Equifax Reports Accelerated Adoption of VantageScore® 4.0 Across the Mortgage Industry

More than 165 lenders exclusively use VantageScore 4.0 at the $1 price for certain types of loans.

Rhea-AI Summary

Equifax (EFX) reported that nearly 2,000 mortgage lenders used its free VantageScore 4.0 credit score offer with paid legacy scores. Participation covered April through September 2026, while VantageScore 4.0 mortgage scores pulled increased 230% between April and August 2026. Adoption follows Federal Housing Finance Agency approval for use in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgages.

Equifax is maintaining $1 mortgage credit score pricing through the end of 2028. The company sees potential savings of $1 billion for the industry and consumers from differences among score providers. More than 165 lenders exclusively use VantageScore 4.0 for certain loan types at that price. Equifax also supplies telephone, pay TV and utility payment data and an indicator of employment-data availability alongside mortgage credit reports at no additional cost.

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Hollow bars mark forward-looking points. How the balance works

Positive

• Moderate pointVantageScore 4.0 mortgage scores pulled increased 230% between April and August 2026.
• Moderate pointFHFA approval permits VantageScore 4.0 use in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgages.
• Minor pointNearly 2,000 lenders used free VantageScore 4.0 scores with paid legacy scores from April through September 2026.
• Minor pointMore than 165 lenders exclusively use VantageScore 4.0 at $1 for certain loan types.
• Minor point. Forward-looking: it has not happened yet and may not happen.$1 mortgage credit score pricing maintained through the end of 2028 to expand adoption.

Negative

• None.

Key Figures

Lenders using the offer: Nearly 2,000 lenders and resellers Exclusive users: More than 165 lenders Score pricing: $1 +4 more

Lenders using the offer

Nearly 2,000 lenders and resellers

Free VantageScore 4.0 scores with paid legacy scores

Exclusive users

More than 165 lenders

Exclusively using VantageScore 4.0 at the $1 price for certain loan types

Score pricing

$1

Mortgage credit score pricing maintained through the end of 2028

Potential industry cost savings

$1 billion

Potential savings for the industry and consumers from score-provider cost differences

Increase in scores pulled

230%

Mortgage VantageScore 4.0 scores pulled between April 2026 and August 2026

Trended data period

Up to 24 months

Data used by VantageScore 4.0

Potential lift in originations

20%

Lift the model can deliver, according to the article

Key Terms

fair credit reporting act (fcra), trended data

2 terms

fair credit reporting act (fcra) regulatory

"Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) governed alternative data"

A U.S. federal law that governs how consumer reporting agencies collect, maintain and share information used for credit, employment, insurance and certain other decisions. It gives people the right to see the consumer reports about them, to dispute and correct inaccurate or incomplete information, and requires firms that use those reports to have a permissible purpose and to notify consumers if adverse action is taken based on a report; it also sets limits on how long certain negative items can be reported and creates private and government enforcement remedies for violations.

trended data technical

"utilizes up to 24 months of trended data"

Trended data is a sequence of numbers or measurements collected over time and arranged to reveal patterns, direction and changes rather than isolated snapshots. Think of it like following a person’s weekly weight on a chart: seeing the trend helps separate short-lived blips from sustained movement. For investors, trended data clarifies performance momentum, highlights recurring cycles or risks, and supports better forecasting and valuation decisions.

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Nearly 2,000 Mortgage Lenders Implementing Modern, Alternative Data-Driven Scoring Model; Equifax Extends $1 VantageScore 4.0 Pricing through the End of 2028 to Drive Industry Adoption, Homeownership Affordability, and Cost Savings

• Nearly 2,000 mortgage lenders and resellers are taking advantage of the Equifax offer of free VantageScore® 4.0 credit scores with paid legacy scores, and more than 165 lenders are exclusively using VantageScore 4.0 at the $1 price for certain types of loans.
• Equifax maintains $1 VantageScore 4.0 mortgage credit score pricing through the end of 2028 to expand industry adoption, reduce loan acquisition costs, and drive potential $1 billion in industry cost savings.
• Equifax continues to enhance the value of mortgage solutions by delivering The Work Number® Report Indicator and additional alternative data including telco, pay TV and utilities attributes alongside the Equifax mortgage credit report at no additional cost.

ATLANTA, Oct. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Equifax® (NYSE: EFX) today announced a significant milestone in mortgage scoring modernization, with nearly 2,000 lenders taking advantage of free VantageScore® 4.0 credit scores with paid legacy scores from April 2026 through September 2026, including a 230% increase in VantageScore 4.0 credit scores pulled between April 2026 and August 2026 for mortgages. This accelerated mortgage lender adoption follows Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) approval of VantageScore 4.0 for use in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgages. Mortgage lenders are rapidly embracing this modern scoring model and Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) governed alternative data not included in traditional credit reports to expand access to credit and drive housing affordability for millions of Americans.

"Our AI technology helps borrowers see their best loan options in minutes. With lenders now able to choose their credit score model, we added VantageScore 4.0 as one of the scoring models we use, giving us more flexibility in how we evaluate applicants, while keeping the experience quick and easy," said Magesh Sarma, Chief Operating Officer, AmeriSave Mortgage Corporation.

Equifax is maintaining $1 VantageScore 4.0 mortgage credit score pricing through the end of 2028 to expand adoption, reduce loan acquisition costs, and drive a potential $1 billion in cost savings for the industry and consumers from the cost difference among score providers.

"The landmark decision by FHFA Director William Pulte and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner to open VantageScore 4.0 for use across both conventional and FHA-insured loans has advanced homebuying into a new era of credit scoring competition that drives greater performance and cost savings for both lenders and consumers," said Mark W. Begor, CEO of Equifax. "We are seeing strong momentum across the mortgage sector as lenders rapidly adopt VantageScore 4.0 to drive better decisioning and expand access to credit."

More data drives better decisions
VantageScore 4.0 utilizes up to 24 months of trended data and incorporates alternative data, such as rental, utility, and telco payment histories, providing lenders with a more comprehensive view of borrower creditworthiness without adding additional risk. The model provides deeper financial insights that can deliver a 20% lift in originations and generate credit scores for consumers with thin credit files.

"The strong industry adoption has been driven by years of preparation by our teams to ensure that VantageScore 4.0 could be accessible to all lenders, allowing them to effectively test and evaluate the score through their processes," said Joel Rickman, General Manager and SVP of U.S. Mortgage and Verification Services at Equifax. "Equifax is deeply committed to supporting the mortgage industry and the consumers we serve, especially as we navigate the most difficult mortgage market in decades. We view our role in expanding homeownership as a vital responsibility while delivering significant savings to consumers and the mortgage industry."

Equifax remains the only Nationwide Consumer Reporting Agency to provide alternative data insights - such as payment histories for telco, pay TV, and utilities - alongside tri-merge consumer credit reports for the mortgage market at no additional cost to lenders. Equifax also empowers lenders with early access to an employment indicator through its suite of The Work Number® Report Indicator solutions at no additional cost including:

• The Work Number® Report Indicator for Mortgage: Streamlines underwriting workflows by providing an indicator of whether data from The Work Number is available on the applicant

For more information about Equifax mortgage solutions and VantageScore 4.0, please visit our website.

ABOUT EQUIFAX INC.
At Equifax (NYSE: EFX), we believe knowledge drives progress. As a global data, analytics, and technology company, we play an essential role in the global economy by helping financial institutions, companies, employers, and government agencies make critical decisions with greater confidence. Our unique blend of differentiated data, analytics, and cloud technology drives insights to power decisions to move people forward. Headquartered in Atlanta and supported by nearly 15,000 employees worldwide, Equifax operates or has investments in 24 countries in North America, Central and South America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific region. For more information, visit Equifax.com. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Tiffany Smith for Equifax 
mediainquiries@equifax.com 

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SOURCE Equifax Inc.

FAQ

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How much has Equifax's VantageScore 4.0 mortgage adoption increased?

VantageScore 4.0 mortgage credit scores pulled increased 230% between April and August 2026. Nearly 2,000 lenders used Equifax's offer of free VantageScore 4.0 scores with paid legacy scores from April through September 2026.

How long will Equifax offer $1 VantageScore 4.0 mortgage credit scores?

Equifax is maintaining $1 VantageScore 4.0 mortgage credit score pricing through the end of 2028. The company aims to expand adoption and reduce loan acquisition costs, with potential savings of $1 billion for the industry and consumers from differences among score providers.