For the third consecutive year, auto dealers indicated they prefer working with national banks over regional banks when it comes to loan financing, per the 2025 J.D. Power U.S. Dealer Financing Satisfaction Study. The study, released Aug. 14, sheds light on how franchised dealers view both captive and non-captive lenders.
“National banks continue to demonstrate the resilience and adaptability that set them apart in today’s economic climate,” Patrick Roosenberg, senior director of automotive finance intelligence at J.D. Power, said in a statement. According to the study, national banks have an average satisfaction score of 780 (on a 1,000-point scale), compared to regional banks’ average score of 713.
In recent years, several regional banks, often citing global economic uncertainty, have exited or reduced auto lending services. KeyBank, Citizens Bank, Fifth Third Bank, Mechanics Bank and the Bank of Montreal (which operates regionally in the United States) are among them.
For regional banks to compete with national banks, Roosenberg recommended that regional institutions “clearly differentiate their value proposition and show dealers how their services are superior in meeting their needs.”
Though regional banks were ranked behind national banks, the average satisfaction gap of 67 points was smaller than that of recent years, according to the study. In 2023, for example, national banks received an average score of 764 and regional banks an average score of 690— a gap of 74 points.
The 2025 study surveyed responses from more than 5,000 auto dealer finance professionals, who rated prime lenders across the captive premium, captive mass market, national bank and regional bank segments, as well as sub-prime lenders.
To determine rankings, the study explored indicators such as dealer perspectives on relationships with credit staff and sales representatives, lender offerings, e-contracting, the funding process and current market conditions.
Key rankings include:
Premium brand prime lenders
- Maserati Capital USA (927)
- Porsche Financial Services (879)
- Jaguar Land Rover Financial Group (874)
Mass market brand prime lenders
- Southeast Toyota Finance (874)
- Subaru Motors Finance (866)
- Honda Financial Services (775)
National bank prime lenders
- TD Auto Finance (864)
- Ally Financial (847)
- Capital One Auto Finance (820)
Regional bank prime lenders
- Huntington National Bank (759)
- Santander Auto Finance (736)
- M&T Bank (726)
Sub-prime lenders
- Ally Financial (835)
- Capital One Auto Finance (807)
- Chase Auto (773)
Interestingly, though Chase provides the financial services of many of the top-ranking captive lenders, including Maserati Capital USA, Jaguar Land Rover Financial Group, and Subaru Motors Finance, Chase Auto itself ranked fourth among all national bank prime lenders with a score of 795.
