Natalie Mattila

Business Intelligence, Business Woes: Why Machine Learning is Causing Regulatory Concern

Toys ‘R’ Us plans to shutter all 200 of its physical stores after filing for bankruptcy, an indication to retailers of the changing landscape of consumers increasingly opting for online shopping and digital platforms. This shifting consumer mindset is not just affecting e-commerce, but also the auto finance industry — which appears to be on […]

• Natalie Mattila
• May 25, 2018
• Archives, Features, Innovation & Technology, Risk Management

Vroom Reduces Staff as Former Founder Spearheads Growth at RumbleOn

As online used-motorcycle retailer RumbleOn grows, the car company upon which it was modeled — called Vroom — is faltering. On-demand car marketplace Vroom laid off an undisclosed portion of its staff earlier this month, a company spokesperson confirmed to Powersports Finance. The news comes on the heels of growth at online used-motorcycle retailer RumbleOn, […]

• Natalie Mattila
• April 4, 2018

Bank of the West Eyes Powersports, Marine Startups for Accelerator Program

SAN FRANCISCO — Bank of the West is scouting RV and marine startups for its accelerator, called FinLab, in conjunction with innovation center L’Atelier BNP Paribas North America, Powersports Finance has learned. Both institutions are owned by French bank BNP Paribas. FinLab sources ideas, designs prototypes, and tests concepts with Bank of the West in […]

• Natalie Mattila
• April 3, 2018
• Innovation & Technology

Pelican Ceases Originations Citing Increased Competition, Low Margins

Pelican Auto Finance LLC ceased originations and sold 95% of its portfolio earlier this month because it “entered the cycle at the wrong point,” Co-Founder and Chief Executive Troy Cavallaro told Auto Finance News. When Pelican entered the sector in 2013, “we thought it was the third inning of the cycle, but it was probably […]

• Natalie Mattila
• March 27, 2018
• All Posts, Credit Performance, Risk Management

P2P Finance Site Plans Powersports Integration in 3Q

SAN FRANCISCO — Trusted.Sale, a cashless platform that allows individuals to pay for and finance items in peer-to-peer transactions, plans to onboard powersports and recreational vehicles in the third quarter, Founder and Chief Executive Paul Brobson told attendees at Auto Finance Innovation 2018 in early March. The two-year-old company is relaunching its website, he added. […]

• Natalie Mattila
• March 27, 2018
• Credit Performance, Innovation & Technology

Nicholas Financial Gears Up for Return to ‘Disciplined’ Subprime Underwriting

Amid a 41% year-over-year decline in originations during the fourth quarter of 2017, Nicholas Financial hopes to get “back to the basics” and reestablish its presence in the deep-subprime market, new Chief Executive Doug Marohn told Auto Finance News. “Nicholas is a lot of things, and Nicholas has enjoyed a very specific reputation for decades, a positive one,” […]

• Natalie Mattila
• March 26, 2018
• All Posts, Credit Performance, Risk Management

French Captive Preps Direct Lending Platform Following Successful Tests in Europe

SAN FRANCISCO — RCI Bank and Services is testing direct lending in Europe, which the captive hopes to eventually expand into additional markets, Francois Peltier, RCI’s director of open innovation, said at Auto Finance Innovation 2018. Direct lending is a “huge opportunity,” and RCI Bank and Services is taking it “very seriously,” Peltier told attendees. […]

• Natalie Mattila
• March 23, 2018
• Innovation & Technology

BREAKING: Pelican Halts Originations, Transfers Portfolio to Westlake

Pelican Auto Finance LLC, a deep-subprime lender, stopped originating loans and transferred 95% of its portfolio to Westlake Financial Services‘ new venture Westlake Portfolio Management LLC on March 15, Auto Finance News has learned. Pelican halted originations as of Dec. 1, 2017, but began to taper off originations months before that time, co-founder and Chief […]

• Natalie Mattila
• March 21, 2018
• All Posts, Credit Performance, Risk Management