Auto Finance Excellence Awards 2025 honor leadership, innovation, performance 

LAS VEGAS — Auto Finance News presented the 21st Annual Auto Finance Excellence Awards during a luncheon ceremony at Auto Finance Summit 2025, recognizing outstanding achievements in innovation, performance and leadership across the auto finance industry. The annual awards celebrate companies and executives who exemplify excellence, integrity and advancement in the auto finance industry. 

The 2025 Auto Finance Excellence Awards recipients are: 

Operational excellence   

Wells Fargo Auto 

Wells Fargo Auto was recognized for its preferred financier arrangement with Volkswagen Financial Services, which was established in May and contributed to an 87% year-over-year jump in auto originations to $6.9 billion in Q2 2025.  

Under the multi-year co-branded agreement, Wells Fargo will provide financing for Volkswagen and Audi vehicles in the U.S., with Ducati to follow in 2026. The partnership marks a major strategic win for Wells Fargo Auto, the nation’s 11th-largest auto lender. 

Deal execution   

Alloya Corporate Federal Credit Union 

Alloya Corporate Federal Credit Union received honors for executing its first-ever asset-backed securitization (ABS) backed by prime auto loans from a group of three credit unions. The $150 million transaction — a rare collaboration across multiple credit unions — underscores Alloya’s innovation in cooperative finance and its growing role as a capital markets partner for credit unions nationwide. 

American Honda Finance Corp. 

American Honda Finance Corp. was recognized for executing two of the largest auto asset-backed securitization deals in recent history, including a $2.42 billion transaction in April — the biggest in 16 years — and a $2.36 billion deal just months earlier. The transactions demonstrate Honda’s leadership in structured finance and its continued strength in capital market execution. 

Leadership   

Elen Callahan, Head of Research & Education, Structured Finance Association 

Elen Callahan was honored for her decades of service to the financial community, mentorship and advocacy for integrity and transparency within structured finance. Her influence spans major institutions including Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse, and her ongoing contributions shape best practices across secondary markets and asset-backed finance. 

Mike Buckingham, Managing Director, Auto Finance, JD Power 

Mike Buckingham received recognition for his enduring leadership and commitment to improving performance and accountability in auto finance. With a career spanning executive roles at Chrysler Financial, Bank One, Hyundai Capital and now JD Power, Buckingham is known for his candor, strategic vision and dedication to excellence in the industry.  

Stay up to date on all the news coming out of Auto Finance Summit 2025 here.