UWM Will Pull Both FICO and VantageScore 4.0 and Use the Stronger Qualifying Score

Why this matters: Borrowers working with UWM through a mortgage broker no longer depend on which credit model the broker chooses. That can change pricing or mortgage insurance for some files, though the company has not published borrower-level results.

Cover: two credit score gauges, one selected, above a loan file. Illustration created for mortgage.news; it does not depict a real person, property or document.

What UWM announced

United Wholesale Mortgage said in a press release dated October 6, 2026 that it will obtain FICO Scores and VantageScore 4.0 on all credit pulls and automatically select the best score returned for the consumer. The company said brokers "no longer need to navigate the nuances between scoring models" because UWM "now defaults to the strongest qualifying score available."

UWM said the change is meant to give borrowers a lower payment, cheaper mortgage insurance and lower fees. It said "early research shows pulling all scores could save many borrowers thousands." UWM did not publish that research, and the figure is the company's claim.

FICO's same-day statement

Fair Isaac issued its own release on October 6 saying UWM is reaffirming its commitment to using FICO Scores on all credit pulls across its broker lending operations, alongside other eligible scoring models. Both companies quoted the same statement from UWM chief executive Mat Ishbia.

How this differs from recent coverage

This is one lender's implementation choice. It is separate from two earlier stories on this site:

• On September 30, mortgage.news covered FHFA's move to a single Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac pricing grid for loans scored with Classic FICO or VantageScore 4.0. That was a regulator and investor policy.
• On October 1, mortgage.news covered analyst views on competitive pressure facing Fair Isaac. That was a market story about the scoring company.

UWM's change sits on top of those rules. A single pricing grid sets what each score is worth. UWM's policy decides which score it will use when a borrower has both, according to HousingWire’s report on the announcement.

What it does not mean

• It does not change your credit history or either score.
• It applies to loans through UWM's broker channel, not to every lender.
• Eligibility still depends on the loan program. A higher score helps only where that score is accepted and changes pricing.
• UWM did not say whether pulling both scores changes what the borrower pays for the credit report.

Questions to ask your broker or lender

• Which credit score models will you pull on my file, and which one will set my price?
• If my two scores differ, which pricing tier does each put me in?
• Does using a different score change my mortgage insurance premium?
• Will I be charged more for the credit report if you pull more than one model?

The takeaway

UWM's policy removes one choice from the broker's desk by defaulting to the stronger eligible score. If you shop other lenders, ask each one which model it uses so you compare loans on the same basis.