The Latest Version of the FICO Score, and How it Could Affect You

Published 02/14/2020

FICO recently reported its new form of the FICO score, a three-digit number that evaluates an individual's credit uncertainty. The new scoring model will consider consumers' debt levels and will more intently monitor personal advances. Prior scoring models took previews of an individual's payment history. The new model will take a chronicled perspective on payments and can process significantly more data, including account balances for the past two years, expecting to give loan specialists more knowledge into how people are dealing with their credit, FICO said.

Around 80 million people will see a change of 20 points or more. Of those, about half will see scores go up while the other half will see their scores drop. The individuals who have high credit card debt compared to their overall credit, or who have recently missed installments could see a huge drop. While individuals who make timely payments and do not carry high balances will probably recognize a slight increase in their score. With a more in-depth perspective on payments, customers that pay their credit card balances monthly will not be punished as much for large one-time purchases and irregular high balances. However, those who consistently maintain debt will see a drop in their FICO rating. Nonetheless, FICO estimates that an additional 110 million consumers will see only a modest change to score if at all.

The new model targets personal loans, potentially punishing the individuals who use them. Americans are borrowing heavily, as per the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Household debt expanded by $92 billion in the second from the last quarter of 2019 and is currently $13.95 trillion. The typical FICO score rose to 706 in 2019, after bottoming out at 686 in October 2009, as indicated by FICO. The new changes are expected to become effective this summer. Meanwhile, the essentials of keeping up a satisfactory FICO score despite everything apply: pay debts on time, maintain low credit card balances and avoid getting any more credit than you need.

If you have any concerns about the latest updates in the FICO scoring system, please call Darryl Glass via phone (510) 500-7531, or email dglass@adventpropertiesinc.com for further assistance and advice on how to increase your credit score.