Auto Financial Group Announces Signing of Security Service Federal Credit Union
HOUSTON--March 1, 2005--| Nation's Largest Indirect Lending Credit Union to Offer Driving Sense(TM) to Dealers Members |
Auto Financial Group (AFG), an online provider of residual-based financing products for credit unions, announced today that it has signed an agreement with Security Service Federal Credit Union (SSFCU). Based in San Antonio, SSFCU is the largest indirect lending credit union in the United States - it averages auto loans exceeding $100 million per month in Texas and Colorado. The credit union is the 10th largest in the country with assets of over $3.5 billion.
Under the agreement, SSFCU will offer AFG's Driving Sense(TM) program to its dealers located throughout Texas and Colorado. SSFCU currently serves over 550,000 members.
Driving Sense(TM) is an easy-to-use, Web-based program that allows credit unions to substantially improve their vehicle loan product offerings. By guaranteeing the predetermined residual value of a vehicle through third party insurance, AFG removes the financial risk of an auto loan to the credit union and empowers the credit union to compete with traditional loans and conventional leases.
Driving Sense(TM) offers credit unions with dealer indirect lending programs, like SSFCU, the ability to capture loans that dealers previously satisfied using auto manufacturer or bank supported leasing/balloon financing.
"Signing SSFCU is an important milestone for us," says Richard Epley, president of Auto Financial Group. "Our corporate mission is to become the nation's largest facilitator of residual-based financing for credit unions, and this agreement with SSFCU definitely advances that mission - not only in terms of assets, but also in terms of SSFCU's reputation and prominence in the industry." Auto Financial Group currently works with a growing list of more than 100 credit unions nationwide.
"Security Service is looking forward to working with the Auto Financial Group to increase the efficiency of our indirect lending program," says John Worthington, SSFCU senior vice president of corporate communications. "This is a terrific Web-based product, and we are confident it will help us grow our indirect lending program."
About Auto Financial Group Inc.
Auto Financial Group, Inc. is a Houston-based company that provides Driving Sense(TM), an online residual-based auto financing product for credit unions and other financial institutions. With Driving Sense(TM), credit unions can "build" a vehicle for their members, compare payment terms with conventional loans and offer their members lower payments (often as much as 40 percent lower), flexible two- to six-year terms, actual ownership of the vehicle and several end-of-term options.
Auto Financial Group removes the financial risk to the credit union by guaranteeing the predetermined residual value of the vehicle through third party insurance, as well as handling the vehicle's disposition. Auto Financial Group is paid one low administration fee for each Driving Sense(TM) loan, while the credit union earns all the interest. For more information, visit www.autofinancialgroup.com.
About Security Service Federal Credit Union
Security Service Federal Credit Union is the 10th largest credit union in the nation and the largest credit union in San Antonio. Security Service, recognized as a leader in the credit union industry, has implemented the latest technology to improve convenience and service to its members. With more than $3.5 billion in assets and membership exceeding 550,000, SSFCU has 21 locations in South Central Texas and seven facilities in Colorado. Visit Security Service Federal Credit Union on the Web at www.ssfcu.org.