For keeping the best interests of their members in mind, SpaceCoast Credit Union recently honored four Florida-based auto dealersfor their efforts.

The $3 billion credit union in Melbourne, Fla., said it awardedits 2012 Watchdog Dealer of the Year award to Rosner Chevrolet forBrevard and Indian River Counties; Braman Honda for Miami-DadeCounty; AutoNation Chevrolet of Pembroke Pines for Palm Beach andBroward Counties; and Deland Kia for Volusia and FlaglerCounties.

These auto dealers were chosen because of survey ratingsreceived from credit union members, in addition to the totalauto loan production they generated for SCCU, according to the credit union.

For 2012, SCCU members recognizedthe following dealers:

• Rosner Chevrolet earned 4.78 stars out of a possible fivestars; facilitated more than $12 million in auto loan productionwith SCCU;
• Braman Honda earned a five-star rating and facilitated morethan $5 million in auto loan production;
• AutoNation Chevrolet of Pembroke Pines earned 4.60 stars andfacilitated more than $2 million in auto loan production;
• Deland Kia earned 4.60 stars and facilitated more than $12million in auto loan production.

Rosner Chevrolet, AutoNation Chevrolet of Pembroke Pines andDeland Kia all received the award for the second consecutive year,SCCU said.

In 2012 SCCU members shared 584 auto dealer reviews, accordingto the credit union. To date, there are nearly 3,000 dealer reviewsdisplayed on SCCU's website and they have been viewed over 755,000times.

“Watchdog Dealers of the Year represent the best of the best,and Space Coast Credit Union appreciates the consistent treatmentour members receive from these exceptional dealers,” said JodieKinley-Smith, indirect lending manager for SCCU.

An auto dealer who consistently earns 4.5 stars or better isassigned the Watchdog status, the credit union said, adding it paysWatchdog rated dealers a higher commission for completed auto loanreferrals. As of June 2013, SCCU had 225 Watchdog rated autodealers.

Space Coast Credit Union said it is one of the few indirect autolenders that has never participated in rate markups. Sometimesreferred to as a buy-up, it occurs when a car buyer arranges forfinancing at the dealership through a bank or other financialinstitution, and the rate he or she qualifies for based oncreditworthiness is marked up several percentage points by thelender.

“Space Coast Credit Union's indirect lending policy doesnot allow buy-ups, and yet dealers continue to refer business toSCCU because they value the relationships SCCU can bring,” thecredit union said.