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What Equifax Mortgage Score Select Does—and How It Differs From a Dual-Score Mortgage

Equifax Mortgage Score Select offers lenders a score choice for an Equifax mortgage file. It is distinct from the bi-merge approach, which averages two bureau scores.
From TheFinanceBase Team3 min to read

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Equifax Mortgage Score Select lets mortgage lenders and brokers request an Equifax mortgage credit file with one selected score—or request the file without a score. Equifax announced the service on October 8, 2026, naming VantageScore 4.0, Classic FICO and, when approved, FICO Score 10T as options. The separate “dual score” or “bi-merge” approach in Equifax’s February 2026 white paper means averaging two bureau scores. The product announcement does not say Score Select itself combines two bureaus or calculates that average.

What is Equifax Mortgage Score Select?

It is a service for mortgage lenders and brokers to obtain an Equifax mortgage credit file with a score chosen for their mortgage-banking needs, or to obtain the file without a score. The October 8, 2026 announcement describes one accompanying score for each file, not a bundle of scores from multiple bureaus. Equifax’s product announcement says the file can work with different score models and that the lender chooses which score applies.

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That flexibility may let a lender select a score model that fits its process or requirements while using an Equifax file. Equifax presents the service as a way to give lenders score flexibility; the announcement does not provide independent performance data showing that it improves approval rates, loan costs or efficiency.

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What does dual score mean for a mortgage?

In its February 2026 white paper, Equifax uses “dual score” and “bi-merge” (2B) for the average of two bureau scores. It defines “tri-merge” (3B) as the median of three bureau scores for a given model. A single-report (1B) framework represents a consumer with one credit score. These are descriptions in the white paper’s discussion of government-sponsored enterprise (GSE) loan requirements, not a universal rule for every mortgage lender or investor. Equifax’s February 2026 mortgage white paper discusses possible movement away from tri-merge, but does not establish that every investor has adopted the same approach.

The distinction matters: Mortgage Score Select describes a score choice for an Equifax credit file, while bi-merge describes an approach involving two bureau scores and an average. The October release does not say Score Select retrieves another bureau’s file or computes a bi-merge average.

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How to distinguish the approaches

  • Files and scores: Identify how many bureau files and scores the lender or investor uses.
  • Representative score: Establish whether the process uses one score, averages two, or takes the median of three, as described in Equifax’s white paper.
  • Score model: Confirm which model is being used; the number of bureau files does not by itself identify the model.
  • Applicable requirement: Check the relevant lender and investor requirements rather than assuming one framework applies to every mortgage.

Which credit score models can a lender choose?

Equifax’s October 2026 announcement names these options for Mortgage Score Select:

  • VantageScore 4.0
  • Classic FICO
  • FICO Score 10T, when approved

“When approved” is a condition in Equifax’s announcement; it is not confirmation that FICO Score 10T has been approved for a particular use. Lenders should verify which model is available for their intended transaction and whether lender or investor requirements permit it.

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Mortgage scores can differ by model and bureau file. As consumer-facing context, myFICO lists FICO Score 2 for Equifax, FICO Score 5 for Experian and FICO Score 4 for TransUnion among versions used in mortgage lending. That guide does not confirm which models a lender can select through Mortgage Score Select. myFICO’s guide to FICO score versions also notes that a score reflects the credit-file information available when it is requested, and bureau files may differ.

How much does a second mortgage credit pull cost?

Equifax says a second Equifax mortgage credit-file pull within 24 hours costs $1, plus the cost of the selected score if the lender includes one. A file requested without a score does not incur a selected-score charge under that description. This is the stated repull charge, not a complete pricing schedule: Equifax’s announcement does not state the full cost of an initial pull or all fees and terms for different lender or investor arrangements.

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Do not treat Equifax’s separate October 2025 pricing announcement as Mortgage Score Select pricing. That earlier announcement stated $4.50 VantageScore 4.0 mortgage-score pricing through the end of 2027 and free VantageScore scores for certain Equifax customers purchasing FICO scores through 2026. Those were terms of the earlier announcement, not confirmed terms for this service. Equifax’s October 2025 announcement provides that historical context.

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What did Equifax say about FHA acceptance?

Equifax’s October 2026 release says FHA acceptance of VantageScore 4.0 is effective January 1, 2027. That timing is Equifax’s statement; it should not be treated here as independently verified FHA or HUD policy. Lenders should confirm the applicable official requirements before relying on the date for a loan decision.

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