On one of our latest episodes of the AFSA Extra Credit Podcast, Celia Winslow, President and CEO of AFSA sits down with the oldest and youngest generation of the family business at 1st Franklin Financial. While both go by Ben Cheek, one is a recent graduate of Auburn University and the newest generation of Cheek serving as a Project Coordinator in the family business, while the other, his grandfather and the Chairman Emeritus, Mr. Ben Cheek III, has just celebrated a remarkable 65 years of service with the company.
Discover a heartfelt conversation of how 1st Franklin Financial has grown over the decades and explore how the development of new technology, like AI, affects the installment lending industry. Throughout the conversation, the Cheeks reflect on their generational differences but return to a truth at the heart of the company; adapting to technology should never mean losing sight of human connection and customer service. Listen to the full podcast, Balancing Tradition and Innovation: A Conversation Across Generations with 1st Franklin Financial.
On one of our latest episodes of the AFSA Extra Credit Podcast, Celia Winslow, President and CEO of AFSA sits down with the oldest and youngest generation of the family business at 1st Franklin Financial. While both go by Ben Cheek, one is a recent… Read the rest
Last week, AFSA’s SGA team attended the American Association of Residential Mortgage Regulators (AARMR) Conference in Bellevue, Washington.
The team participates in this conference each year to track emerging mortgage policy and regulatory… Read the rest
August 20, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. ET
Consumer lenders closely monitor the cost of accepting payments, often focusing on transaction fees and processor invoices. But what if those costs represent only a small fraction of what it actually takes to… Read the rest
The Loan Is Booked. The Profit Isn’t.
Servicing Is Eating Originations: What Lenders Are Missing After the Loan Is Booked
August 13, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. ET
Auto lending has traditionally focused on winning at origination, but the next competitive… Read the rest
August 20, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. ET
Consumer lenders closely monitor the cost of accepting payments, often focusing on transaction fees and processor invoices. But what if those costs represent only a small fraction of what it actually takes to… Read the rest
Consumer confidence slid again in July. The Conference Board reported Tuesday that its Consumer Confidence Index fell to 90.8 — below the 92.3 economists expected — as Americans’ assessment of current business and labor market conditions… Read the rest
August 13, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. ET
Auto lending has traditionally focused on winning at origination, but the next competitive advantage may come from managing the portfolio after the loan is booked. This session explores how servicing has become… Read the rest
“Industry Expertise” is sponsored content produced by AFSA’s Business Partners’ to provide thought leadership and best practices for AFSA member companies. For more information about this sponsored content opportunity, contact AFSA… Read the rest
AFSA President and CEO Celia Winslow will be testifying on Capitol Hill later this morning, examining legislative proposals to strengthen consumer protection. AFSA’s testimony, which you can read here.
Debt settlement companies advertise… Read the rest
