LOS ANGELES — Westlake Financial Services has recently expanded into the state of Hawaii.

The company now operates in 37 states, with Hawaii officially being added the first of May.

"We are very excited to provide an additional lending source to both the independent and franchised dealers of the beautiful state of Hawaii," said Kyle Musil, Western regional manager. 

"We look forward to providing car shoppers additional financing options at a time when many lenders are scaling back or pulling out of the market. With our full spectrum of programs (from sub-prime to near-prime), a strong support staff, and marketing reps that are second to none, I'm looking forward to a very long and prosperous relationship with the dealers of Hawaii," he added.

Mark Vazquez, vice president of sales, added, "Westlake is financially strong, and we want to continue expanding and sharing that strength with our dealers. The more lending options dealers have, the stronger they become, and that in turn strengthens us. It's a mutually beneficial relationship, and I'm glad we are able to extend that relationship to Hawaii."

Greg Poppe, senior risk analyst, said the decision to move into the state was a logical one. 

"Hawaii hasn't been hit as hard by the economy as some of the other states," he explained. "According to the U.S. Bureau of Statistics, their unemployment rate is about 2 percent lower than the rest of the nation. This can have a huge impact on delinquency and performance. Additionally, there are relatively few lenders in the state so there is plenty of opportunity for us to grow."

Poppe concluded by saying, "Our buy program is here to help dealers sell more cars, and it was improved even more for Hawaii. This, combined with the dealers growing need for diversified lending sources, make Westlake a perfect fit. Aloha Hawaii."

Dealers in Hawaii who are interested in learning more about Westlake and how to join the dealer network for free can visit www.westlakefinancial.com or call (888) 8-YES-YES.