TransUnion on Oct. 25, 2026, unveiled a mortgage-focused product that lets lenders pull a consumer credit report alone and defer buying credit scores until later in the underwriting process. The company said the tool — called TransUnion First Look Functionality for Mortgage — aims to reduce origination expenses by avoiding score purchases for applications that do not progress.
How it works
TransUnion said lenders can start by buying just a credit report or a report bundled with a score of their choice. Under qualifying conditions, additional scores can be requested later without paying for a second report, the company said. The functionality supports both soft‑credit and hard‑credit pull workflows and is compatible with automated underwriting systems used by government‑sponsored enterprises and the Federal Housing Administration.
“Mortgage lenders face sustained pressure to control costs and operate more efficiently without compromising underwriting decisions. TransUnion First Look Functionality for Mortgage allows lenders to start with credit report insights and add additional score-based decisioning only when needed,” said Satyan Merchant, senior vice president and mortgage business leader at TransUnion. “First Look Functionality provides insight earlier in the lending journey, directs resources toward the most promising opportunities and creates a more efficient path from application to closing.”
What TransUnion says lenders can use instead of early scores
The company noted that lenders may also evaluate borrowers earlier using trended credit data and optional tools that supply alternative credit attributes and income and employment verification, without changing existing lending policies.
- Start with a credit report only, then add scores when an application advances.
- Supports both soft and hard pulls and integrates with existing automated underwriting.
- Optional data products — trended credit, alternative attributes and income/employment verification — can inform early decisions.
Pricing context and related moves
The product launch follows TransUnion’s extension of its 99‑cent pricing for VantageScore 4.0 mortgage scores through 2028. TransUnion also said lenders will pay nothing for VantageScore 4.0 when they obtain it alongside a FICO Score, part of an effort the company described as reducing mortgage credit‑scoring expenses.
| Purchase option | Described benefit |
|---|---|
| Credit report only | Lower upfront scoring cost; evaluate file before buying scores |
| Report + chosen score | Immediate score-based decisioning |
| Additional scores later | May avoid paying for a second report under qualifying conditions |
TransUnion said the functionality is available through mortgage resellers. The company framed the change as a response to sustained lender pressure to cut costs while preserving underwriting quality.
The announcement does not alter which scoring models lenders must use or change lenders’ underwriting policies; it offers a different procurement path for reports and scores, according to TransUnion.
