ARTICLE
Falcon Heights, MN - Blaze Credit Union was recently honored with a 2023 Economic Vehicle Accessibility Award (EVAA) from Open Lending, an industry trailblazer in automotive lending enablement and risk analytics solutions for financial institutions. The inaugural EVAAs honor Open Lending’s partners for their commitment to driving access to vehicle ownership through equitable financing opportunities for consumers in the near- and non-prime credit tiers. “Open Lending is proud to recognize the incredible work that credit unions and banks do to bring loan opportunities to underserved consumers,” said Kevin Filan, senior vice president of marketing at Open Lending. “Creditworthy near- and non-prime loan applicants are frequently overlooked, and they often need financing opportunities to become vehicle owners and achieve upward credit mobility. We established the EVAAs to honor partners like Blaze for going above and beyond in their service to these consumers, and to inspire other financial institutions to do the same.” Awards are based on categories defined by the asset size of the credit union and judged by the number of Lenders Protection certified loans booked for the 2023 calendar year. “It’s an honor to be recognized by Open Lending, but this is really about staying true to the credit union promise to serve those who might be underserved,” said Dave Walters, Vice President of Consumer Lending Sales. “Purchasing a vehicle is empowering, and we’re proud to be able to work with so many members to get them behind the wheel, and at the same time building or rebuilding their credit with a successfully paid loan.” About Open Lending Open Lending (NASDAQ: LPRO) provides loan analytics, risk-based pricing, risk modeling, and default insurance to auto lenders throughout the United States. For over 20 years we have been empowering financial institutions to create profitable auto loan portfolios with less risk and more reward. For more information, please visit www.openlending.com. About Blaze Credit Union Born in 2024 out of a merger-of-equals between Hiway Credit Union and SPIRE Credit Union, Blaze is a full-service financial institution, proudly serving Minnesota and Wisconsin residents with Depression-era roots dating back to 1931. Blaze serves nearly 250,000 members in Minnesota and beyond, registers $4.0B in assets, and serves 26 branch communities. Blaze is here to help members Go for it, whatever their “it” may be, providing guidance along life’s twists and turns. Driven by Midwestern values like community, integrity, and plain old hard work, Blaze Credit Union is committed to providing smart financial products, great rates, and top-tier service as it lives its mission of improving lives. For more information, please visit blazecu.com.
Falcon Heights, MN - Blaze Credit Union was recently honored with a 2023 Economic Vehicle Accessibility Award (EVAA) from Open Lending, an industry trailblazer in automotive lending enablement and risk analytics solutions for financial institutions. The inaugural EVAAs honor Open Lending’s partners for their commitment to driving access to vehicle ownership through equitable financing opportunities for consumers in the near- and non-prime credit tiers.
“Open Lending is proud to recognize the incredible work that credit unions and banks do to bring loan opportunities to underserved consumers,” said Kevin Filan, senior vice president of marketing at Open Lending. “Creditworthy near- and non-prime loan applicants are frequently overlooked, and they often need financing opportunities to become vehicle owners and achieve upward credit mobility. We established the EVAAs to honor partners like Blaze for going above and beyond in their service to these consumers, and to inspire other financial institutions to do the same.”
Awards are based on categories defined by the asset size of the credit union and judged by the number of Lenders Protection certified loans booked for the 2023 calendar year.
“It’s an honor to be recognized by Open Lending, but this is really about staying true to the credit union promise to serve those who might be underserved,” said Dave Walters, Vice President of Consumer Lending Sales. “Purchasing a vehicle is empowering, and we’re proud to be able to work with so many members to get them behind the wheel, and at the same time building or rebuilding their credit with a successfully paid loan.”
About Open Lending
Open Lending (NASDAQ: LPRO) provides loan analytics, risk-based pricing, risk modeling, and default insurance to auto lenders throughout the United States. For over 20 years we have been empowering financial institutions to create profitable auto loan portfolios with less risk and more reward. For more information, please visit www.openlending.com.
About Blaze Credit Union
Born in 2024 out of a merger-of-equals between Hiway Credit Union and SPIRE Credit Union, Blaze is a full-service financial institution, proudly serving Minnesota and Wisconsin residents with Depression-era roots dating back to 1931. Blaze serves nearly 250,000 members in Minnesota and beyond, registers $4.0B in assets, and serves 26 branch communities. Blaze is here to help members Go for it, whatever their “it” may be, providing guidance along life’s twists and turns. Driven by Midwestern values like community, integrity, and plain old hard work, Blaze Credit Union is committed to providing smart financial products, great rates, and top-tier service as it lives its mission of improving lives. For more information, please visit blazecu.com.