It’s always risky to put economic commentary into print, as the one is more fleeting than the other. A “reasoned analysis” can quickly appear to be a “ridiculous prediction” simply because of a quick shift in real world facts. The risk grows in times of financial market volatility, trade tensions, heightened geopolitical risks, or significant […] [Read More]

The General Data Protection Regulation, commonly known as GDPR, is a regulation in EU law on data protection and privacy for all individuals within the European Union. The law was put into place on April 27, 2016 and allotted a two-year adoption grace period for businesses to strategize and implement compliance.  The GDPR encompasses all areas of […] [Read More]

In mid-April, it was announced that Tim Russi, the longtime leader of auto finance at Ally, would depart the company in October. Look back at his impact at Ally in this podcast conversation with Nick Zulovich, recorded at AFSA's Vehicle Finance Conference in March. They talk about changes in the auto finance landscape, consumer behavior […] [Read More]

Westlake Financial Services has teamed up with Ally Financial to include its cars on Ally's SmartAuction online auction platform. The Westlake vehicles, which include a variety of brands, have been available to dealers registered on SmartAuction since May 1. "We are excited to team with Westlake, a growing national leader in the automotive industry, to be part of […] [Read More]

Perhaps an unfortunate incident involving a Florida man trying to buy a Ford F-150 could serve as appropriate evidence as to why working with reputable dealerships and finance companies might be best when purchasing a vehicle. Over the past few years, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) has warned consumers to be on the lookout for […] [Read More]

Wantalease.com spotted a monthly lease offer for a full-size pickup on par with compact cars and likely less than half of what a monthly payment attached to a retail installment sales contract might be. Going for just $169 per month, Wantalease.com noticed that consumers on its site can secure a Ram 1500 Crew Cab. That’s […] [Read More]

Finance companies are fighting a cyber-war against criminals who carry out millions of daily attacks in a bid to steal personal data and defraud businesses of millions of dollars. That is the stark message from data security expert Royce Curtin, managing director of global intelligence at Barclays, who warns finance companies that they must constantly […] [Read More]

Dealers who use XLerate Group to acquire their inventory now have more financing flexibility. XLerate Group announced on Tuesday that dealer floorplan company XLFunding is now available at all of its auction locations. XLFunding is a full-service flooring company with flexible tiers, local title services and a simple credit line process for dealers. As part […] [Read More]

JM Family Enterprises will have a new chief executive officer on July 1. Replacing Colin Brown, who was appointed CEO in 2003 by company founder Jim Moran, will be Brent Burns, who is JM’s current president and chief operating officer. Brown will remain board chairman and provide guidance to Burns in the new post. Burns has […] [Read More]

Automotive finance has gone from a world of paper stacks and faxes to smartphones and apps. It’s also starting to become a lot more efficient, as players like SpringboardAuto aim to provide end-to-end car financing online. Hear what Jim Landy, founder and chief executive of SpringboardAuto, had to say about this auto fintech evolution in the […] [Read More]