FICO announced a partnership with the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) that will give NFCC’s 49 member agencies streamlined access to the FICO Score Open Access for Credit & Financial Counseling Program. The collaboration will allow counselors to provide free FICO scores to consumers, a move that is expected to increase the number of people eligible for nonprofit debt‑repayment programs by an average of 18% and to recover more than $1 billion in payments to creditors each year.
The partnership gives NFCC members enhanced financial‑wellness tools and a direct link to FICO’s credit‑score data. By integrating the FICO Score Open Access program, counselors can offer debt‑reduction options that use a consumer’s score to set realistic repayment terms. The expected 18% lift in eligibility reflects the program’s ability to bring more households into structured repayment plans, while the projected $1 billion in recovered payments underscores the financial benefit to creditors and the broader economy.
For FICO, the deal expands the reach of its core scoring technology into the nonprofit sector, aligning with the company’s stated commitment to increasing access to credit and educational resources. The partnership is likely to drive additional adoption of FICO scores among counseling agencies, creating a new channel for the company’s analytics and potentially generating new revenue streams from the program’s usage fees.
NFCC benefits from the partnership through improved data access and streamlined workflows. The organization’s CEO, Mike Croxson, said, "Our mission is to open safe and affordable pathways toward financial health, and this collaboration with FICO helps us accelerate that work. FICO Score Open Access for Credit & Financial Counseling Program strengthens the tools NFCC‑Certified Credit Counselors use to provide comprehensive education and practical, affordable repayment pathways." The partnership also supports NFCC’s recent 2026 FICO Decision Award for Financial Inclusion, which recognized the impact of the collaboration.
The FICO Score Open Access program allows eligible credit and financial counseling providers to share FICO scores with their customers for free, increasing consumer understanding of credit scores and their importance in financial decisions. With credit‑card balances up 34% since 2021, the partnership addresses a growing need for debt relief and financial counseling services. The collaboration is expected to enhance the effectiveness of debt‑reduction options powered by FICO scores, enabling consumers to repay 50‑60% of outstanding balances on sustainable terms.
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