The CUDL Network included 16,000 auto dealers nationwide in 2021.

Origence signed new agreements with 38 credit unions in 2021. At year's end, 1,157 credit unions, serving 64 million members were using Origence's lending technology solutions, including its CUDL and Lending 360 lending platforms, Origence marketing automation platform, and AutoSMART auto shopping program. That's up from a base of 1,117 credit unions serving 47.8 million members at the end of 2017.

The CUSO has grown from nine shareholders in 1998 to 115 credit union shareholders in 2021.

Tony Boutelle, president/CEO of Origence and CU Direct, said the CUSO remains focused on delivering technology that helps its credit union partners make more loans and create a better member experience.

"Credit unions continue to demonstrate their ability to excel at member service efficiency to compete and win in the lending marketplace," Boutelle said. "Our commitment to the success of our credit union partners and their members remains front and center."

On Wednesday, CU Direct announced that it has changed the name of its loan services subsidiary based in Centennial, Colo., just south of Denver, from CU Direct Connect to Origence Lending Services. CU Direct acquired the CUSO in 2019. The CUSO was founded in 2002, and affiliated credit unions generated $2.61 billion in indirect car loans in 2017.

Origence Lending Services provides operations services such as stacking, letter processing, and verification calls.

Two new clients last year were Long Island's Bethpage Federal Credit Union ($11.5 billion in assets, 432,699 members) and Oregon State Credit Union ($2.1 billion in assets, 132,837 members) of Corvallis, about 80 miles south of Portland. For Bethpage, Origence Lending Services reviews auto leases. For Oregon State CU, it provides backup underwriting support on weekends, holidays and overflow periods

Credit unions have historically used an outsourced provider to backup staff, but Brian Hamilton, president of Origence Lending Solutions, said the new value-proposition for lenders is to use its services to "de-risk" expansions into new geographic areas or new loan products by eliminating the need to guess the staff requirements.

"By extending organic workforce capabilities, our lenders have been able to drive operational efficiencies, explore new ventures with less risk, and quickly respond to shifts in the market," Hamilton said.