March Madness is here, and if there’s one thing we can count on, it’s that speed changes everything. Every year, we see fast-paced teams run their opponents off the court. They push the tempo, force turnovers, and capitalize on opportunities before the other team even knows what hit them. The teams that play slow, hesitate, or take too long to adjust? They’re the ones packing their bags early.
The same thing is happening in auto finance. Speed matters—maybe now more than ever. Lenders who move too slowly in approving deals, funding loans, and adapting to market shifts are getting left behind. Customers expect answers instantly. Dealers want to be funded yesterday. The competition is moving faster, and if lenders aren’t keeping up, they’re going to find themselves sitting on the sidelines watching other players take the lead.
Let’s start with loan approvals. A borrower applies for financing, and they expect a near-instant decision. If one lender can approve them in minutes using AI-driven decisioning while another takes hours—or worse, days—who do you think is winning that business? Borrowers aren’t going to wait around, and neither are the dealers trying to close the sale. Lenders who implement automated underwriting, real-time income verification, and AI-driven risk analysis will not only speed up approvals but will also make smarter, more accurate lending decisions.
Funding delays are just as big of a problem. If one lender can fund a deal in hours while another takes a week, the choice is easy for dealers. The ones that fund faster get more business, build stronger relationships, and ultimately dominate the market. Solutions like digital contracting, eSignatures, and automated funding workflows eliminate manual back-and-forths, reduce errors, and speed up the entire process. Lenders that streamline these steps will win more deals—simple as that.
And then there’s adaptability. The best teams in March Madness adjust their game plan in real-time. If their opponent is shooting lights out from three, they switch up their defense. If the refs are calling a tight game, they adjust their strategy. But in lending, I see too many lenders refusing to adjust to the market. They stick with outdated processes while digital transformation changes everything around them. The lenders that win are the ones already using open banking to instantly verify financials, AI-driven fraud detection to prevent bad loans before they happen, and automation to make lending seamless.
In March Madness, if you’re too slow, you lose. In auto finance, it’s the same. Lenders who take too long to approve loans, fund deals, or adopt new technology will lose business to those who move faster.
So, here’s my question—what’s slowing your process down the most? Is it manual approvals? Funding delays? Outdated tech? Let’s talk about how lenders can speed up and start winning more deals.
📌 Watch my full take in this video:
