AmFirst Expands Indirect Auto Lending Capacity With Saris, Funding 50 Loans in Four Hours

• Saris AI agents validate loan documents within AmFirst’s existing workflow, giving employees more time to resolve exceptions, strengthen dealer relationships and train colleagues.
• With per-deal processing time reduced by approximately 75%, one employee funded 50 loans in just four hours, surpassing previous best full-day output.
• The added capacity positions AmFirst to grow and compete for new dealer business, all without adding headcount.

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Saris, the agentic workflow platform for banks and credit unions, today announced that AmFirst Federal Credit Union is using Saris to automate indirect auto loan document validation and expand its capacity to serve a growing dealer network.

$2.7 billion-asset AmFirst adopted Saris after record indirect lending volumes put pressure on its funding team. Employees spent much of each day comparing vehicle identification numbers, borrower information and other details across loan documents to confirm every requirement was met before funding. Leadership wanted a sustainable way to handle rising demand without adding staffing costs that would remain when auto lending volumes declined.

Saris AI agents cross-check required fields across loan documents and system records against the AmFirst’s policies. They flag exceptions and source citations so employees can investigate discrepancies before they create rework or title problems for members. The agents work within the credit union’s existing lending workflow, and AmFirst employees retain authority over every final funding decision. With Saris, AmFirst’s fastest funder reduced per-deal processing time to approximately four minutes, enabling her to complete and fund 50 loans in four hours, exceeding her previous best full-day output of 45.

AmFirst is targeting funding turnaround times of 60-90 minutes from deal receipt, to strengthen its ability to compete for new dealer business. “Growing our indirect lending business cannot mean adding another funder every time volume spikes,” said Patrick Wiginton, director of lending services at AmFirst. “We needed a way to support more business while managing the fluctuations that come with auto lending. Saris has far exceeded the vision I had from our first conversation, giving us great confidence that we can grow our dealer network and deliver the service those relationships depend on.”

“AmFirst shows how agentic AI can help a credit union turn strong demand into sustainable growth. When document review takes up a fraction of the usual time, experienced employees can focus on the decisions and relationships that move the business forward. The result is a lending team that is better equipped to serve dealers and take on new opportunities.”

About AmFirst Federal Credit Union

AmFirst Federal Credit Union is a member-owned financial institution serving individuals and businesses throughout Alabama. The credit union provides a full range of banking, lending, and financial services designed to help members achieve their financial goals. For more information, www.amfirst.org.

About Saris

Saris provides agentic workflows for banks and credit unions, taking on the manual, high-volume work that slows lending, compliance, and operations. Trained on each institution’s own policies, workflows, and systems, Saris agents automate and complete tasks inside the cores and LOS financial institutions already use, with human oversight on every decision. Saris is backed by 8VC, Audacious Ventures, Homebrew, Btech Consortium, and Service Credit Union Ventures. For more information, visit saris.ai.