SFG Finance LLC is making two major changes to its business model in the New Year.
First up, the purchaser of auto paper from buy-here, pay-here and new-car franchise dealers, finance companies, banks, and credit unions has developed a new scoring model for bulk purchases. The platform will allow for more assertive pricing and the ability to purchase across many credit ranges, from BHPH to superprime.
The bulk-purchase program, in development for the past two years, will feature a seven-day total turnaround from analysis to closing, and targets accounts with as little as 30 days of seasoning. Since it was founded in 2007, SFG purchased and closed portfolios from finance companies and dealers around the U.S. with portfolio sizes ranging from $500,000 to $150 million.
The second change is the introduction of a new flow program for banks, credit unions, and finance companies. The subprime credit program is collateral-based. Funding is from SFG’s parent bank, resulting in a more stable cost of funds as well as no need to securitize.
Another program SFG is unwrapping in 2013 is its Progressive Broker Fee program, which pays increased commissions based on annual volume.
SFG is a wholly owned subsidiary of Southside Bank, one of the nation’s largest independent banks. The Tyler, Texas-based lender has approximately $3 billion in assets.
Just checked the website – it appears that they’re able to locate your vehicle at physical or online auctions. Also, vehicles aren’t purchased by auction reps: “through our registered network of dealers we will represent your interest at the auction”
An interesting business for a community bank. While their current loan to deposit ratio is low, this will increase it quickly and most of the loans will be sub-prime. I wonder how much skin in the portfolios they will have to keep as they try to persuade financial institutions to participate? I also wonder how long did it take them to educate their regulators on the quantitative modeling? Or have they done so yet?