CrossCheck Blog

When a F&I manager spends significant time securing lender approval, structuring terms, discussing F&I products, and preparing documents, the deal is on the one-yard line.

Recent research from TransUnion found that while the number of fraudulent auto loan applications has declined in some categories, the financial impact of successful fraud has increased significantly. Criminals are becoming more sophisticated, targeting higher-value transactions and creating larger losses for lenders and dealerships.

Dealerships don't wait until month-end financial statements to understand how the business is performing. They rely on dashboards and key performance indicators (KPIs) to monitor inventory, sales, service, and profitability, allowing managers to identify trends and make informed decisions before small issues become costly problems.

Auto dealers are heading into 2026 with stronger sales volume, but far less certainty across day-to-day operations. Margins remain tight. Consumer expectations continue to rise. Risk is shifting in ways that are not always obvious on the surface. As a result, many dealers are using this year’s NADA Show as a checkpoint, not just a trade show.

Debit cards have long been positioned as a low-cost, reliable way for merchants to accept payments. But recent data shows the risk equation has shifted. Today, merchants are absorbing a growing share of debit card fraud losses, even as fee structures and network rules remain largely unchanged. Recent analysis highlighted by PaymentsJournal, drawing on biennial data from the Federal Reserve, shows that merchants were responsible for nearly half of all debit card fraud costs in 2023. That marks a steady transfer of risk away from banks and toward the businesses accepting the payment, both in-store and online.

Digital payments continue to grow, but checks have not disappeared. Many customers still use them for larger purchases, repairs, and deposits, especially when the bill is higher than they want to put on a credit card.

Most deals do not fall apart because the buyer changes their mind. They fall apart because the buyer does not have the money for the down payment at the moment it is needed. The willingness to buy is there. What is missing is available cash or credit today.

Commercial checks are carrying more weight than ever. Over the past decade, the average value of a commercial check has climbed dramatically, highlighting their ongoing role in high-dollar transactions across many industries. Even with ACH, credit cards, and instant payment options gaining traction, checks continue to serve as a reliable and trusted choice for large-dollar B2B transactions. Many businesses still value the physical exchange, established routines, and straightforward recordkeeping that checks provide.