Auto Financial Group

09/24/2026

💰 🚘 The total cost of owning a car has climbed to $5,851 per year, driven by insurance up 50% since 2019, gas up 55%, and repairs up 23.5%. For your borrowers, every other ownership cost rising means less room in the budget for the monthly payment itself. That affordability squeeze shows up in your portfolio as stretched loan terms and delinquency risk.

AFG's residual based financing can help with programs that lower monthly payments by 30 to 45% compared with conventional auto loans, with terms at or under 72 months and a walk-away option that protects borrowers from negative equity.

Plus, Filosa on why Stellantis sees a divided auto world

09/23/2026

We're at the Sync1 Systems Lendtopia Conference this week! Stop by our booth if you're there and talk to us!

09/23/2026

Auto credit availability just hit a 9-year high, per the Dealertrack index. That means more deals are getting bought across credit tiers, and your credit union may soon feel pressure to compete on structure, not just approval rates. AFG's residual based financing gives your lending team a way to stand out with monthly payments typically 30 to 45% lower than conventional auto loans, all within terms at or under 72 months.

If you noticed more of your dealership teammates returning to potential car buyers with body language that indicated, “Yes! I got that deal bought,” the Aug

09/22/2026

🍂 🍂 Gene's kicking off fall in beautiful Maine, training dealerships with partner Maine State Credit Union .

09/17/2026

How dedicated is the AFG team, you ask? Well, AFG's Jon Retzlaff went to visit longtime partner 1st Community Federal Credit Union in Texas in August.

🥵 How hot does it get? With temps in the triple digits, they had to stand on a rock to take this picture because otherwise their shoes would have melted on the blacktop!

09/16/2026

Gene's been visiting the stores our long time partner Bob Johnson Auto Group this week. He's not beyond making our partners laugh when he visits. We also love the creative marketing of the AFG program, first thing you see as you walk through the door!

09/15/2026

We're excited to connect with attendees at Sync1’s Lendtopia conference next week. Stop by our booth ( #20) to learn how AFG is helping credit unions and their members achieve financial goals they thought were out of reach. Make an appointment with an AFG rep: https://autofinancialgroup.com/events/

09/03/2026

Refinancing is one tool. Offering a lower payment from the start is another!

Experian's latest Q2 data shows auto loan refinancing is picking up steam. Consumers who refinanced saved an average of $83 per month, dropping from a 10.40% original rate to 7.97%, typically around 26 months into their loan.

Credit unions led the pack with $102 in average monthly savings per refinanced loan, ahead of banks ($65) and finance companies ($38).

As Experian's Melinda Zabritski put it, refinancing gives consumers "another avenue to alleviate the monthly payment" while helping lenders "strengthen customer relationships and build long-term loyalty."

AFG's residual based financing programs help credit unions and lenders provide payments that are typically 25 to 40% lower than conventional financing, without stretching terms beyond 72 months. Borrowers get a more affordable payment upfront and a clear end-of-term path, including a walk-away option that helps them avoid negative equity.

Lower payments at origination. Stronger relationships. Healthier portfolios.

Read more:

Data from Experian’s State of the Automotive Finance Market Report: Q2 2026 might show why this scenario has unfolded with greater regularity. Dealerships

09/02/2026

AFG Announces Q2 2026 Results: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/auto-financial-group-announces-q2-2026-results-302867740.html?tc=eml_cleartime

09/02/2026

Experian's Q2 2026 State of the Automotive Finance Market report tells a familiar story: affordability pressure is not letting up.

Average new vehicle monthly payments climbed to $765, up $16 from a year ago. Used vehicle payments rose to $542. The average amount financed on a new vehicle hit $43,610, up $1,715 year over year.

Here is the part that stands out: average APRs actually came down (new: 6.35%, used: 11.19%), yet monthly payments still went up. Lower rates are not offsetting higher vehicle prices, and borrowers are stretching terms to keep payments manageable. 1 in 3 vehicle loans now exceed 72 months.

That tradeoff is the core problem. Extending terms lowers the payment but slows equity buildup and increases negative equity risk down the road.

There is a different path. AFG's residual based financing programs lower the monthly payment without relying on longer terms. Borrowers get a more affordable payment and a guaranteed future value with a walk-away option at maturity, which helps reduce or eliminate negative equity. Lenders get a stronger, shorter-duration loan with higher yield.

Find the full Experian report here:

Discover insights into auto loan trends, credit performance, and market analysis from Experian Automotive.