Rocket Mortgage will become the first mortgage lender to use VantageScore 4.0 as its preferred credit scoring model for all eligible loans, the company announced. During the fourth quarter of 2026, Rocket Mortgage will default to VantageScore 4.0 for mortgages delivered to Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, VA home loans and any other eligible mortgages, while investment properties, second homes, home equity loans, FHA loans, jumbo loans and some other products will still use FICO scores. The decision followed roughly four months of testing in which the company found VantageScore helped more clients qualify and move forward in the mortgage process while reducing credit scoring costs; so far this year Rocket Mortgage obtained 1.4 million credit reports using both VantageScore and FICO, and for clients who saved money with VantageScore 4.0 the savings averaged $1,600 at closing. Rocket Pro, the division serving mortgage broker partners, will continue to provide both VantageScore and FICO to brokers. Chief Executive Jay Bray said the industry had relied on one credit scoring model for decades and that competition can lower costs and expand responsible access to homeownership, thanking Director Pulte for encouraging multiple credit scoring models.
Rocket Companies IncRocket Mortgage adopts VantageScore 4.0 as preferred model, helping more clients qualify and move forward in the mortgage process while cutting credit scoring costs.
