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Rocket’s planned move away from a FICO default could change how loan officers discuss credit scores, borrower readiness and file strategy with clients.
Rocket Mortgage VantageScore 4.0 plans are now on the industry radar after The Truth About Mortgage reported on September 28, 2026, that Rocket Mortgage expects to make VantageScore 4.0 its default credit score model in the fourth quarter of 2026. The report says Rocket would move away from the FICO score it has relied on for years and apply the change to all eligible loan types, including loans backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
For producing loan officers, the headline is not just which score model Rocket uses. The practical issue is how borrower conversations, credit expectations and file comparisons may change if one of the country’s most visible mortgage lenders defaults to a different scoring model than many borrowers and referral partners associate with mortgage approvals.