Why F&I Sentinel
Relieving regulatory pressures with technology and human intelligence for context.
Experience & expertise.
From the beginning.
In the multi-faceted world of automotive finance and insurance (F&I) products, compliance isn’t just a box to check; it’s a strategic imperative. Enter F&I Sentinel, a beacon of reliability and innovation amidst the complex regulatory landscape and consumer protection mandates.
Born of the need to navigate the evolving demands of federal and state regulators, F&I Sentinel bridges the gap between auto finance companies, dealers, and product providers. Led by co-founders Stephen McDaniel and Matt Nowels, legal stalwarts with nearly two decades of expertise in F&I regulations, F&I Sentinel champions a mission to safeguard consumer interests while fostering a transparent and efficient marketplace. Through the fusion of human intelligence and leading-edge technology, F&I Sentinel redefines compliance, introducing a dynamic framework that adapts to the ever-changing regulatory ecosystem.
The F&I Sentinel story
Voluntary vehicle protection products such as vehicle service contracts, GAP waivers, prepaid maintenance agreements, etc. are offered to consumers by car dealers during the car buying process. Known by a variety of names including, ancillary products, voluntary protection products and F&I products, the cost of those products chosen by the consumer become part of the loan that is financed by the auto lender. The administration of these products are conducted by yet another party: The product company.
But it is the auto lender that regulators hold accountable for non-compliance during any phase of the products’ lifecycle.
F&I products have been coming under greater scrutiny by the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (CFPB) since 2015. Compounding matters, the patchwork of state regulations governing these product along with the ever-evolving regulations at both levels, make compliance challenging.
In many instances, the lack of data transparency between dealers, product companies and auto lenders lead to inefficiencies and inadvertent inaccuracies especially at servicing.
F&I Sentinel was born out of this complexity.
Prior to starting the company, co-founders Stephen McDaniel and Matt Nowels, both highly skilled attorneys, spent almost two decades working with auto lenders and product companies on regulations for F&I products in all 50 states and at the federal level. Their experience and expertise along with the increased scrutiny by the CFPB led them to start F&I Sentinel in 2018.
THE F&I SENTINEL MISSION
Create a compliant, transparent and efficient F&I product marketplace for auto finance companies, dealers and product companies.
The F&I Sentinel VISION
An auto retail ecosystem where consumer interests are protected, and auto finance companies, dealers and product companies can thrive.
The F&I Sentinel difference
To achieve this mission, F&I Sentinel’s highly skilled Concierge Compliance Team and its leading-edge CITADEL platform deliver uniquely effective managed compliance solutions to enable customers to achieve what we term, “Dynamic Compliance.”
CITADEL® Platform
Trusted by 16 auto lenders, including six of the top 10 lenders, and used by 600 F&I product administrators, the cloud-native CITADEL® platform houses more than 112,000 F&I products.
Rules-based workflows, and easy to use interfaces for lenders, dealers and product companies are just some of the features that reduce friction in the origination process.
On the downstream, the CITADEL FAIRRCalc® refunds quote engine and communications workflows ensure accurate real-time quotes and timely dealer and product company notifications.
Concierge Compliance Team
At F&I Sentinel, compliance is never a set and forget. The complex and evolving compliance landscape coupled with the growing scrutiny on F&I products significantly raises the stakes for auto lenders, product companies and dealers, alike. The F&I Sentinel Concierge Compliance Team operates at the intersection of F&I products, regulations and compliance.
The team of almost 30 specialists rigorously reviews every product submitted by our network of 600 F&I product administrators. Only those that meet their corresponding lender’s risk threshold or Minimum Business Requirements are credentialed and added to the repository. We continuously monitor the regulatory landscape to proactively identify issues and develop solutions.
We pride ourselves in staying ahead of the curve by seeing what’s around the corner before our partners do and having a solution waiting in the wings when they get there. The result— an outsourced turn-key compliance solution that mitigates the legal, regulatory, and reputational risks associated with the financing and resolution of F&I products. It’s the recipe to our success.
Unlock compliance excellence powered by CITADEL® today.
From dynamic compliance solutions to real-time insights, CITADEL® powers F&I Sentinel’s solutions that streamline and simplify F&I product compliance-related operations.
Ready to level-up your approach to compliance? Connect with our dedicated team today and embark on a journey toward operational efficiency.
CITADEL®
Compliance management platform purpose-built for F&I product compliance.
Managed Compliance
Seamless F&I product compliance management.
Add-On Concierge Services
Elevate your compliance strategy with data-driven services.
Talk to an Expert
Consult with industry specialists for tailored solutions.
