HOUSTON — Auto Financial Group, an online provider of residual-based financing products for credit unions, signed an agreement with GPO Federal Credit Union under which GPO will offer AFG’s DrivingSense as both a direct and an indirect lending option.

DrivingSense is a low-payment vehicle financing product that offers the lease-like benefits of a balloon loan to credit unions and their members. The DrivingSense CarBuilder calculator, a customized secure website, provides AFG's credit union partners and their members with the ability to “build” vehicles and compare payment terms with conventional loans in one easy process. Credit union members receive the benefit of a low payment (often as much as 40 percent lower than a conventional loan payment), flexible two- to six- year terms, actual ownership of the vehicle and several end-of-term options, including the lease-like option of being able to surrender the vehicle and walk away in lieu of paying the final loan payment.

DrivingSense removes the financial risk to the credit union by guaranteeing the predetermined residual value of the vehicle through third party insurance, as well as handling the vehicle’s disposition at the end of the term. AFG is paid one low administration fee for each DrivingSense loan, while the credit union earns all the interest.

GPO accepts members from more than 150 sponsored employee groups in communities in and around Utica, N.Y., including Oneida, Herkimer and Madison counties. It has been in existence for more than 75 years, has over $130 million in assets, and more than 20,000 members served by 50-plus employees.

“We chose DrivingSense for two primary reasons,” stated John Prumo, GPO's CEO. "First of all, it is affordable. It gives our members the ability to purchase a better vehicle at a lower monthly payment while still having complete ownership of the vehicle."

"The second reason is that DrivingSense provides us with a product offering that truly brings value to our members in multiple ways."

AFG President Richard Epley responded, "We are pleased to be working with a credit union with such a rich history, and we look forward to providing their members with lower payments, as well as to helping train local auto dealers in the program."