# US credit scoring market competition shift > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/us-credit-scoring-market-competition-shift > Updated: 2026-09-22T13:14:47.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2. The United States credit scoring market is undergoing a transition as lenders move beyond the traditional FICO score. Government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have approved the use of VantageScore 4.0, which utilizes data such as rental payment history to assess creditworthiness. Some lenders, such as United Wholesale Mortgage, report that this model is already providing more advantageous credit results for a significant portion of their borrowers. This shift follows approval from the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) for VantageScore to compete with FICO, which has been the industry standard since 1989 and is used by approximately 90% of creditors. While the introduction of new models aims to improve consumer access to credit, the market shift has raised concerns regarding vertical integration. The three major credit reporting agencies—Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion—own VantageScore, leading to questions about whether they might favor their own scoring model by controlling the consumer credit data required by competitors. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-22: Credit scoring market competition shifts as VantageScore enters U.S. market The entry of VantageScore into the U.S. credit scoring market aims to challenge FICO's dominance, though concerns exist regarding the data control held by major credit reporting agencies. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/credit-scoring-market-competition-shifts-as-vantagescore-enters-us-market ### 2026-09-15: Mortgage lenders adopt alternative credit scoring models Lenders are adopting VantageScore 4.0, allowing mortgage approvals based on alternative data like rent history. UWM reports improved credit outcomes for 25% of its borrowers under the new model. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mortgage-lenders-adopt-alternative-credit-scoring-models --- Cite as: US credit scoring market competition shift. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/us-credit-scoring-market-competition-shift