FICO, HOPE Inside will assess your financial health for free

Analytics software firm FICO has partnered and Operation HOPE, a global financial dignity and economic empowerment nonprofit to support HOPE Inside, a financial empowerment programming model. The alliance aims at bringing Operation HOPE counseling to communities free of charge. Core programs include credit and money management, homeownership preparedness and small business entrepreneurship. According to HOPE Inside, this partnership will enable its financial well-being coaches at more than 50 locations across the United States to access FICO Scores and free educational materials on behalf of clients.

“We are honored to partner with FICO to provide additional resources to our clients. Access to this critical information sets individuals on the path to taking back their lives and creating a more secure financial future,” said John Hope Bryant, Founder, Chairman and CEO, Operation HOPE .

With this partnership, HOPE Inside financial well-being coaches can share FICO Scores with consumers for free to help educate them on their credit standing and provide key insights to enable them to better understand their financial health. In addition, coaches can help consumers see the information lenders use to manage credit accounts including the top factors affecting their score.

“FICO is excited to partner with Operation HOPE to help consumers with their financial well-being. Together we are dedicated to increasing financial inclusion and consumer empowerment through the world’s most reliable credit scores as well as an unmatched commitment to financial counseling and financial literacy,” said Jim Wehmann, Executive Vice President, Scores, FICO.

Through the HOPE 700 FICO Credit Score Communities initiative, the focus is on raising client credit scores to 700 and bringing financial uplift to communities. There are commitments to open more than 250 new offices within the next 18 months.

“HOPE Inside has been quietly moving credit scores within communities an average of 120 points over 18-24 months. We work to get bankers out of the ‘no’ business, and into the ‘yes’ business, by helping to rehabilitate the credit, financial, and overall well-being profile of the HOPE client, and the future bank borrower, and by extension, the community as a whole,” added Bryant.