DENVER — While Auto Advisors and Advantage Auto Finders are both growing their business with credit unions, there are other options available to CUs. Many individual CUs run their own auto advisory service with their own staff. Some hire consultants to fill the need.

Automotive Avenues, (www.autoaves.com) a division of Aimbridge Lending Solutions, is a Colorado Dealership that works with 50 credit unions in the Centennial State. To date, Automotive Avenues has provided an all-inclusive auto buying option to more than 60,000 credit union members, said the company. Aimbridge Auto Services (www.aimbridge.com) recently partnered with Colorado State Employees Credit Union (CSECU) here to provide members with its own alternative to a traditional car dealership. Automotive Avenues offers an all-inclusive new and used car buying service as well as a service and parts facility and on-site financing and leasing.

CSECU continues to increase its lending through persistence in marketing and enhanced member services, said Schneider, despite decreasing loan volume in most of Colorado. The $1.7 billion CSECU has a vehicle portfolio of $336 million, nearly half of its entire lending volume.