Overview

The Javelin Digital Lending report, Optimizing Digital Auto Lending to Overcome the Captive Advantage, makes the case that auto lenders — banks and credit unions, in particular — must shift their focus away from the indirect lending channel and prioritize direct lending, particularly through digital originations. This companion report further examines digital auto finance opportunities and explores the technology capabilities and lending strategies required to successfully compete in digital auto finance.
 
Key questions discussed in this report:
  1. What are the key characteristics of the digital automotive market for both dealers and lenders?
  2. What data and technology are needed to provide an automated and robust digital auto finance platform?
  3. How can lenders replicate the digital experience consumers get from shopping for vehicles when they’re obtaining financing? 

Companies Mentioned: Axos Bank, CarFax, Carvana, CarZing, Experian, Fair, JPMorgan Chase, LendingTree, Regions Bank, Upstart Network, Vroom

 

Methodology

Consumer data in this report was collected via an online survey fielded in April 2020, consisting of 475 consumers who obtained at least one auto loan or lease on or after January 2018.

 

Book a Meeting with the Author

Related content

April 13, 2026
Cash App P2P Lending and the Banking Liquidity Blind Spot

Cash App’s new feature that allows users to break P2P payments into short-term loans recognizes that short-term liquidity isn’t about traditional lending; it’s about meeting a mome...

February 24, 2026
Chime’s Digital Lending Playbook: Small Dollars, Big Ideas

Rather than competing with banks on loan volume or profitability, Chime’s lending playbook focuses on solving basic consumer cash flow issues through proactive decisioning, frictio...

December 30, 2025
What Lenders Can Learn from Fintech Chatbots

Javelin’s diagnostic analysis of AI-powered consumer-facing chatbots for 11 fintechs, non-bank lenders, and retail banks found that retail FIs consistently fail to provide personal...

Make informed decisions in a digital financial world

Let's Connect