New FICO Score Simulator Enables Consumers to See How Future Actions Could Affect FICO Scores

SAN JOSE, Calif. — April 13, 2016

• FICO^® Score Simulator is the only tool for consumers that simulates actual FICO^® Scores, which are used for 90 percent of lending decisions in the US.
• Enhanced simulator at myFICO.com provides side-by-side comparisons of simulations for FICO^® Score 8 based on data from all three major credit bureaus.
• New multi-action simulations enable consumers to understand the impact of combinations of actions on FICO^® Score 8.
• Six new simulations provide consumers with additional scenarios to better understand how individual actions may impact FICO^® Scores. 

Analytics software firm FICO (NYSE:FICO) has introduced an enhanced FICO^® Score Simulator on myFICO.com, enabling consumers to experiment with dozens of “what if” simulations to understand how such actions could affect their FICO^® Scores. The new simulator generates side-by-side comparisons that allow consumers to view simulation results for FICO^® Scores based on data from all three major credit bureaus simultaneously.

"Because FICO Scores are used in more than 90 percent of US lending decisions, consumers want to better understand how their actions might affect FICO Scores," said Geoff Smith, vice president, Consumer Scores, at FICO. “The newly enhanced FICO Score simulator enables consumers to run simulations using the actual FICO Score 8 formula as well as data from all major credit bureaus. This is an extremely easy-to-use and valuable tool for anyone who wants to understand how their financial behavior could impact their FICO Scores.”

The FICO^® Score Simulator has been enhanced with a larger library of individual simulations. Users are able to run simulations on up to 24 distinct types of actions. These actions include:

• Forgetting to pay a bill
• Paying down credit card balance
• Refinancing a mortgage
• Taking out a car loan
• Maxing out credit cards
• Increasing the limit on a credit account

Simulation results include explanations and contextual information to help consumers better understand the results and see how credit scores work. The enhanced FICO^® Score simulator also allows consumers to see the combined effect of multiple actions on a FICO^® Score, such as paying down a credit card balance and increasing the limit on a credit account.

“Our mission is to empower consumers with tools and content that help them understand their financial health, including decisions that could impact FICO Scores,” said Smith. “It is important for consumers to understand their FICO Scores when they are looking for credit. The FICO Score Simulator is the only tool for consumers that provides simulations of actual FICO Scores.”

About FICO
FICO (NYSE: FICO) powers decisions that help people and businesses around the world prosper. Founded in 1956 and based in Silicon Valley, the company is a pioneer in the use of predictive analytics and data science to improve operational decisions. FICO holds more than 165 US and foreign patents on technologies that increase profitability, customer satisfaction and growth for businesses in financial services, telecommunications, health care, retail and many other industries. Using FICO solutions, businesses in more than 100 countries do everything from protecting 2.6 billion payment cards from fraud, to helping people get credit, to ensuring that millions of airplanes and rental cars are in the right place at the right time. Learn more at http://www.fico.com.

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