Finance & Lending
Finance & Lending
Expand approvals and fund faster with lender portals, subprime specialists, and credit-union plays—curated by a third-generation dealer at Angie’s Auto Supplies – Carlotsupplies.com.
- New dealers: master 2–3 lenders before expanding.
- Established stores: cover all credit tiers + CU option.
- Standardize stips & delivery checklists for speed.
National Finance Companies
Summaries below reflect real-world dealership experience. Programs change—final approvals, stips, and structures are set by the lender.
Nationwide programs with flexible guidelines and a powerful online portal through DealerCenter. Even if you rarely book Westlake, the ecosystem is valuable for submissions, deal structuring, and integrations (credit pulls, doc storage). Westlake can be a lifeline for customers with major credit obstacles—expect a learning curve to optimize advance, backend, and reserve.
Subprime specialist known for accepting older, higher-mile inventory. Can set up in-store contracting so your team signs docs at the dealership—reduces risk of losing buyers to competitors in dense markets. Good backbone lender for special-finance departments.
Strong special-finance partner across the Pacific Northwest and Nevada, with an easy online portal and in-store signing. From experience: they often favor stable employment (~2+ years, changes in the same line of work OK), consistent residence (~2 years local), and rough credit is workable if there aren’t open household collections. Prior repo or bankruptcy may be considered if there’s a clear, documented improvement in income or circumstances. These are pattern observations; United Finance makes all credit decisions.
Aggressive in subprime with a fully online platform and hands-on reps. Often competitive on tougher scenarios, including buyers who lack a Social Security Number or driver’s license (dealers must confirm ID and compliance requirements). Worth having in the mix for difficult credit and thin files.
A portal into credit-union financing that shoppers love—competitive rates and strong consumer trust. CUDL access can be selective: dealers typically need multi-million annual sales volume, newer/cleaner inventory mix, and time in business. If you’re not on CUDL yet, you can still win deals by partnering directly with local credit unions (see playbook below).
Find Local Credit Unions
Locate nearby credit unions and build relationships for prime approvals and member convenience.
STIPS — Mini-Checklist
Clip to your deal jacket. Verify before delivery / funding.- Driver’s License — clear copy, front & back.
- Pay Stubs (30 days) — sanity check: YTD ÷ month number (e.g., August = 8) ≈ claimed monthly gross.
- Proof of Address — postmarked mail or household bill with customer’s name & address.
- 6 References — name, address, phone; not living at the same address.
- Insurance (Full Coverage) — finance company listed as Lienholder; ≤ $500 deductibles for comp & collision.
- SS Card — sometimes required by specific lenders.
- Pre-fill this mini-checklist in every deal jacket for speed.
- Track time-to-fund by lender to spot bottlenecks.
- For subprime, pencil realistic targets: PTI and LTV matter.
- Rotate “first look” between lenders to keep relationships fresh.
- Print a purchase order (PO) with the credit union named as lienholder.
- Add a retail book sheet (KBB/NADA/JD Power) and your buyer’s stips to the PO.
- Send the customer to the credit union (walk-in or appointment). They hand the PO to a banker.
- Upon approval, the buyer returns with the CU check; you finalize and deliver.
- For speed, keep a short list of CU contacts and typical stips at the sales desk.
Note: Each CU has its own policy. Keep copies of IDs, verify insurance, and follow your store’s compliance procedures. This workflow is dealership opinion/experience—credit decisions are made solely by the lender.
- Verify and document insurance before delivery on financed deals (get the dec page).
- Use a signed stip sheet (driver’s license, income/residence, references, etc.).
- Follow your store insurance and test-drive policies—confirm with your carrier/agent.
- Keep copies and store digitally for faster funding audits.
This page provides dealership best-practice tips only and is not legal, tax, or compliance advice. Always follow lender program guides and your counsel.
Standardize your lender mix, dial stips, and stock the F&I desk with fresh jacket supplies.
Finance & Lending
Expand approvals and close more deals with national lenders and credit-union access. Curated by Angie’s Auto Supplies – CarLotSupplies.com.
National Finance Companies
Good mix of prime/subprime. Add your rep contacts as you develop relationships.
- Westlake Financial – broad programs, fast portals.
- Credit Acceptance – subprime specialist; strong for older inventory.
- United Finance Co. – regional to multi-state.
- Lobel Financial – flexible advance structures.
- CUDL (Credit Union Direct) – credit union network access through one portal.
Find Local Credit Unions
- NCUA Locator Tool – find credit unions by geography and charter.