SAN RAFAEL, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 29, 2003--Fair Isaac Corporation (NYSE:FIC), the global leader in analytics and decision technology, today announced that the financial literacy of American consumers rates a poor grade of "D," based on the average score of 66 percent for the company's first online National Credit Genius Quiz.

Out of thousands who took the test, just 95 people correctly answered all 25 questions to qualify as credit geniuses. The company posted the winners' names on its consumer Web site, www.myFICO.com, along with the quiz answers.

"We congratulate our 95 winners for showing they really have what it takes to manage their credit well in turbulent economic times," said Sue Simon, vice president of myFICO(SM) services for Fair Isaac. "However, our overall quiz results suggest that U.S. consumers could be much better educated on the ins and outs of managing their credit. We created National Credit Power Week to draw national attention to the importance for every individual of knowing and improving their own credit standing. By understanding their FICO(R) credit scores through www.myFICO.com, consumers can see themselves just as lenders do and leverage that knowledge to qualify for better credit terms and reach their personal financial goals."

Ms. Simon also announced that Fair Isaac selected Mr. David Ray of Dallas, Texas in a random drawing from those entrants who scored 100 percent in the quiz. Mr. Ray will receive the contest's grand prize: $10,000 to help pay his personal debts.

Quiz Results

Consumers averaged 16.4 correct answers out of 25, for an average score of 66 percent. The company revealed the following highlights from the quiz:

    --  Top-scoring U.S. cities:

    1. Richmond, VA
    2. Salt Lake City, UT
    3. Indianapolis, IN
    4. Raleigh, NC
    5. Chicago, IL
    6. Philadelphia, PA
    7. Orange County, CA
    8. Seattle, WA
    9. San Francisco, CA
    10. Boston, MA

    --  Lowest-scoring U.S. cities:

    1. Portsmouth, NH
    2. San Antonio, TX
    3. Los Angeles, CA
    4. Minneapolis, MN
    5. Kansas City, MO
    6. Washington, DC
    7. Riverside, CA
    8. Columbus, OH
    9. Fort Lauderdale, FL
    10. Miami, FL

    --  Toughest quiz category: Loans (average score: 61 percent)
    --  Easiest quiz category: Credit problems (average score: 71
        percent)

The FICO score is used to make billions of credit decisions each year, including more than 75 percent of mortgage loan originations. In addition, more than 40 of the nation's 50 largest financial institutions rely on the FICO score to determine an individual's credit risk. The myFICO Web site offers informative, actionable credit-information services that help people improve and protect their overall financial health. Through www.myFICO.com and its associates, over two and a half million FICO score-based information products have been purchased to date.

About Fair Isaac

Fair Isaac Corporation (NYSE:FIC) is the preeminent provider of creative analytics that unlock value for people, businesses and industries. The company's predictive modeling, decision analysis, intelligence management, decision management systems and consulting services power more than 25 billion mission-critical customer decisions a year. Founded in 1956, Fair Isaac helps thousands of companies in over 60 countries acquire customers more efficiently, increase customer value, reduce fraud and credit losses, lower operating expenses and enter new markets more profitably. Most leading banks and credit card issuers rely on Fair Isaac solutions, as do insurers, retailers, telecommunications providers, healthcare organizations and government agencies. Through the www.myFICO.com Web site, consumers use the company's FICO(R) scores, the standard measure of credit risk, to manage their financial health. As of August 5, 2002, the business of HNC Software Inc., a leading provider of high-end analytic and decision management software, is part of Fair Isaac. For more information, visit www.fairisaac.com.

Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Information

Except for historical information contained herein, the statements contained in this press release that relate to Fair Isaac are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including any unforeseen technical difficulties related to the implementation use and functionality of the myFICO(SM) offering, market acceptance of the offering, the risks that customers will not perceive material benefits from the offering, failure of the offering to deliver the expected results, the possibility of errors or defects in the offering, the company's ability to recruit and retain key technical and managerial personnel, the maintenance of its existing relationships with key alliance partners, competition, regulatory changes applicable to the use of consumer credit and other data, a lengthy sales cycle for our products, and other risks described from time to time in Fair Isaac's SEC reports, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2002, and Form 10-Q for the period ended December 31, 2002. If any of these risks or uncertainties materializes or any of these assumptions proves incorrect, Fair Isaac's results could differ materially from Fair Isaac's expectations in these statements. Fair Isaac disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

Fair Isaac, FICO, myFICO and HNC are trademarks or registered trademarks of Fair Isaac Corporation, in the United States and/or in other countries.

    CONTACT: Fair Isaac
             Investors/Analysts:
             Heidi Flannery, 800/213-5542
             investor@fairisaac.com
             Media:
             Craig Watts, 415/492-5399
             craigwatts@fairisaac.com

    SOURCE: Fair Isaac