VantageScore® 4.0: Qualify More Borrowers
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At AD Mortgage, we understand that no single credit score tells a borrower’s whole story. We want more of your clients to reach the finish line on their path to homeownership. That’s why, from now on, our partners can originate and deliver eligible Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans with VantageScore® 4.0, a second credit model alongside Classic FICO.
FICO and VantageScore 4.0 run on different algorithms, so the stronger score changes from file to file. Partners have the flexibility to choose the score that best benefits the borrower. For example, if a borrower has a 680 FICO and a 720 VantageScore 4.0, partners can use the 720 on an eligible loan.
What is VantageScore 4.0?
VantageScore 4.0 comes from a joint effort by Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. The three bureaus launched it in 2017 to offer lenders a fuller view of how consumers manage credit over time. Like Classic FICO, it scores on 300-850 range.
How VantageScore 4.0 Differs from FICO
Category Classic FICO VantageScore 4.0 Data used Classic FICO relies on a snapshot of credit utilization at one point in time VantageScore 4.0 tracks trended data, showing how balances move over months, and factors in alternative data such as rent and utility payments Thin-file borrowers Per myFICO, a borrower needs at least one account open and reporting for six months to generate a score Per VantageScore, the 4.0 model can score borrowers with as little as one month of credit history
This comparison measures VantageScore 4.0 against the Classic FICO scores, active in today’s agency guidelines. As of October 2026, FICO 10T isn’t eligible for delivery yet.
More Ways to Qualify Your Borrowers
Under Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac guidelines partners can now originate and deliver eligible loans with VantageScore 4.0. This model runs on a different algorithm than FICO, so the math lands differently for every borrower.
AD Mortgage’s own broker research shows how often credit sits behind a qualification problem. In a 2026 survey of more than 250 partners, 8% of loans that moved from agency execution did so because of credit limitations. A second scoring model can keep some of those files in the agency space.
Keep in mind that VantageScore 4.0 sits alongside FICO. You can run the numbers both ways and use whichever model puts the borrower in the best position for financing.
‘No two borrowers score the same way twice. Adding VantageScore 4.0 alongside FICO means our partners have more paths to a ‘yes’,’ – shares Michael Pearson, Chief Success Officer at AD Mortgage.
How to Use VantageScore 4.0
- In the AIM Partner Portal, create the loan and complete the 1003 application.
- On the Product page, choose Classic FICO or VantageScore 4.0 from the Credit Score Model dropdown. VantageScore 4.0 is available for Conventional loans only.
- Run the Automated Underwriting System (AUS). AIM shows the highest-scoring model based on the scores pulled.
- Switch models anytime before the loan reaches Conditional Approval. After that, the selection locks.
Getting Started with VantageScore 4.0
More ways to qualify a borrower mean more files that close. VantageScore 4.0 is live today for eligible Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans. Pull it alongside FICO on your next file and see which model works best for your borrower.
EXPLORE VANTAGESCORE 4.0
Conventional loans only, underwritten through Fannie Mae’s DU or Freddie Mac’s LPA. No. The mortgage uses one model for every borrower on the file. No. Classic FICO stays available, and VantageScore 4.0 adds a second option. You can pull both. AIM flags the stronger score by default, and the partner makes the final call. Yes. Request it from all three bureaus at the time of the pull if you plan to use it.
FAQ: VantageScore 4.0
Which loans qualify for VantageScore 4.0?
Can one borrower's file use FICO and another use VantageScore 4.0 on the same loan?
Does VantageScore 4.0 replace FICO?
How do I decide which score to use?
Do I need to request VantageScore 4.0 separately when I order credit?