Pulte plans credit score move as legislators back tri-merge

Bill Pulte, a key housing regulator, is poised to do something about high costs associated with credit metrics as two key legislators steer him away from one related move his predecessor considered.

"Still not happy with FICO. We should be making some decisions on all related items in next 1-3 weeks," Pulte said in an X post Tuesday morning responding to an originator's concern about scores. This post echoed his earlier statements about credit expenses expressed online and at a recent industry conference.

The statement suggests Pulte, who is the conservator and regulator of influential loan buyers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and a board member for both entities, is looking for a way to adjust their requirements to promote efficiencies as they explore credit-modernization. 

What industry group CHLA proposes on credit scoring

The Community Home Lenders of America applauded Pulte's comments and recommended he take the following steps to rein in FICO's surging pricing in response to his post.

• Establish a task force to review the issue
• Freeze current pricing and ban further increases
• Accelerate plans to allow use of competitor Vantagescore  
• Mandate release of historical FICO data for comparisons to other scores
• Make references to required scores generic rather than specific to FICO or Fair Isaac
• Direct the GSEs to create more competition via new units that measure creditworthiness

FICO "has a clear monopoly position in the U.S. mortgage market for credit scores," the group said in a letter to the GSEs' regulator and conservator.

"In a normal product marketplace, prices are set not by any individuals, but rather among an uncountable number of buyers and sellers," the CHLA said.

Fannie and Freddie have been working with FICO to negotiate the release of historic data in line with their credit modernization effort, which would put a more advanced model from that company in competition with one Vantagescore has.

Why some legislators don't want to reduce number of credit reports used

Score provider FICO has said in the past that its costs are a small part of the larger amount charged for credit reporting by three bureaus.

Some legislators also have recently shown renewed concern about score costs. But one thing eight of them want is to avoid a reduction in the number of credit reports pulled, which was considered during the Biden era.

Eight legislators sent a letter to Pulte Friday calling for him to preserve the requirement that lenders merge three credit reports when they submit loans to the enterprises rather than introducing an option to use two, which his predecessor Sandra Thompson said was "expected to reduce costs."

Thompson had said research showed this could be done "without introducing additional risk to the enterprises," but the eight Republican legislators' letter took issue with this assertion.

"Under the previous administration, the agency has failed to solicit feedback and has disregarded requests to pursue such a significant change through a formal rulemaking process," the legislators said.

Reps. Scott Fitzgerald, R-Wis.; Mike Flood, R-Neb.; Bill Huizenga, R-Mich.; Dan Mueser, R-Pa.; Barry Loudermilk, R-Ga.; Young Kim, R-Calif.; Troy Downing, R-Mont.; and Tim Moore, R-N.C., signed the letter.

Why it could matter in an exit from conservatorship

The three-report requirement is particularly important given the interest President Trump recently showed in exploring privatization of Fannie and Freddie as a potential source of revenue for the government, according to the legislators.

"Maintaining the tri-merge framework will help to ensure that both Fannie and Freddie's balance sheets are sound and the housing market is secure, paving the way for smooth and lasting transition from conservatorship," the congressmen said.

Studies of whether a two-report option would be risky are mixed. A Standard & Poor's study found scores are similar whether from two or three bureaus, but Transunion said it could make several thousand dollars difference over the life of a loan and has suggested alternatives.

"The tri-merge credit report reflects the most accurate picture of a consumer's creditworthiness and is an essential driver of safety and soundness in the mortgage ecosystem," Transunion said in a statement released Monday.

Dan Smith, president and CEO of the Consumer Data Industry Association said in a separate statement on the value of the tri-merge that it plays a role in lowering mortgage rates and "ultimately consumer credit reports represent a very small portion of overall closing costs."