Historical Credit Score Files

Q1. What credit score data are the GSEs publishing in the historical credit score files?

To assist market participants in the transition from Classic FICO to the new credit score models, the GSEs have published data files with historical credit score information for VantageScore 4.0 based on the Average then Average loan-level score calculation methodology. The current calculation methodology is also provided (see question 13) for details on the current calculation methodology. The historical files include loans acquired by the GSEs from approximately April 2013 to March 2023 (i.e., applications/originations from approximately January 2013 to December 2022).

Q2. Why isn’t historical credit score data available prior to 2013?

Trended data is a key component of the new scoring models and, following discussions with the credit bureaus, it was confirmed that they do not have consistent trended data to support the calculation of FICO® 10 T and VantageScore 4.0 prior to 2013.

Q3. What credit score fields are being provided in the historical files?

The historical credit score data below has been published in each file along with Loan Identifiers and reference data elements (refer to the glossary and file layouts).

• VantageScore 4.0 (Tri-Merge) Current Method (calculated using the middle/lower then lowest methodology)
• VantageScore 4.0 Tri-Merge (Average/Average)
• VantageScore 4.0 Bi-Merge (Average/Average) Lowest Bi-Merge Combination
• VantageScore 4.0 Bi-Merge (Average/Average) Median Bi-Merge Combination
• VantageScore 4.0 Bi-Merge (Average/Average) Highest Bi-Merge Combination

Q4. Are the historical credit score files aligned between the GSEs?

The GSEs’ historical credit score files are aligned, but the attribute names or descriptions may differ slightly. Please refer to the GSEs’ respective resources (glossary and file layouts) for details.

Q5: Why are there loans in the MBS loan-level disclosure dataset that are not included in the VantageScore 4.0 historical scores for MBS Disclosures file?

The VantageScore 4.0 historical scores for the MBS Disclosures Dataset only encompass loans acquired by the GSEs from approximately April 2013 through March 2023, which is a subset of acquired loans in our MBS disclosures. Additional exclusions from the VantageScore 4.0 historical scores for MBS disclosures include loans in collapsed or dissolved MBS, and Reperforming or Modified MBS.

Q6: Do the VantageScore 4.0 historical scores reflect the same time period as the Classic FICO scores representing the time of origination that is provided in the MBS, Credit Risk Transfer (CRT), and Historical Loan Performance disclosure datasets?

The historical files include loans acquired by the GSEs from approximately April 2013 to March 2023 (i.e., applications/originations from approximately January 2013 to December 2022), estimating the timing when the lender likely accessed the Classic FICO scores for origination. However, the credit scores contained in the historical credit score files are based on archive credit data that was generated at a specific time in the month the archive was created. This may be a different time than the date for which the credit report used at origination was actually generated for the loans. This difference in timing may lead to differences in credit scores between the archive credit data and the origination credit data.

Q7: Where can I access the MBS, CRT, and Historical Loan Performance disclosure datasets?

Fannie Mae

For Fannie Mae, the MBS loan-level disclosures can be found in Pooltalk under the Resources > Data Collection section, which is free to access, though registration is required.

Fannie Mae published a Classic FICO historical file based on the current methodology for all active and inactive loans that are included in the VantageScore 4.0 historical file for MBS. This file can be found in the Miscellaneous folder in the data collection location on PoolTalk. The file format for the Classic FICO historical file can be found in the Pooltalk Learning Center.

Fannie Mae's CRT and Historical Loan Performance data is available in Data Dynamics. Data Dynamics is free to access, though registration is required. There is no additional Classic FICO historical file for CRT and Single-Family Loan Level Dataset given that both datasets contain active and inactive loans.

Freddie Mac

For Freddie Mac, the MBS loan-level disclosures can be found in Security Lookup under the Data Files and Reports section, which is free to access, though registration is required. Freddie Mac also published a Classic FICO historical file for all active and inactive loans that are included in the VantageScore 4.0 historical file for MBS. This file is located in the Miscellaneous folder in the Data Files and Reports section of Security Lookup.

Freddie Mac's CRT loan-level disclosures are available in Clarity and historical loan-level data is available via the Single Family Loan Level Dataset webpage. Both disclosure datasets are free to access, though registration is required. There is no additional Classic FICO historical file for CRT and Single-Family Loan Level Dataset given that both datasets contain active and inactive loans.

Please note that the historical credit score files are accessible from the ‘Credit Score Models and Reports Initiative’ webpage for each GSE. From there, users may access the data at no cost after registering for access (via a webpage hosted by Finsight Group, Inc for Freddie Mac) and accepting the Terms and Conditions.

Q8: Why do the historical files for CRT and the Historical Loan Performance data provide loan representative credit scores when the corresponding datasets provide borrower and co-borrower representative credit score?

Under the current methodology, one of the borrowers’ representative credit scores at origination is equivalent to the loan representative credit score at origination. This allows for consistency between publicly provided datasets that include either the borrower or loan representative credit scores. The new methodology of Average then Average does not facilitate this same paradigm in which one of the borrower’s representative credit scores at origination is equivalent to the loan’s representative credit score at origination.

With the introduction of the new credit scores, Fannie Mae intends to disclose the loan representative credit score at origination for the CRT and Historical Loan Performance datasets to maintain consistency between our publicly provided datasets.

Please note that this change does not apply to Freddie Mac as the MBS, CRT and Historical Loan Performance data already discloses a loan-level Indicator credit score.

Q9: What are the limitations for using the Classic FICO credit scores in the CRT disclosure dataset?

Please review the Terms and Conditions of use for CRT disclosure dataset and note that the terms are different for the Credit Score at Origination versus the Credit Score at Issuance and Credit Score Current fields.

Q10: Why does the most recently published MBS Loan Level Disclosure Dataset not include all the loans published in the MBS historical credit score file?

The most recently published MBS Loan Level Disclosure dataset only contains active loans; inactive loans are removed from the dataset at the time of the liquidation of the loan. To assist with stakeholders’ analysis, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac published a Classic FICO historical file that provides the disclosed credit score value for all active and inactive MBS loans that are included in the VantageScore 4.0 Historical Scores for MBS Disclosures file. For Fannie Mae, this file can be found in Pooltalk under the Resources > Data Collection section. For Freddie Mac, this file can be found in Security Lookup under the Miscellaneous folder in the Data Files and Reports section.

Q11: Can I use Excel to view the historical credit score files?

The historical credit score files contain millions of loans and are meant to be used in a data analysis tool; the files are too large to be opened in a spreadsheet tool such as Excel. The loan count and file sizes are:

For Fannie Mae:

For Freddie Mac:

Q12: When will FICO Score 10 T historical credit scores be published?

The GSEs, in collaboration with FHFA, are working to make FICO Score 10 T historical credit scores available to market participants as soon as possible.