Skip to main content

Press Release: Auto Link Patent Pending




 

Auto Link Newsletter



NEW ORLEANS, LA. — Auto Link announced today that the company has filed with the US Patent & Trademark Office for a patent that covers the ability to seamlessly embed a third-party, white-label website into a host website.

The normal method of embedding a third-party web content into a host website is using an iframe.  However this method is not seamless and introduces several inconveniences and difficulties for the end-user, as well as obvious visual cues indicating the content is from a third-party.

The patent application is for a system and method that, among other things, places all the typical auto research, buying, and financing tools seamlessly on the Credit Union's website and out of the view of the internet advertising companies such that the Credit Union may be competitive in the auto lending market and achieve its mission of enhancing the financial well-being of its members.

The internet has caused a significant paradigm shift in how consumers research, buy, and finance vehicles. A typical consumer today will spend ten or more hours online researching prior to buying a vehicle. Consumers are bombarded with auto loan and finance options while performing this research, and many of these finance options come with instantaneous approval. Additionally, cookies from various automobile research sites are placed on the consumer's internet device, which further instructs banners on webpages how to gear their ads. As a result, the majority of auto loans are now made via the internet and at auto dealerships where the financing and auto protection products are not as consumer friendly as they would be at a Credit Union.

“The internet is here, it's real, and consumers are increasingly using the internet for shopping for everything from clothes, to homes and cars,” said Auto Link CEO Edward Bourgeois.

Bourgeois said this patent is a step towards preventing credit unions with more limited resources than big fin-tech companies from going the way of organizations like Blockbuster that refused to embrace new technologies.

“As a technology and marketing company, with a specific goal of keeping Credit Union's relevant and competitive in the auto finance space, we are excited to be able to quickly and seamlessly bring our patent pending Auto Link Solution to credit union's nationwide; guaranteeing their member-owned competitive advantage will survive and thrive in the new auto lending paradigm,” said Bourgeois.

About Auto Link

Auto Link offers a best in class solution for credit unions of all sizes looking to have a more successful and profitable auto-lending program, including those that do indirect auto financing. Auto Link provides a complete auto lending solution from web interface, marketing library, social media portal, training tools and analytics to a built-in loyalty feature. Each member that finances a vehicle at an Auto Link credit union, automatically receives a myEZ Car Care membership filled with discounts at over 10,000 locations nationwide and an Electronic Glove Box® desktop and mobile app.




Comments

Popular posts from this blog

New York Stock Exchange building venue for 24/7 tokenized stock and ETF exchange

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), via its owner   Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) , is building a new digital trading venue for 24/7 trading of tokenized stocks and ETFs, using blockchain and stablecoin-based funding for instant settlement, aiming to modernize markets by running parallel to the traditional exchange. This platform will support native digital securities and traditional shares as tokens, allowing for continuous liquidity and integrating digital assets into mainstream finance, with plans to launch later in 2026 after regulatory approval.   Key Features of the New NYSE Platform: 24/7 Trading:  Operates continuously, unlike the traditional exchange's weekday hours. Instant Settlement:  Transactions settle immediately, moving away from the current T+1 (trade date plus one day) model. Stablecoin-Based Funding :  Uses stablecoins (digital tokens pegged to fiat currency like the USD) for funding and collateral, streamlining processes outside banking hou...

Breaking: NCUA Moves to Remove a Major Barrier to Board Service

NCUA just proposed a rule that would allow federal credit unions to reimburse or directly pay reasonable dependent care costs for volunteer officials when those costs are incurred while attending board meetings or performing official duties. Childcare and eldercare costs are real barriers to serving on a board — especially for working professionals, single parents, and caregivers. At the same time, expectations for board engagement, training, and oversight continue to rise. A few important guardrails remain: ✔️ Applies only to federal credit unions ✔️ Covers dependent care only — not lost wages or compensation ✔️ Requires written board policy and reasonable controls ✔️ IRS tax treatment still applies (talk to your CPA) Bottom line: this won't fix board recruitment challenges by itself, but it removes a real friction point for people who want to serve and simply can't absorb the added costs. NCUA is also asking for comments — including whether training and conferences...

Sunday Reading - How pensions work

  The Pension Promise   How pensions work Colloquially speaking, pensions are retirement plans that result in employees receiving a fixed amount of money from their former employers during retirement, often for life (although the technical legal definition of pensions is significantly more nuanced ). Unlike “defined contribution plans” like 401(k) plans, “defined benefit plans” like pensions make it so the employer , rather than the employee, determines how much money is set aside for the plan and how it’s invested (often in stocks, bonds, and other assets). In retirement, monthly payouts include both the principal and investment earnings. Employers often use fact...

New FRCUA Manuals Alert!

New & Updated Manuals Now in the First Responder Credit Union Academy! NCUA "What you Need to Know." Building a Budget Policies & Procedures CEO Strategic Planning Checklist Board Strategic Priorities Directors'  Strategic Planning Checklist We’re always improving the First Responder Credit Union Academy to give you the tools you need to succeed. Our manuals are regularly updated with the latest insights, best practices, and industry guidance — so you can stay informed, confident, and ready to serve your members. Check out the latest updates and keep your skills sharp:  https://www.ncofcu.org/first-responder-credit-union-academy  ================================================= Remember, you're not alone with  NCOFCU.org Join/Upgrade Check out some of NCOFCU's additional features: First Responder Credit Union Academy Financial Literacy Podcasts YouTube Mini's Blog Job Board  

Small credit union closures and mergers.

NCOFCU Podcast on the loss of small creditunions. Grant Sheehan CCUE | CEO-NCOFCU examines the rapid decline of small credit unions, why each closure matters to communities, and the threat this trend poses to the cooperative identity and tax protections of the movement. The episode explores practical solutions: larger credit unions acting as stewards, collaboration through shared resources and technology, and the advocacy work of the National Council of Firefighter Credit Unions to amplify every credit union's voice. Listen for a call to action on preserving community-focused financial cooperatives and strengthening the future of the credit union movement. Be sure to visit NCOFCU's "First Responders Credit Unions Academy" for your continued credit union education and certification in meeting N C U A’s requirements.  ================================================= Remember, you're not alone with  NCOFCU.org Join/Upgrade Check out some of NCOFCU's additional f...

Long-Stalled Credit Card Competition Act Moves Forward In Senate Clarity Act Markup

WASHINGTON—A long-stalled bipartisan push to boost competition in the credit card market moved closer to becoming law late Friday, as Sens. Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) advanced a new amendment attached to the Senate Agriculture Committee’s markup of the Digital Asset Market Structure and Investor Protection Act, commonly known as the Clarity Act. Dick Durbin The amendment, a core component of the long-debated Credit Card Competition Act, would prohibit major credit-card networks and large issuing banks from enforcing network exclusivity on credit cards. Supporters argue the measure would expand transaction-routing competition, weaken the dominance of the largest payment networks, and reduce swipe fees that merchants say inflate consumer prices. The renewed momentum reflects President Trump’s recent backing of efforts to rein in credit card costs, a shift that has altered the political trajectory of legislation that has struggled to advance in prior Congresses. With Tru...

NCUA’s Hood Sees Lessons From Pandemic; ID’s Priorities Moving Forward

  ORLANDO, Fla.–NCUA Board Member Rodney Hood told credit unions here that if there is a lesson from the last year it was summed up in a meeting breakout session title: “Transitioning from Risk to Resilience.” “That title stood out to me, because in five simple words it sums up the journey we’ve taken since March 2020, doesn’t it?” Hood said in comments to the League of Southeastern Credit Unions’ annual meeting here. After referencing some of the events since the pandemic shut down the economy, Hood told attendees, “Our nation has faced many challenges in our lifetimes, but few compare to what was unfolding before our eyes this time last year.” Hood said the “resilience” of credit unions can be seen in the latest data, with federally insured credit unions reporting net income growth of $11.3 billion, an increase of 134.9% over the year ending in the first quarter of 2021 (a figure boosted by CUs reducing their allowances for loan losses). The Reality The good news and the desire...

How to Avoid Becoming a Target of Regulators

By Ray Birch LAKE FOREST, Ill.—A “new era” in checking—and overdrafts—is upon financial institutions, and those that adopt the new ways of the market will prosper, while those that don’t will lose money and will likely become a target of regulators, one economist is stating. “What is the new era of checking? Checking has always been unprofitable,” said Michael Moebs, economist and chair of Moebs $ervices. “The Great Recession era from 2008 to 2014 finally made this obvious to users, regulators, and Congress. COVID, from 2019 to 2022, made it a an even clearer issue today.” Profitable checking is the key to driving deposit funding for loans and investments, reminded Moebs. “There are about 9,000 financial institutions that offer checking,” state...