ALEXANDRIA, Va.-One of the biggest credit union auto lenders in the country believes its 2.99% rate needs some help to compete with bank and manufacturer financing, and has added a car-buying website that offers members prices averaging some $4,000 below MSRP.
According to Ben Scandlen, VP of marketing and online for the $15.4-billion Pentagon FCU, that combination is what it takes to win business in a hyper-competitive auto loan market.
And results support the strategy. "We are currently 100% above our goal since we launched the site in early February," said Scandlon, choosing not to disclose actual loan volume. "This really helps to compete on the new auto side, because there are some great rates out there."
PFCU is partnering with Zag and TrueCar Inc. on the PendFed Auto Buying Program. Members go to
"You see a bell curve of prices," explained Scandlen. "You can see the average people are paying, and then the high and low ends. So you know whether the dealer's offer is a good one."
How Members Buy
Members do not key in personal information to receive bids. If they like a deal, they enter their information and then go to the dealership to buy the car. The member has to take PenFed financing to get the reduced price. Scandlen said the site was built not just to offer good deals, but to increase member service. "It makes the car-shopping process so much simpler, saving members time and money. We want to provide an exceptional member experience, as well as great deals."
The 2.99%APR rate is good for new and used, up to 60 months, and $100 off the loan price is tossed in for refis. PenFed recently dropped its used rate from 3.24% and the new rate had been 2.99%. The low rates are only good online-3.99% is what members get at branches. "We are doing about 70% of our auto loan business online," Scandlen said.
Scandlen termed the website "turnkey," saying Zag manages the relationship with dealers across the U.S. PenFed, nor CU members, pay a fee for the site. The credit union has been advertising the car-buying service, telling members they not only get a 2.9% rate, but $4,000 off MSRP. Ads say, "If you can find a better deal, TAKE IT!"
