ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

HOPE Global Forum - Global analytics software leader FICO (NYSE: FICO) today announced the launch of its Lenders Leading Inclusion™ Program to empower Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs) to responsibly expand access to credit for underserved communities. By offering access to cutting-edge alternative data scores and financial inclusion strategies, FICO aims to responsibly expand credit access to more people and help consumers achieve financial opportunities.

“We created this program to support MDIs and CDFIs with the tools and resources they need to broaden their lending reach to more credit-ready applicants, including those with little or no credit history. The Lenders Leading Inclusion Program underscores FICO’s commitment to helping lenders responsibly expand credit access and opportunities to more people,” said Julie May, vice president and general manager of Scores at FICO.

Nearly 53 million U.S. consumers have scant credit bureau data or no credit bureau data at all, and 25 million of these are considered “credit invisible” with no credit bureau record. Research has shown that mission-driven financial institutions, like CDFIs & MDIs, that serve minority and other underserved populations often experience challenges in resources, including lack of access, capacity and technical support to adopt new technologies that can expand lending opportunities to more people. FICO is launching the Lenders Leading Inclusion Program to make critical resources available as part of FICO’s to enhance lenders’ decision making and forward financial inclusion efforts around the world.

CDFIs and MDIs participating in the Lenders Leading Inclusion Program will be able to access FICO’s technology, expertise and information to expand their financial inclusion initiatives. Participants will receive:

• Access to FICO’s leading scores for financial inclusion, FICO® Score XD and UltraFICO® Score, which together, can provide access to more than 50% of the U.S. credit-eligible population.
  • FICO Score XD uses alternative data — including phone and utility provider payment history, public records, and asset insights — to help lenders foster inclusion by safely extending credit to more borrowers through a broader lens.
  • UltraFICO Score helps consumers improve access to credit by tapping into consumer-contributed data, such as checking, savings and money market account data, to reflect responsible financial management activity not available in a traditional credit file.
• Program adoption resources and tools for understanding FICO® Scores based on alternative data.
• Inclusion-led lending strategy design consulting by industry experts who have helped lenders achieve greater inclusion through analytics.

“As a pioneer in leveraging alternative data to advance financial inclusion, is proud to align with FICO to support this program. We understand the importance of expanding access to credit for consumers and the financial institutions providing it. Alternative data is a critical driver of financial inclusion and being able to get access to a product like FICO Score XD can enable lenders to approve more applicants for financial products and provide opportunities that had previously been out of reach,” said Kevin King, vice president of Credit Strategy at LexisNexis Risk Solutions, a data, technology and analytics company.

“The Lenders Leading Inclusion Program is going to be invaluable for our MDI members,” said Nicole Elam, president and CEO at National Bankers Association, a leading MDI association. “With this initiative, our members will have access to the technology and expertise to help create more financial opportunities for their communities. It aligns with our mission to create broader opportunities to support MDIs.”

For more information and to sign up to participate, please visit:

About FICO

FICO (NYSE: FICO) powers decisions that help people and businesses around the world prosper. Founded in 1956, the company is a pioneer in the use of predictive analytics and data science to improve operational decisions. FICO holds more than 200 US and foreign patents on technologies that increase profitability, customer satisfaction and growth for businesses in financial services, insurance, telecommunications, health care, retail and many other industries. Using FICO solutions, businesses in more than 80 countries do everything from protecting 4 billion payment cards from fraud, to improving financial inclusion, to increasing supply chain resiliency. The FICO® Score, used by 90% of top US lenders, is the standard measure of consumer credit risk in the US and has been made available in over 40 other countries, improving risk management, credit access and transparency.

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FICO and UltraFICO are registered trademarks of Fair Isaac Corporation in the U.S. and other countries.

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