Most mortgage lenders use FICO scores, and they look at your credit reports from all three bureaus: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. The versions they use are older, mortgage-specific ones: FICO Score 2 from Experian, FICO Score 5 from Equifax and FICO Score 4 from TransUnion.
For loans sold to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, lenders can now also choose VantageScore 4.0 instead. Either way, the lender pulls all three bureaus and usually uses your middle score.
The three mortgage FICO scores
Each bureau has its own mortgage version of the FICO Score. myFICO lists them as FICO Score 2, 5 and 4. Fannie Mae calls the same set Classic FICO and names each one in its Selling Guide.
| Bureau | Mortgage FICO version | Name in Fannie Mae Selling Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Experian | FICO Score 2 | Experian/Fair Isaac Risk Model V2 |
| Equifax | FICO Score 5 | Equifax Beacon 5.0 |
| TransUnion | FICO Score 4 | TransUnion FICO Risk Score Classic 04 |
These are not the same versions many banks and card apps show. Different models and versions give different numbers, so the score in your banking app may not match what a mortgage lender sees.
Why lenders pull all three bureaus
The CFPB says most mortgage lenders use FICO scores and look at all three bureaus. The combined report is often called a tri-merge.
Your three reports are rarely identical. A late payment or a collection may show up at one bureau and not the others. Pulling all three gives the lender the full picture, and it produces three scores for each borrower.
For Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans, the FHFA still requires the tri-merge. A plan to allow two-bureau reports (bi-merge) has not taken effect and was moved to a date to be determined.
Which of the three scores counts
When a borrower has three scores, Fannie Mae tells the lender to use the middle one. With two scores, the lender uses the lower one.
When two or more people apply together, the lender generally uses the lowest of those scores for the group. Some manually underwritten loans use an average instead.
The VantageScore 4.0 option
For Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans, the lender chooses Classic FICO or VantageScore 4.0 for each loan. The same model must be used for every borrower on that loan. You do not get to pick.
On September 9, 2026, Fannie Mae (Lender Letter LL-2026-06) and Freddie Mac made VantageScore 4.0 available to all approved lenders, with no prior written approval needed. FICO 10T has been approved but is not currently eligible for delivery.
Changing the model does not change the tri-merge. The lender still pulls all three bureaus, per the FHFA implementation FAQ.
What to check before you apply
- 1Get all three credit reports. You can get free weekly reports at AnnualCreditReport.com, the only authorized site.
- 2Compare the three reports line by line. Look for accounts you do not recognize, wrong balances, wrong late payments and name or address variations.
- 3Dispute anything that is wrong with the bureau that reports it.
- 4Ask your lender which score model it plans to use (Classic FICO or VantageScore 4.0) and what minimum it requires.
Checking your own credit report should not hurt your score, according to the CFPB. TRI shows all three bureau scores labeled by model, with your middle score marked.
Common questions
Do mortgage lenders use FICO or VantageScore?
Most use FICO, according to the CFPB. For Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans, lenders may now choose Classic FICO or VantageScore 4.0 for each loan. Ask your lender which one it uses.
Is the score in my banking app the one lenders use?
Not always. Mortgage lenders use FICO Score 2, 5 and 4 (or VantageScore 4.0 for some loans). Your app may show a different model or version, and different versions give different numbers.
Do mortgage lenders check all three bureaus?
Yes, in most cases. The CFPB says most lenders look at all three, and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans still require a tri-merge report.
Which score does the lender use if my three scores are different?
Usually the middle one. With two scores, the lender uses the lower one. If you apply with someone else, the lender generally uses the lowest of the borrowers' scores.
See the scores a lender will see
All three bureaus, each score labeled by model, and the middle score up front.
Get my scoresSources
- myFICO: FICO Score versions
- Fannie Mae Selling Guide B3-5.1-01: General Requirements for Credit Scores
- Fannie Mae Selling Guide B3-5.1-02: Determining the Credit Score for a Mortgage Loan
- CFPB: Does my credit score affect my ability to get a mortgage?
- FHFA: Credit Scores
- Fannie Mae Lender Letter LL-2026-06
- FHFA: VantageScore 4.0 Implementation FAQ
- FTC: Free Credit Reports
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Rules can change; check the linked sources and ask your lender about your situation.
