Auto Finance News is pleased to announce that Kenn Wardle, chief executive at Arra Finance, will join a discussion on underwriting at Auto Finance Summit 2025, returning Oct. 15-17 at Bellagio Las Vegas. 

View the full agenda here. 

Wardle has led Arra Finance since August 2024. Previously, Wardle was chief risk officer at Open Lending for nearly three years and has held roles in operations, portfolio and risk management, research analytics, credit analysis, information technology, compliance and corporate reporting during more than 25 years in the industry. 

Kenn Wardle

Arra Finance is in growth mode, having this month secured a more than $100 million line of warehouse financing from Goldman Sachs. In September, Arra also completed its acquisition of Crescent Bank’s auto division.  

Wardle will join executives from Arvest Bank, Pagaya and USAA to discuss how lenders can adjust underwriting models to account for rising delinquencies and use alternative data for decisioning during the session “Smart underwriting in a shifting credit environment” at 2:15 p.m. local time on Oct. 16. 

Auto Finance Summit provides industry leaders with unique networking and professional development opportunities and a chance to dive into topics such as digital strategies, fraud prevention, compliance, subprime financing and lender-dealer relationships. 

Auto Finance Summit 2025, the premier industry event for auto lending and leasing, returns Oct. 15-17 at the Bellagio Las Vegas. Learn more about Auto Finance Summit 2025 and register here.