Loan Stars Episode 9: ARF 25th Anniversary with Steve Glenn

Celeste Deal-Maunoir hosts the Loan Stars Podcast to mark ARF Financial’s 25th anniversary with CEO and co-founder Steve Glenn. Glenn recounts how the company began in 2000–2001 after a restaurant marketing business revealed clients’ need for cash flow, leading ARF to become a California licensed lender and later a nationwide lender via a bank model. He describes early milestones and evolution from “Advanced Restaurant Finance” to ARF Financial, expansion beyond restaurants, and innovations including early line-of-credit checkbooks, ROI-based selling, and later a true revolving line of credit. Key challenges included 9/11, the 2008–2009 recession, and COVID-19, during which ARF cut low credits, extended terms, launched a broker program (2018), continued funding, and introduced payment relief and a 13-week interest-only product. Glenn highlights the partnership with co-founder Les Haskew and outlines future growth through new business categories, products, and broker training.