FICO teams up with Plaid to launch next-generation cash flow score

Source: Business Wire

Global analytics software leader FICO has announced a strategic partnership with Plaid, a leading financial data network, to deliver the next generation of the cash flow UltraFICO Score. This innovative solution will combine the proven reliability of the FICO Score, used by 90% of top US lenders, with real-time cash flow data from Plaid to provide lenders with a single, enhanced credit score that delivers superior consumer risk assessment without operational complexity.

Building on FICO’s trailblazing work in cash flow scoring with the initial release of the UltraFICO Score, this collaboration with Plaid – whose market-leading infrastructure enables consumer-permissioned data from over 12,000 financial institutions – will provide lenders with a more seamless integration, helping transform banking insights into scalable credit decisions. This solution will be distributed through Plaid’s Consumer Reporting Agency, Plaid Check.

“This partnership represents nearly a year of strategic work to address what the market has been demanding – a broader perspective on consumer credit readiness,” said Julie May, vice president and general manager of B2B Scores at FICO.

“By bringing together FICO’s trusted credit score intelligence with Plaid’s cash flow data, we’re creating the foundation for more comprehensive lending decisions. This is the beginning of a new chapter in responsible and inclusive lending.”

The enhanced UltraFICO Score solution will leverage cash flow data – historical and current information about the money flowing into and out of a consumer’s transaction accounts (e.g., checking, savings, and money market) – accessed through Plaid’s Open Finance network of consumer-permissioned data. Plaid powers nearly one million secure financial connections each day and has helped more than half of Americans with a bank account securely move more of their financial life online.

The new score will offer lenders three key advantages in addition to enhanced credit risk performance:

• Alignment to the flagship FICO Score to enable confident cash flow adoption without introducing lengthy testing or added risk.
• Streamlined implementation for lenders, minimizing operational complexity and accelerating onboarding.
• Universal compatibility, giving lenders flexibility to use a cash flow model with the traditional FICO Score irrespective of the channel they use for the FICO Score.

“High-quality cash flow data is becoming essential for lenders who want a more comprehensive view of a consumer’s financial picture,” said Adam Yoxtheimer, head of partnerships at Plaid.

“By combining Plaid’s real-time connectivity and intelligence with FICO in this next generation credit score, we are helping lenders make more confident, inclusive credit decisions through a simple and scalable solution.”

Further reading: Mantl integrates Plaid Layer to speed up account opening