Kemba Credit Union and FlexPath DXP Debut Shop-by-Payment at Cincinnati Auto Show, Expand Member Auto Center Experience
Kemba Credit Union and FlexPath DXP Debut Shop-by-Payment at Cincinnati Auto Show, Expand Member Auto Center Experience
Kemba Credit Union and FlexPath DXP Debut Shop-by-Payment at Cincinnati Auto Show, Expand Member Auto Center Experience
New platform helps credit unions compete with captive finance programs through payment-based vehicle discovery and identity-verified prequalification.
Cincinnati, OH – March 31, 2026 – Kemba Credit Union today announced a strategic partnership with FlexPath DXP, a fintech innovator in identity-verified credit prequalification and payment-based shopping, to launch a new Personalized Shop-by-Payment (SBP) experience within its Member Auto Center.
The platform debuted at the Cincinnati Auto Show (March 26–29, 2026) and is now available through Kemba’s Member Auto Center, making Kemba the first credit union to offer a payment-first vehicle shopping experience powered by verified credit data.
“Consumers don’t shop for vehicles by price — they shop by payment,” said Dennis Wander, Indirect Lending at Kemba Credit Union. “By partnering with FlexPath DXP, we’re able to deliver a modern experience that aligns with how our members actually make decisions, while strengthening our ability to compete across both financing and leasing.”
Powered by FlexPath DXP: A New Model for Auto Shopping
The Personalized Shop-by-Payment experience is powered by FlexPath’s patent-pending identity-verified prequalification technology, VeriQual™, enabling members to shop based on real monthly payments rather than estimates.
Instead of requiring shoppers to select a vehicle first, the platform allows members to:
- Enter a target monthly payment and upfront cash
• Verify identity using a mobile phone number
• Instantly view all qualifying vehicles across participating dealer inventory
• Compare finance and lease options in one unified experience
“Consumers don’t think in terms of ‘new’ or ‘used’ first — they think in terms of budget,” said Tarry Shebesta, CEO of FlexPath DXP. “By bringing identity-verified credit and real payment calculations to the start of the shopping journey, Kemba is delivering a fundamentally better experience for its members.”
Enabling Credit Unions to Compete with Captive Finance Programs
A key advantage of the FlexPath-powered platform is its ability to present real lease payments that incorporate manufacturer cash incentives, a capability traditionally limited to OEM captive finance companies.
Through integration with dealer inventory and a leasing relationship with GrooveCar, Kemba can now offer competitive lease and finance options across both new and used vehicles.
“This is a significant step forward for credit unions,” added Shebesta. “Kemba is now able to present competitive lease structures alongside traditional financing, helping level the playing field against captive lenders while expanding affordability for members.”
Driving Higher-Quality Engagement Through Verified Data
By starting with identity verification and credit prequalification, the FlexPath platform delivers:
- More accurate, payment-based vehicle discovery
• Higher-quality, credit-qualified member engagement
• Reduced friction and improved transparency
The experience is supported by inventory from Kemba’s trusted dealer partner network and is accessible both online and through QR-enabled activations and within Kemba branch locations.
Dealer Partner Perspective
“We’re always looking for ways to connect with more qualified buyers and improve conversion without increasing ad spend,” said Ed Larkin, Rose Automotive Group. “Shop-by-Payment aligns with how customers actually shop today — by monthly budget. Connecting that experience to Kemba’s member base is a meaningful advantage for our stores.”
Ongoing Expansion
Kemba and FlexPath plan to expand the program through additional dealer partnerships and broader adoption across the credit union ecosystem.
About Kemba Credit Union
Kemba Credit Union is a member-focused financial institution serving more than 130,000 members with a full range of financial products and services, including auto lending, leasing, and digital banking solutions.
About FlexPath DXP
FlexPath DXP is a digital experience platform that enables consumers to shop, prequalify, and structure vehicle deals using patent-pending identity-verified technology, VeriQual™. Learn more at www.FlexPathDXP.com.
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Media Contacts:
Kemba Credit Union
Duane Stacklin
Chief Lending Officer
513-762-1647
FlexPath DXP, LLC
Tarry Shebesta, CEO
513.200.5757
