The news: FICO will release credit scores that incorporate buy now, pay later (BNPL) reporting this autumn, per a press release.

FICO Score 10 BNPL and FICO Score 10 T BNPL will complement FICO’s other scores, which will not retroactively incorporate BNPL data. 

Why this matters: Without firms reporting BNPL loans to credit bureaus, regulators and underwriters have had few tools to assess the real state of consumer financial health—and whether a consumer who looks good on paper is actually overburdened with late BNPL debt.

Participating BNPL providers: Affirm is the only major BNPL company reporting to the credit bureaus. Previous tie-ins with FICO, Experian, and TransUnion have demonstrated Affirm’s commitment to cementing BNPL’s standing as a mainstream payment method.