CENTENNIAL, Colo. — CU Direct Connect announced this week
that it has signed an agreement with AutoNation that names CU Direct Connect as
a preferred lender for all of the dealer group's stores in Colorado.

The agreement was effective as of Thursday.

Officials said that CU Direct Connect, through its 34 member
credit unions, is collectively the largest auto lender in Colorado; while
AutoNation, through its 17 Go dealerships, is the largest volume auto dealer in
the state.

The companies expect this agreement to lead to mutually
beneficial increases in automotive loan and lease volume and revenues.

Through three quarters of this year, CU Direct Connect
enjoyed a 43-percent increase year-over-year in loan volume and a 67-percent
spike in lease volume.

"It makes sense for the Colorado automotive market's largest
lender group and largest dealer group to cooperate for mutual growth and
benefit," CU Direct Connect chief operating officer Tom Helmers said.

"We've enjoyed a positive relationship for many years, and
this new preferred lender agreement will help us move that relationship to an
even higher level going forward," Helmers concluded.