FICO announced a partnership with MeridianLink to integrate its Mortgage Direct License Program into MeridianLink’s Mortgage Credit Link platform, enabling lenders to generate and deliver FICO Scores directly within their existing workflow.
The collaboration gives lenders greater choice, transparency, and pricing flexibility by bypassing traditional credit bureau distribution. By embedding the direct license program, FICO aims to increase adoption of its direct licensing model and broaden its reach to a larger segment of mortgage lenders and resellers.
The partnership is part of FICO’s broader strategy to reduce reliance on the three major credit bureaus, which currently account for 51% of its Scores revenue. FICO’s Q1 FY2026 earnings showed revenue of $512 million, up 16% YoY, with Scores revenue rising 29% to $304.5 million, underscoring the strength of its core business and the potential upside of expanding direct licensing.
MeridianLink, a leading provider of lending software, is itself undergoing a significant change, having been acquired by Centerbridge Partners for approximately $2 billion, with the transaction expected to close in the second half of 2025. The acquisition positions MeridianLink to accelerate integration of new partnerships such as this one.
The partnership offers two pricing models under the FICO Mortgage Direct License Program: a performance‑based structure and a traditional per‑score model, potentially delivering up to 50% cost savings for lenders compared with bureau‑based pricing.
"Mortgage lenders are under constant pressure to control costs while maintaining the highest standards for credit decisioning," said Mike Griffith, VP of Product at MeridianLink. "This integration is aimed at supporting both fronts—by enabling resellers to deliver FICO Scores directly through our platform, we help lenders reduce costs and streamline operations without compromising the accuracy and reliability they expect from FICO."
"Demand for the FICO Mortgage Direct License Program continues to grow across the industry," said Julie May, VP and General Manager of B2B Scores at FICO. "Integrating with MeridianLink allows us to bring its benefits to a much larger segment of lenders and resellers alike."
"Today marks a turning point in how credit scores are delivered and priced across the mortgage industry," said Will Lansing, CEO of FICO. "Direct licensing of the FICO Score brings transparency, competition, and cost‑efficiency to the mortgage lending process. This change eliminates unnecessary mark‑ups on the FICO Score and puts pricing model choice in the hands of those who use FICO Scores to drive mortgage decisions."
The partnership is expected to accelerate the rollout of the direct licensing program and could enhance FICO’s competitive position amid growing pressure from alternative scoring models such as VantageScore, which has been gaining market share and is now permitted for conforming mortgages by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
By embedding the direct license program into MeridianLink’s platform, FICO and MeridianLink together provide lenders with a streamlined, cost‑effective solution that expands choice and reduces dependence on credit bureau intermediaries, positioning both companies to capture a larger share of the mortgage technology market.
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