Co-Borrower Credit: Which Score Controls Your HELOC?
HELOC programs do not all select credit scores the same way when there are two borrowers. This can make a dramatic difference when one spouse has strong income and credit and the other has materially weaker credit. Understanding which score each program uses can determine whether you qualify — and at what terms.
How Each Program Selects the Credit Score
NFTYDoor's current structure generally uses the score of the primary or highest qualifying income earner. A lower-scoring co-borrower does not necessarily control the transaction if the higher-income borrower qualifies as the primary wage earner. This is a meaningful advantage for couples where one partner has strong income and credit and the other has weaker credit.
HELIX uses Equifax FICO 8 of the primary wage earner as the representative score. The primary wage earner's score generally controls the credit tier and CLTV. A co-borrower with lower credit does not necessarily pull the transaction into a lower tier if the primary wage earner has strong credit.
Figure's current core product generally focuses on the primary applicant's credit. The specific co-borrower credit treatment should be confirmed for current execution.
Aven has explicit minimum credit requirements for both co-borrowers. A lower-scoring co-borrower can affect eligibility even if the primary borrower has strong credit. This is a meaningful distinction from programs that focus primarily on the primary wage earner.
Deephaven uses standard credit review. The specific co-borrower credit treatment should be confirmed for current execution and the specific credit tier being targeted.
A Practical Example
Consider a couple where one spouse earns $120,000 per year with a 740 credit score, and the other earns $30,000 per year with a 620 credit score. Under NFTYDoor or HELIX, the higher-income spouse's 740 score may control the transaction. Under Aven, the 620 score may create an eligibility issue or pull the transaction into a lower credit tier. The same couple may qualify for meaningfully different terms — or qualify with some programs and not others — based solely on how each program handles co-borrower credit.
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HELOC guidelines change frequently. Co-borrower credit requirements and program availability may change without notice. This information is educational and is not a loan approval, commitment or guarantee.