Starting next week, Fannie Mae is eliminating its minimum 620 credit score requirement for borrowers seeking loans that will be sold to the government-sponsored enterprise (GSE).

The move, which is in line with a previous change at Freddie Mac, is designed to expand access to mortgage credit, particularly among borrowers with so-called “thin” credit files or non-traditional credit histories.

Research shows that reliance on traditional credit score models can also have a discriminatory impact on communities of color, potentially locking out otherwise qualified borrowers from the housing market,

According to Fannie Mae's latest Selling Guide Bulletin (SEL-2025-09), beginning November 16, loans processed through its Desktop Underwriter (DU) will consider borrower eligibility based on DU’s own analysis. Instead of relying on a hard 620 cutoff, DU’s automated risk assessment tool will determine eligibility based on the borrower’s overall financial profile.