Arvest Bank — a regional, full-service lender with more than 200 locations throughout Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri — recently upgraded to FICO Auto Score 10 in a move to give the institution a more precise view of borrower risk and strengthening its auto lending underwriting capabilities.

According to a news release, Arvest Bank’s proactive approach to modernizing credit risk decisioning across its auto lending business showed in an early portfolio analysis. Using FICO Auto Score 10 resulted in sharper risk segmentation across Arvest’s customer base, including greater differentiation among thin-file borrowers.

“The auto lending market is evolving too quickly to stand still on credit risk,” said Reggie Branch, senior director of indirect lending at Arvest Bank. “Moving to FICO Auto Score 10 was a proactive investment to strengthen how we assess risk as borrower profiles continue to evolve.

“Our early analysis is already showing sharper differentiation across our portfolio, particularly among thin-file borrowers, giving our teams greater confidence in how we evaluate risk and make lending decisions,” Branch continued in the news release from FICO.

FICO worked closely with Arvest throughout the transition to FICO Auto Score 10, providing implementation guidance, compliance resources, and technical support to integrate FICO Auto Score 10 into its existing credit decisioning processes.

Initial analysis of Arvest’s portfolio has also shown:

—Sharper differentiation across the broader portfolio, with some customers scoring higher as the updated model more accurately reflects stronger credit profiles

—Greater risk separation among thin-file borrowers, with FICO® Auto Score 10 identifying distinctions that were less apparent with the prior model

—A more granular view of borrower risk, helping Arvest’s lending and risk teams more confidently evaluate applicants and inform approval and pricing decisions

“The strength of FICO Auto Score 10 is its ability to separate risk with greater precision,” said Shams Blanc, vice president, head of auto strategy and industry relations at FICO.

“Arvest’s early results demonstrate why that matters. Greater differentiation gives lenders a clearer view of borrower risk and greater confidence in their credit decisions. By proactively adopting FICO Auto Score 10, Arvest is demonstrating the kind of forward-thinking risk strategy that will increasingly define modern auto lending,” continued Blanc, who is among the experts scheduled to speak during Used Car Week that begins on Nov. 16 in San Diego.

Blanc pointed out that FICO Auto Score 10 is the most powerful FICO auto-specific score yet, built on recent credit data to deliver sharper risk separation where auto lenders need it most: mid-band and thin-file borrowers.

The tool can outperform prior versions in predicting defaults, especially for prime thin/new-to-credit and subprime segments, helping lenders approve more loans while avoiding costly charge-offs.

Designed for seamless adoption, FICO Auto Score 10 keeps the trusted 250–900 range, reason codes, and compliance readiness lenders expect.

Auto dealers and lenders can learn more about FICO Auto Score 10 and its predictive power by visiting https://www.fico.com/en/latest-thinking/solution-sheet/fico-auto-score-10.