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FICO partners with Plaid to launch the next-generation cash flow UltraFICO® Score. This delivers a breakthrough scoring solution that maps cash flow data into the proven FICO® Score scoring framework.
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The Cost of Inaction in Credit Underwriting

The borrower landscape is shifting, with more consumers entering the credit market who have thin or non-traditional credit histories. Scoring methods that include traditional credit data alone often fall short of capturing true creditworthiness of these individuals, causing lenders to miss out on qualified applicants and growth opportunities. Credit scores determine the baseline for eligibility and risk — but cash flow data refines that picture, helping lenders differentiate borrowers who share similar scores but carry very different risk profiles. Every declined customer becomes a competitor’s gain. Integrating cash flow data through the UltraFICO® Score provides lenders with a fuller financial picture, empowering them to approve more borrowers across segments without compromising risk standards. Those who adapt quickly will strengthen their portfolios, while those who don’t risk falling behind more forward-thinking competitors.

Cash Flow Intelligence, Without the Complexity

Other cash flow scoring solutions come with hidden costs: multiple vendors, custom development, long validation cycles, and unfamiliar frameworks that require retraining and workflow rebuilds. FICO is different.

 

 

Deeper predictive precision.

Credit and cash flow signals optimized into a single score - UltraFICO® Score unlocks the full predictive power of cash flow data to deliver incremental lift on top of the industry's most trusted credit score.

 

Familiar scoring framework.

Unlike providers with proprietary scores your teams must interpret, UltraFICO® Score aligns with FICO® Score odds, is designed to be fully FCRA-compliant, and delivers enhanced decision power that deploys within your existing scoring frameworks immediately.

 

Operational simplicity.

Cash flow data integrates as an additive layer to your existing FICO® Score workflows — no custom development required, no disruption to current credit bureau relationships or platform integrations, and faster time-to-value. UltraFICO® Score offers powerful cashflow intelligence within your trusted infrastructure, no rebuilding required.

Model Performance Matters

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Increase approvals

Achieve 7% relative increase in approvals for thin-files and new-to-credit individuals, without incremental risk.
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Expand credit risk assessment

Enhanced visibility into real-time financial behaviors, driving 15% relative lift in model performance in key emerging consumer segments.
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Enhance payment capacity

Assess both ability and propensity to pay—79% of non-prime applicants with sound financial behavior* receive a higher UltraFICO® Score.

*Applicants with no NSF in last 3 months, while maintaining min $400 average balance.

Lenders Connect, Authenticate, Decide — All in One Flow

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Step 1 — Embed

Add Plaid Link, a prebuilt, API-based module, to your app with just a few lines of code. No legacy infrastructure required.
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Step 2 — Authenticate

Plaid handles secure login and multi-factor authentication. Bank credentials are never exposed.
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Step 3 — Retrieve

Instantly receive the UltraFICO® Score and cash flow attributes to gain deeper borrower insight.

Faster, More Secure Application Experience for Consumers

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Step 1 — Select

Applicants choose their financial institution directly within the secure Plaid Link interface.
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Step 2 — Consent

Applicants review exactly what data will be shared and provide explicit consent before anything is transmitted.
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Step 3 — Apply

UltraFICO® Score is calculated using encrypted cash flow data shared directly with the lender, enabling faster, more confident credit decisions.

Featured news

Learn what’s happening in the world of advanced analytics and data-driven decision management with the latest news, updates, and ideas from the FICO Newsroom.
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FICO Partners with Plaid to Launch Next-Generation Cash Flow UltraFICO® Score

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Media Coverage

FICO and Plaid launch a new credit score powered by real-time cash flow data

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Contact Us

UltraFICO® Score works just like the FICO® Score you already know and trust — no new infrastructure, no learning curve. Ready to see it in action? We'll set you up with a test on your own sample portfolio so you can evaluate the results firsthand.

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*FICO and UltraFICO are registered trademarks of Fair Isaac Corporation in the United States and in other countries. Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.