Critical Shifts:
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The "Payment-First" Shift: The platform acknowledges that modern consumers shop by monthly budget rather than total sticker price. By integrating this "Shop-by-Payment" (SBP) tech, dealers can engage customers who have already benchmarked their monthly costs against their actual credit profile before even stepping onto the lot.
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Identity-Verified Prequalification: Using "VeriQual" technology, shoppers are verified via their mobile numbers at the start of the process. For dealers, this means leads are higher quality and "credit-qualified," significantly reducing the time spent on "tire-kickers" or customers who don't qualify for the vehicles they are eyeing.
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Leveling the Playing Field on Leases: Through a partnership with GrooveCar, this platform allows credit unions to offer competitive lease payments that include manufacturer incentives. This helps independent dealers move inventory by offering financing options that were traditionally dominated by big OEM captive finance programs.
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Increased Conversion Without Ad Spend: The platform is designed to improve transparency and reduce "friction" (the back-and-forth haggling over payments). By aligning the digital shopping experience with the consumer's actual financial reality, dealers can see higher conversion rates from digital leads without increasing their marketing budgets.
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Kemba Credit Union announced a strategic partnership with FlexPath DXP 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 live, making Kemba the first credit union to offer a payment-first vehicle shopping experience powered by identity-verified credit prequalification.
“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 delivering a better experience for our members while strengthening our ability to compete across both financing and leasing.”
Powered by FlexPath’s patent-pending VeriQual technology, the platform allows members to enter a target monthly payment, verify identity with a mobile number, and instantly view all qualifying vehicles across dealer inventory with real, credit-based payment options.
“Consumers think in terms of budget, not vehicle price,” said Tarry Shebesta, CEO of FlexPath DXP. “Kemba is bringing identity-verified credit and real payment calculations to the start of the shopping journey.”
A key advantage is the ability to present lease payments that incorporate manufacturer incentives, helping credit unions compete more effectively with OEM captive finance programs. Through dealer inventory integration and a leasing relationship with GrooveCar, Kemba can now offer competitive lease and finance options across new and used vehicles.
By beginning with identity verification, the platform delivers higher-quality, credit-qualified engagement while improving transparency and reducing friction in the buying process.
“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.”
Kemba and FlexPath plan to expand the program through additional dealer partnerships and broader adoption across the credit union ecosystem.
