Key Takeaways

• FICO® Score 10 and FICO® Score 10T launched in 2020. Both use the 300–850 scale; the difference is that 10T reads 24 months or more of trended credit bureau data, while FICO Score 10 scores a point-in-time snapshot.
• Trended data lets 10T see direction, not just position — whether a borrower's balances are climbing, flat, or being paid down.
• FICO says lenders can see up to 5% more approvals at the same risk level, or up to a 17% reduction in delinquencies at the same approval rate, compared with earlier models.
• FICO 10T is validated and approved for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Adoption is what remains pending — the Enterprises have not yet begun accepting scores from the model at loan delivery.

What Is FICO Score 10?

FICO Score 10 is a base consumer credit score released by Fair Isaac Corporation in January 2020. It keeps the 300–850 scale and the familiar five-factor structure, and it retains FICO Score 9's treatment of paid collections and medical debt. What FICO recalibrated was the underlying data: consumer borrowing behavior had shifted meaningfully since FICO Score 9 was built, particularly the growth of personal loans used for debt consolidation.

FICO Score 10 pays closer attention to that pattern. A borrower who consolidates card balances into a personal loan and then runs the cards back up is a different risk than one who consolidates and stays disciplined. Earlier models struggled to tell them apart at the moment of application.

FICO Score 10T and Trended Data

FICO Score 10T is where the real change sits.

Conventional scoring models read the most recently reported month of data for balances and credit limits. As FICO explains it, FICO Score 10T instead considers the previous 24 months or longer of balance and limit history, which lets the model determine a trend: are balances going up, down, or holding steady?

The consequence is that two borrowers with identical 30% utilization on application day score differently. One arrived at 30% by paying down from 60% over six months. The other has been parked at 30% for two years. The first is deleveraging; the second is not. FICO Score 10T distinguishes them where FICO Score 8 cannot.

That directional read is the entire argument for the model. It also means 10T is generally harsher on borrowers with rising balances and recent delinquency than FICO 8 was, and more generous to those actively paying down debt.

Worth noting for anyone tracking where scoring goes next: FICO has extended the family with variants incorporating buy now, pay later data, reflecting how much BNPL volume now sits outside conventional tradeline reporting.

FICO Score 10 vs. FICO Score 10T

Here’s a quick look at the differences between the two models: 

The distinction between the two models matters because the two names get used interchangeably, and they are not interchangeable. Only 10T carries Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) validation. A lender told they are "on FICO 10" is not necessarily on the trended model.

Where FICO 10T Stands in Mortgage

The short version: it’s approved, not yet adopted.

The FHFA validated FICO 10T for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) in October 2022, and it remains an approved model planned for future use, with the Enterprises publishing historical FICO 10T scores in summer 2026 so the market can analyze score distribution before adoption. VantageScore 4.0 reached lender availability first. 

For the full rollout picture, see VantageScore 4.0 Approved for Fannie, Freddie & FHA.

What Lenders Should Do

With many credit scoring models available, and differing models being used across consumer platforms versus final decisioning, lenders have a lot to consider. 

Build for multiple models. The era of one mortgage score is over. Whatever your LOS does today, it should carry Classic FICO, VantageScore 4.0, and eventually 10T without a rebuild. Soft Pull Solutions integrates with the major LOS platforms, including Encompass, MeridianLink, Calyx, and RouteOne, and reports can be configured to return the model your investor requires.

Test trended data against your own pipeline. If your book skews toward borrowers carrying revolving balances, 10T will read those files differently than Classic FICO does — in both directions. The historical score data published by the Enterprises is the right basis for that analysis.

Prequalify before the hard pull. Trended data does not change the FCRA. Every pull still requires permissible purpose and documented consent. A full file soft pull returns the same tradelines, balances, and derogatory detail as a hard inquiry with no score impact, so you can structure the file before an inquiry lands. When the borrower is ready, the transition to a hard pull runs through the same platform without re-entering data.

Build a credit workflow that can carry any model your investors require. Soft Pull Solutions delivers full file soft pulls, hard pulls, and tri-bureau data through one API, with compliance built in. Schedule a demo or call (844) 515-1550.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a qualified attorney regarding your specific compliance obligations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between FICO Score 10 and FICO Score 10T?

FICO Score 10 scores a point-in-time snapshot. FICO Score 10T adds 24 or more months of trended balance and credit limit history, letting it see whether balances are rising or falling. Only 10T is FHFA-validated for GSE loans.

Is FICO Score 10T approved for mortgages?

Yes — it was validated by the FHFA in October 2022 and remains approved. What is still pending is adoption: the Enterprises have not yet begun accepting 10T scores at loan delivery.

Will FICO Score 10T lower most borrowers' scores?

Not uniformly. Borrowers paying down balances tend to benefit. Borrowers with rising utilization, recent delinquency, or persistent high balances tend to score lower than under FICO 8.

Where does trended data come from?

The credit bureaus already retain month-by-month balance and limit history on reported accounts. FICO 10T scores that existing history; it does not require new furnishing.