A car loan from people, not a formula.

We look at more than your credit score. If you're rebuilding, refinancing, or buying for the first time, let's talk. No commitment. No judgment. Real numbers from a real person.

Talk to someone in lending
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You don't have to be a member to start the conversation.

★★★★★
There's no other credit union I've ever been with that stepped in like these guys have. Thank you everyone at Affinity and thank you Joselyn!
Bodhi · Google review · Sept 2025
★★★★★
They have seen me go from never having a credit card and bad credit to getting my first credit card, my first car and my first house. Today I refinanced my car with them and it was easy and Megan was great to work with.
Eli · Google review · Mar 2024

Move your car loan here and we’ll hand you $200 — plus 90 days before your first payment.

External refinances of $10,000 or more. New money only. Full terms

See if it makes sense for you

If a bank already said no, you’re in the right place.

That isn’t a footnote for us. Members put it in their own words: “Very helpful. Very nice and gave me a chance when no one would.” If you’d rather work on your credit before you borrow, Gage does free financial coaching — no account, no application, no pressure.

“They want you when you’re doing well. We want you when you’re not.”

Talk it through with Gage

Or call Gage direct: 515-777-7824

4.8★ Google (2,900+ reviews)

2023 National Credit Union of the Year

Serving Iowa since 1949

CDFICertified CDFICertified by the U.S. Treasury’s CDFI Fund to serve low-income communities

A loan conversation at a kitchen table: coffee, paperwork, and car keys in morning light

What happens when you talk to us

Step 1: Tell us where you are.

On the phone, in person, or by email. Whatever's easier. We'll listen first, ask questions second.

Step 2: We look at the full picture.

Credit score isn't the only thing we look at. Income, history, life situation, what's actually going on: it all matters.

Step 3: We give you a real answer.

Sometimes that's "yes, here's your rate." Sometimes it's "not today, but here's what could change that." Either way, you'll know exactly where you stand.

Run your own numbers

Plug in what you're paying now, and we'll show you what you'd be paying with us. No login. No personal info. Just the math.

Estimates only — not a commitment to lend. Your actual rate, payment, and term depend on your credit, the loan amount, and the vehicle.

Where are you starting from?

I'm refinancing an existing loan

You're already paying on a car loan and wondering if you could be paying less. Worth a 10-minute conversation. Most members who refinance with us save real money.

Tell me about refinancing

I'm buying a car soon

You've found the car (or you're looking). Get pre-approved with us before you walk into the dealership. You'll know exactly what you can afford, and you won't be at the dealer's mercy on financing.

“Thank you affinity so much for helping me purchase my first car even as a first time buyer without any credit!”

Gregorio · Google review · Sep 2026
Get pre-approved

My credit isn't great

You've been turned down somewhere else, or you're worried you will be. That's the conversation we're built for. Come in. Let's see what's possible.

Let's talk

Bring your auto loan to us: get $200 cash and skip 90 days of payments.

If you have a car loan with another lender, move it to us. We'll cut you a check for $200 and give you 90 days before your first payment with Affinity. No fees to refinance.

$200
cash to you
90
days, no payments
See if it makes sense for you

Offer valid on external refinances of $10,000 or more. New money only. Not valid on internal refinances.

What the auto loan industry counts on you not knowing

There's real money in how an auto loan gets sold — in the rate markup, the add-ons, and the way a payment gets packed. Some of that's normal. Some of it isn't. Here's where the difference shows up.

  • Rate markup at the dealer
    Dealers can mark up the interest rate on your loan and pocket the difference. On a $25,000 loan, that quietly adds $3,000-$8,000 over the life of the loan. You'd never see it on the paperwork. It just shows up as your rate being half a point or a full point higher than it should be.
  • Add-ons priced for the dealer, not for you
    Extended warranties, GAP coverage, paint protection, fabric protection: most of these are real products, but the dealer is marking them up significantly. The average buyer ends up paying about $1,500 more than they would if they bought the same coverage through their lender.
  • A term stretched to make the payment fit
    Dealers often offer to stretch your loan to 72 or 84 months to shrink the monthly payment. It feels like relief in the moment. The extra year or two costs about $2,000 in interest you didn't have to pay.

We can't promise we'll always beat the dealer's number. We can promise we'll show you the real math, so you can decide for yourself.

Two people seated at either end of a kitchen table with loan paperwork, coffee mugs and car keys between them

Sometimes the right move isn't a loan.

Not sure borrowing is the right answer?

Good instinct. Sometimes the answer is a plan, not a loan. Affinity offers free financial coaching: no account required, no pressure, just a conversation about where you are and what would actually help. If the payment math feels tight, talk it through before you borrow.

  • Free
  • No account required
  • No pressure
Talk to a coach

Gage Smith, AFC · Accredited Financial Counselor · 515-777-7824 · gsmith@affinitycuia.org

What actually moves your rate

Affinity publishes every posted rate and term in full, and the lending team keeps them current. Right now that starts at 4.99% APR* on 2024-and-newer vehicles. See all posted auto rates and terms.

Where you land depends on more than one thing, and none of them is a single number:

  • Your credit history — not only the score, but how long ago the trouble was and what you’ve done since.
  • The term. Shorter terms carry lower rates. A 36-month loan prices better than an 84-month one.
  • The vehicle’s model year. Newer collateral prices better than older.
  • What you put down and how much you’re financing against what the car is actually worth.
  • Your income and existing debts — whether the payment fits the rest of your life.
  • Whether you’re refinancing from another lender, which comes with its own offer.

We’d rather tell you what moves the number than show you a number that probably isn’t yours. Ten minutes with a real person gets you an actual figure.

One person handing a single car key across a wooden desk to another, loan paperwork in the foreground

"Been with Affinity for years! They financed me when no one else would."

Juan, Google review

Meet your lending team

Real people who pick up the phone, not a call center. Ask for anyone.

The whole lending team

Related products you might consider

Debt Protection

Cover your payments if life goes sideways. Optional, modestly priced, no surprises in the paperwork.

→ Learn about Debt Protection

Guaranteed Asset Protection (GAP)

If your car is totaled or stolen, GAP covers what insurance won't. Single most-bought add-on for a reason.

How GAP works
If your vehicle is stolen, damaged beyond repair or declared a total loss, the insurance settlement covers the actual cash value — not what you still owe. GAP helps pay the difference between the two, which can run into thousands of dollars. Optional, and worth asking about if you’re putting little down.

Vehicle Service Agreement

Mechanical breakdown coverage for new and pre-owned vehicles. Towing and rental reimbursement included.

What a VSA covers
Coverage for unexpected mechanical breakdowns on new or pre-owned vehicles, accepted at repair facilities nationwide.
  • Parts and labor on major component repair or replacement
  • Rental reimbursement with no deductible during covered repairs
  • Towing reimbursement tied to a covered repair
  • Transferable to a new owner if you sell, which can help resale

Common questions

No. You can start the conversation as a non-member. If we move forward together, we'll get the membership step handled at closing.

A pre-approval can happen in a single conversation. Full funding usually takes 1-3 business days once we have your documents.

We'd still like to talk. Credit score is part of what we look at, but not all of it. If we can't help you today, we'll be honest about what would change that.

We've helped members in both situations. The right answer depends on how recent it was and what's happened since. Worth a conversation.

Proof of income (recent pay stubs or two years of tax returns if self-employed), proof of residence (a utility bill works), and a copy of your driver's license. For refinances, we'll also need your current payoff statement.

No fees from Affinity to refinance an external auto loan with us.

Yes, and we recommend it. Pre-approval gives you a real budget and removes the dealer's leverage on financing. Most pre-approvals are good for 30 days.

We offer terms up to 72 months on most vehicles. We'll talk through what makes sense. Longer isn't always better, even if the monthly payment looks easier.

You can set up auto-pay from your Affinity account, transfer in from another bank, or pay at any of our branches. We don't charge convenience fees on payments made directly to us.

*Annual Percentage Rate. Qualified credit. Restrictions may apply. 4.99% valid on 2024 or newer. 90 day no pay and $200 incentive offer valid on external refinances only. Loan amount must be $10,000 or greater to qualify for the incentive. Offer not valid on internal refinances. There are no fees associated with refinancing an auto loan from another institution to Affinity Credit Union. Limited time offer.