Consumer Portfolio Services Inc. (CPS) is a specialty finance company. The Company's business is to purchase and service retail automobile contracts originated primarily by franchised automobile dealers and, to a lesser extent, by select independent dealers in the United States in the sale of new and used automobiles, light trucks and passenger vans. Through the Company's automobile contract purchases, it provides indirect financing to the customers of dealers who have limited credit histories, low incomes or past credit problems, who the Company refers to as sub-prime customers. CPS serves as an alternative source of financing for dealers , facilitating sales to customers who otherwise might not be able to obtain financing from traditional sources, such as commercial banks, credit unions and the captive finance companies affiliated with major automobile manufacturers.