Core Insights - A new partnership between FICO and Plaid aims to enhance lending opportunities for consumers with limited credit history by providing real-time cash flow data to lenders [1][2][3] - The collaboration is expected to create a more comprehensive lending decision framework by integrating FICO's credit score intelligence with Plaid's financial data [3][5] - The traditional credit scoring system often disadvantages consumers with substantial savings but limited credit history, prompting the need for more inclusive lending solutions [3][4] Company and Industry Summary - FICO, known for its credit scoring system, is collaborating with Plaid, a fintech company that connects bank accounts with financial applications, to improve access to loans for consumers [1][2] - Plaid's extensive network includes 12,000 financial institutions, allowing it to provide valuable insights into consumer cash flow, which will be utilized by FICO to enhance its credit scoring model [1][2] - The introduction of the UltraFICO score in 2018 represents FICO's effort to create a more inclusive credit assessment by considering checking, savings, and money market accounts alongside traditional credit history [5]