Oregon CU customizes loan rates with new digital platform

Oregon Community Credit Union has launched phase one of its digital platform, a move meant to “set the foundation” for the credit union’s new focus toward automation, Chris Whittaker, vice president of consumer lending, told Auto Finance News.  The Eugene, Ore.-based credit union, which originated $350 million in auto and RV loans last year, launched […]

• Nicole Casperson
• August 19, 2019
• Customer Experience, Innovation & Technology, Sales & Marketing

Oregon CU Caps Loans at 84 Months Despite Consumer Demand for Longer Terms

Despite increasing customer requests for 96-month auto loans, Oregon Community Credit Union caps terms at 84 months, Ethan Nelson, Oregon Community Credit Union vice president of credit administration, told Auto Finance News. While indirect auto lending at the credit union has decreased in the past year, Nelson said the lack of 96-month financing was not […]

• Monica Melton
• December 21, 2018
• Credit Performance, Risk Management

Credit Unions Jockey for Marketshare

As used-car financing gains popularity and banks shy away from new-car loans, credit unions are jockeying for marketshare, partnering with service providers and teaming with other lenders to spark auto loan interest. “[Banks are] making a lot of moves that are making it easy for us,” Chris Whittaker, director of lending services at Oregon Community […]

• Auto Finance News
• June 15, 2018
• Archives, Credit Performance, Features, Risk Management

Credit Unions Stick to Lending Approach Despite Interest Rate Hikes

Despite three Federal Reserve interest rate hikes in the past year and another two on the horizon, several credit unions are sticking to their lending strategies. “It’s definitely had an impact on us and our rates,” Ethan Nelson, vice president of lending at Oregon Community Credit Union, told Auto Finance News. Even so, OCCU plans to […]

• Emma Sandler
• May 2, 2018

Troubled Waters: Hurricanes Strain Vehicle Inventory, Boost Used Values

In the wake of the recent hurricanes — Harvey in Texas and Irma in Florida — the industry is beginning to recover, with an uptick in sales and a boost in used-car values on the horizon. “On the volume impact, we expect Harvey and Irma to [negatively] impact volume in September by less than 10%,” […]

• Natalie Mattila
• October 23, 2017
• All Posts, Credit Performance, Features, Risk Management

Dealers Scramble for Inventory After Harvey

There might not be enough inventory in Texas to satisfy the demand for new vehicles to replace the units lost during Hurricane Harvey, Jerry Liudahl, chief credit officer at Oregon Community Credit Union, told Auto Finance News. “With the natural disasters that are occurring — with the terrible experience in Texas and with what just […]

• Jennifer Ruther
• September 22, 2017
• All Posts, Credit Performance, Risk Management

Oregon Credit Union Thrives by Focusing on Prime Market

Oregon Community Credit Union is experiencing an increasing volume of originations in a market where auto lenders are scrambling to increase their marketshare, Chief Credit Officer Jerry Liudahl told Auto Finance News. The credit union’s originations year to date are “are running about 26% ahead of what they were a year ago,” he said, and […]

• Jennifer Ruther
• September 11, 2017
• All Posts, Credit Performance, Risk Management

Oregon Community CU Pushes Mobile Payments

Oregon Community Credit Union (OCCU) is striving to stay relevant to millennial buyers by shifting its focus this year to improving its mobile payment functions, according to Chief Credit Officer Jerry Liudahl. While OCCU already has a mobile app for consumers to make payments and complete an online loan application, the ability to get a loan arranged […]

• Natalie Mattila
• June 6, 2016
• All Posts, Archives, Innovation & Technology