Though credit unions have thrived in the current auto finance market, CU Direct is warning the 1,100 lenders on its platform to remain cautious as near-term macroeconomic factors -- like rising interest rates and a potential downturn -- are likely to spark additional risk factors. In this episode of The Roadmap, Auto Finance Excellence talks with Phil DuPree, CU Direct’s chief revenue officer, to discover how credit unions and other lenders can improve financing strategies amid the current market and outlines the top three ways to keep originations on an upward trajectory. 


Featuring Phil DuPree, Chief Revenue Officer, CU Direct

Episode 15: CU Direct Offers Tips for Origination Growth Despite Looming Economic Downturn

The carshare and rideshare markets are gaining traction, and financiers must adapt their strategies or risk getting left behind. In this episode of The Roadmap, Auto Finance Excellence talks with Brian Allan, senior director of strategic partnerships at HyreCar, to discover how lenders can modify financing practices with an eye toward the mobility-as-a-service paradigm shift. Allan also outlines tactics for managing loan terms with carshare and rideshare consumers.

Featuring Brian Allan, Senior Director, HyreCar

Episode 16: How Lenders Can Take Advantage of Mobility as a Service

Successful marketing hinges on knowing what consumers want — and part of that is knowing who your customers are. In this episode of The Roadmap, Auto Finance Excellence talks with Chase Auto's Chief Marketing Officer Melinda Welsh to explore the often-missed opportunity of marketing to underrepresented demographics and promoting diversity within the traditionally male-driven industry. Welsh, who will join AFE in a dynamic and engaging fireside chat at the upcoming Auto Finance Accelerate event, also outlines how auto financiers will need to adapt strategies as the role of marketing continues to evolve.

Episode 17: Chase Exec Outlines the Intersection Between Women, Marketing, and Auto Finance

Stiffer regulatory oversight of information protection practices has spurred lenders to reevaluate the way they collect and use personally identifiable consumer data. In this episode of The Roadmap, Auto Finance Excellence talks with two distinguished executives to identify what it takes to keep up with changing data security compliance requirements. Hyundai Capital America’s VP of Information Protection and Chief Information Security Officer Eddie Younker provides a guide for how lenders can build a strong foundation for information security practices. Also, McGlinchey Stafford’s Chief Privacy Officer and Commercial and Consumer Litigation Attorney Richik Sarkar details how lenders can protect themselves and their organizations from risks and liability when handling consumer data. 

Featuring Eddie Younker, VP of Information Protection and Chief Information Security Officer at Hyundai Capital America, and Richik Sarkar, Chief Privacy Officer and Commercial and Consumer Litigation Attorney at McGlinchey Stafford

Episode 18: Information Security Questions Every Lender Should Answer

Auto lenders are increasingly relying on nontraditional data as they hone underwriting to gain a competitive edge. Alternative data can open the door to unbanked and under-banked consumers, enabling lenders to extend beyond their typical customer base without assuming too much risk. In this episode of The Roadmap, Auto Finance Excellence chats with Chuck Berend, senior vice president and chief risk officer at First Investors Financial Services Group, about how lenders can navigate the pain points of alternative data and leverage nontraditional credit markers to sharpen decision-making.

Speaker:  Chuck Berend, Senior Vice President, Chief Risk Officer at First Investors Financial Services Group

Episode 19: Sharpening Decisions With Alternative Data

Technology is playing a more prominent role in auto financing as car buyers increasingly look for lenders to provide digital options for communication and payment. Today, customers expect content to relate to what they're doing anytime, anywhere and on any device. To that end, captive financier Nissan Motor Acceptance Corp. is meeting customer expectations with its online portal, text communications, and mobile computing applications. In this episode of The Roadmap, Auto Finance Excellence chats with NMAC's Colin Cooke, director of financial products, about strategies the captive has implemented to appeal to new customers online while keeping loyal customers in the fold. 

Featuring Colin Cooke, director of financial products, Nissan Motor Acceptance Corp.

Episode 20: Building and Retaining Customer Loyalty in the Digital Age

Engaging with prospective and existing customers through social media is becoming a topic of increasing interest in the auto finance industry, but many questions remain when it comes to how — and in which channels — lenders should spend their time. In this episode of The Roadmap, AFE chats with Saloni Janveja, executive director of social media and marketing innovation at Ally Financial, on compliance considerations when entering the realm of social, limitations of certain social media platforms, and best practices for engaging with consumers.

Episode 21: Social Media Do’s and Don’ts in Auto Finance

Emerging financier Lendbuzz is using learning algorithms to tap into a population of 45 million potential auto loan customers. Rather than rely on traditional credit scores, Lendbuzz analyzes educational and employment histories of foreign-born U.S. residents in their origin countries, along with their earning potential and cash flow. Three years into the business, Lendbuzz has secured $150 million in debt and equity financing and has since grown originations to exceed $100 million since the company launched. In this episode of The Roadmap, Auto Finance Excellence chats with Amitay Kalmar about the company’s plans for the fresh capital, geographic growth and tech enhancements to propel the startup onto the main stage.  

Featuring Amitay Kalmar, founder and CEO, Lendbuzz

Episode 22: Looking Beyond the Traditional Credit Score

Auto Finance Excellence (www.autofinanceexcellence.org) is proud to present The Roadmap, its new podcast on all things auto finance. This podcast delves into how auto finance works, and what are the deep trends industry executives should know about. Auto Finance Excellence is presented by Auto Finance News (www.autofinancenews.net)and Fiserv. If you are in auto finance, this is your podcast.

The Auto Finance Roadmap