As automakers try to entice consumers with low- and no-interest financing on new vehicles amid a slow economy and rising fuel prices, some small banks appear to be backing away from the auto-loan market, while credit unions and some larger banks still participate in the fray, industry insiders say.


The general slowdown in the auto industry, rather than automaker incentives, has had the greatest impact on auto-loan volumes, at least at Spokane Teachers Credit Union, says Patrick Garrity, the credit unions director of consumer lending.


Were not losing a lot of business because of those 3.9 percent or lower rates, Garrity says. The bigger impact is the overall auto-industry market has slowed.


About 15 percent of STCUs loan portfolio is in auto loans, he says, adding, We want to do auto loans.


Meanwhile, auto lending no longer is an emphasis at Inland Northwest Bank, says Randy Fewel, the Spokane-based banks president and CEO.


Over the years, auto financing has become less and less of our business, Fewel says. My guess is that 15 to 20 years ago, car loans might have been 20 percent of our business. Today, its about 2 percent.


Fewel says its difficult these days for many banks to compete with the rates offered by credit unions, automakers, and the national financing networks offered through dealerships.


Their rates are incredible, he says. We cant match them.


Don Webster, business manager at Wendle Motors Inc., of Spokane, says that despite auto manufacturers incentives on some models, the majority of financing used to buy cars through Wendle is handled through the dealerships online national lender networks, such as DealerTrack and Credit Union Direct Lending (CUDL). Such networks have become the dominant lending conduits in the last two years, he says.


Were handling 70 to 80 percent of the financing through them, Webster says, referring to the dealership, which sells Ford, Nissan, Infinity, and Suzuki vehicles.


He says the lender networks offer financing that typically matches or beats loan rates that car buyers can find on their own through banks and credit unions. Through the online systems, borrowers with good credit can have loans approved electronically in seconds, Webster says.


Because the Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.-based CUDL network includes about 50 credit unions in its Northwest region, the dealership often can arrange loans at the same rate customers can get from their own credit unions, he says.


If, for instance, you just moved here from Seattle, and youre still with Boeing Credit Union, we can do it all right here for you, Webster says.


If a customer isnt already a member of a credit union in the network, but wants to finance a vehicle through the network, Wendle can help them sign up as a credit union member.


In such an arrangement, the dealership charges the lender a processing fee.


Basically the lender pays us for doing the paperwork, he says. It doesnt cost the customer anything extra.


Meanwhile, though its nothing new for automakers to offer their own incentive financing as a way to attract more buyers to their dealers lots, in a soft auto-sales market those offers often intensify.


In recent newspaper ads, Saturn and GMC both were offering zero percent interest for 72 months, while Mazda was offering no-interest loans for up to 60 months. Downtown Toyota and Downtown Honda were advertising incentive rates on certified used vehicles.


Scott Brewer, general manager of George Gee Automotive Group, of Liberty Lake, which sells Buick, Pontiac, GMC, Hummer, and Porsche products, says banks and credit unions cant compete with the zero percent, 72-month financing that manufacturers offer.


In the current down market, however, most manufacturers who offer such incentives have put them on large SUVs and full-sized pickups, which arent selling well because gas prices are so high, Brewer says.


Even with the incentives, market values for trade-ins have dropped so much that the incentives havent sparked sales as they did when such financing was offered in 2006, he says.


Buyers are more interested in higher-gas-mileage vehicles, which are selling comparatively well without interest-rate incentives, Brewer says.


He also says most people are financing through institutions in the CUDL and DealerTrack networks.


Just about anybody who finances uses one of these two sources, he says.


Brewer says credit unions generally offer lower interest rates than banks, although larger banks, including Bank of America and U.S. Bank, can get aggressive and be reasonably competitive, offering some loan rates below 6 percent.


Spokane-based Washington Trust Bank isnt a member of the DealerTrack network, and the bank doesnt specialize in auto loans, says James Mellott, spokesman for the bank.


We advertise them on our Web site, but, other than that we dont market them, Mellott says. Commercial lending is our primary focus.


The bank, though, is marketing aggressively its line of home-equity loans, which he says often are tapped by customers to pay for automobiles, boats, and recreational vehicles.


Such loans typically have annual rates from 4 percent to 8 percent, he says.


Payments are more flexible for home-equity loans, and the terms for them can be extended, he adds.


Bank of Fairfield, a Rockford, Wash.-based community bank, doesnt participate in dealer networks and doesnt market auto loans, says Geoff Forshag, the banks president.


We dont as a practice have a large amount of auto loans, Forshag says. Customers who do have auto loans with us chose convenience as more important than the rates. They need to know they can get what they need in a short time.


STCUs Garrity says the credit union, which isnt a member of the CUDL network, was experiencing steady growth in auto loans until last spring. Then auto finance overall slowed down, he says, adding that the slowdown continued through the first four months of this year.


The last couple of months it has picked up, Garrity says. Consumer spending has been better than what most had expected.


Hes noticed that some people are taking out loans so they can switch to more fuel-efficient vehicles.


Were definitely hearing our members asking us if we know of dealerships with more economy-type vehicles, Garrity says.


STCU offers auto loans with financing as low as 5.74 percent for up to 84 months, he says.


The credit union also offers discounts to auto buyers who make their loan payments automatically through electronic means, and for those who have credit cards through STCU.


Lower-interest manufacturer financing might not be the best deal, depending on restrictions that can come with it, Garrity contends.


In general, you give up rebates to get the best financing rates offered by the manufacturer, he says.


Given a choice, rebates are sometimes worth more than the savings in interest on low-interest loans, he contends.


Thats something we encourage them to compare, he says. The rebate could be enough that they come out ahead taking the rebate and a higher-interest loan.


Auto financing isnt just for new cars, Garrity says, adding, We do more financing for used than new.


STCU encourages its members to arrange preapproved financing before they visit car dealerships.


If they choose financing at the dealerships, were OK with that, Garrity says. Maybe they will come to us before their next purchase.


Not everybody is going to qualify for the manufacturers low-interest financing, he says. Those who do qualify could get financing anywhere. Thats why we say compare.


Ann Flannigan, vice president of public relations at Washington State Employees Credit Union, a member of CUDL for four or five years, says the credit union offers 72-month loans with rates as low as 4.99 percent.


Through CUDL, the credit union had a near-record month for car-loan volume in May, Flannigan says.


She says customers are choosing rebates and discounts over manufacturers low-interest financing incentives.


Our customers are choosing cash savings up front instead of small savings over time, Flannigan says. They need a deeper discountnow.


She says many members have joined the credit union through CUDL. Its a significant factor in our membership growth, Flannigan says.


Contact Mike McLean at (509) 344-1266 or via e-mail at [email protected].