scoring models can be.

January 26, 2025, all scores are TransUnion:

FICO 08:                734

FICO 09:                735

FICO CARD 09:  733

FICO AUTO 08:  720
FICO AUTO 09:  704

FICO SCORE 4:  662

FICO AUTO 4:     586

This is nearly a 150 point difference between the score an individual is most likely to look at, versus the score an auto lender might use.

This is important for several reasons:

Know what your lender is likely to pull.  Know the elements of the scores in order to maximize score utility.  Know when it may not be a good time to seek credit.

Like I said, not new news, but a reminder to those seeking to understand FICO scoring.  For what it is worth, all the new models were pretty close to my FICO AUTO 09 but I did not list them above.

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