Auto Financial Group

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.

09/01/2026

What an impressive demonstration at the Penfed Foundation's Golf Tournament. 🪂

09/01/2026

AFG is always proud to participate in the The PenFed Foundation for Military Heroes's Golf Tournament. 🏌️‍♀️

08/28/2026

Gene also stopped by Bridgeland Auto Brokers Inc. in NY and had the chance to meet with Jason Allen, a longtime supporter of the AFG program.

08/27/2026

TransUnion's Q2 2026 Credit Industry Insights Report shows LTV ratios have shifted meaningfully over 5 years. For credit unions, this translates to higher portfolio risk and tougher conversations with members who owe more than their vehicles are worth.

Listen to the podcast: https://www.autoremarketing.com/soundcloud_feed/deeper-dive-into-rising-ltvs-with-transunions-satyan-merchant

AFG's residual based financing helps manage this risk by setting a guaranteed future value at loan origination and giving borrowers a walk-away option at term end, protecting both the lender and the member from negative equity.

One of the notable findings from TransUnion's Q2 2026 Credit Industry Insights Report (CIIR) was how much loan-to-value ratios have changed in the past five yea

08/26/2026

Gene's traveling through the state of New York again🗽. This time he is visiting Beginnings Credit Union and also long time dealer partner Royal Auto Group in Cortland.

08/25/2026

A full day on the road for AFG's Jon Retzlaff and Tim Kern.

Started with dealer visits alongside our partner USF Credit Union. Ended the day over dinner with the USF leadership team, complete with a live Spanish dancing show.

Great conversation, great company, and a reminder that the strongest partnerships are built in person.

08/24/2026

The affordable used car is disappearing. Edmunds reports 3-year-old used vehicles hit a record average of $32,461 in Q2, and vehicles priced under $20,000 have shrunk from 55.2% of the market to just 31.8% over the past seven years.

For credit unions and lenders, that means higher loan amounts, tighter loan to value ratios, and more borrowers priced out of affordable financing.

AFG's programs close that gap with payments typically 30-45% lower than a conventional auto loan, available on used vehicles up to 5 model years old. Your borrowers get into a newer, pricier used vehicle without stretching into a longer term or risking negative equity.

Ford had the most used-vehicle sales of any brand from July 10-Aug. 9 and its F-150 was the top-selling used vehicle in the industry. The Blue Oval also swep