Report to the bureaus and pull credit from one system. 

Consumer credit reporting is the process of furnishing borrower loan payment and account activity to the national credit bureaus so it appears on their credit file. In servicing, this typically means submitting a standardized data file, like the Metro 2 format, on a set reporting period to bureaus such as Equifax, Experian, TransUnion, or Innovis. The Mortgage Office generates this file directly from the loan record, so the same data used to service the loan is what gets reported. 

A Metro 2 file is the standardized data format the Consumer Data Industry Association (CDIA) requires furnishers to use when reporting loan activity to credit bureaus. It organizes borrower identification, account status, balances, and payment history into a structure that bureaus can process automatically. TMO generates Metro 2 files formatted to the CDIA standard as a background process, so servicers can keep working while a full portfolio reports.

A soft pull retrieves credit information without affecting the borrower’s score and is often used for early qualification, while a tri-merge report combines data from all three major bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) into one merged report, which is standard for mortgage underwriting. TMO runs both through its Exactus integration directly inside the loan file. 

It depends on the pull type: a soft pull does not affect the borrower’s credit score, while a hard or tri-merge pull, typically run for a loan application, can cause a small, temporary dip. Borrowers checking their own report separately also generate only soft inquiries. Servicers can use a soft pull for early qualification and save hard pulls or tri-merge reports for when a full underwriting decision is needed.

Setup requires two accounts: one with a credit bureau (Innovis, Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion) for reporting, and one with Exactus (formerly Avantus) for pulling credit. Because bureau account approval takes the longest to establish, start that application early and notify TMO once it’s active. Once both accounts are in place, TMO connects them directly to the loan file for both reporting and pulling.

Open the borrower’s loan file, start a new credit request, and select the applicant along with any co-applicants. Choose a soft pull or tri-merge report through the Exactus integration, and the results flow automatically into the loan file. This same workflow works identically in both loan origination and loan servicing.

First, complete the credit reporting tab in the loan file with the borrower’s consumer information, employment, and history, since this data feeds the Metro 2 report. Then set a reporting period end date, choose which borrowers or categories to include, exclude accounts on hold, and generate the file, which runs as a background process. Past reports stay saved in the system so you can regenerate them whenever needed. 

Print the Metro 2 audit report before exporting the file as it documents the exact borrower and account data furnished, including the payment-history profile, so errors can be caught before submission. You can also edit individual borrower records or exclude specific accounts directly in the reporting tool. This audit step gives servicers a verifiable, documented record of exactly what was furnished to each bureau. 

Reporting credit means furnishing a borrower’s loan payment activity to the bureaus so it appears on their credit file, typically through a scheduled Metro 2 submission. Pulling credit means retrieving a borrower’s existing credit report, via soft pull or tri-merge, to evaluate them during origination or servicing. These are two distinct workflows that often require separate providers, though TMO connects both to a single loan file.

Running credit reporting through one vendor and credit pulls through another typically means exporting text files, logging into multiple bureau portals, and manually reconciling borrower data across systems. TMO consolidates both functions into one platform: borrower credit information is entered once in the loan file, feeding both the Metro 2 report and the Exactus pull. This eliminates duplicate data entry and keeps every borrower’s credit data in the same system used to service the loan.

For reporting, TMO connects to Innovis, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion once a servicer’s bureau account is established. For credit pulls, TMO integrates with Exactus (formerly Avantus) to run soft pulls and tri-merge reports directly into the loan file. Both integrations work within the same servicing platform, so no separate login or export is needed. 

Yes. TMO lets you report on selected borrowers or loan categories rather than your entire portfolio, and you can exclude accounts on hold from a given submission. You can also edit an individual record before generating the file if information needs correcting. This targeted control helps prevent inaccurate or premature data from being furnished to the bureaus.

Review the Metro 2 audit report before every submission as it shows the borrower and account data that will be furnished, including the payment-history profile, so errors surface before they reach the bureaus. Correct any flagged records and exclude accounts on hold rather than reporting incomplete or disputed status. Keeping credit data inside the same loan file used for servicing, as TMO does, also reduces mismatches between your system of record and what’s reported.

Start the bureau account application (with Innovis, Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion) as early as possible since it typically takes the longest to establish. The Exactus account for credit pulls generally sets up faster and should be arranged alongside it. Once both accounts are active, notify TMO so reporting and pull integrations can be connected to your loan files.