Print
Real Estate - Commercial

Company Moving 70 Jobs, Call Center To Port City

By JP Finlay, posted Oct 6, 2010

In a time when the region faces almost nine percent unemployment, American Credit Financial this week announced plans to build a new call center in Wilmington. The call center will create about 70 new jobs and will open Nov. 1.

Dwayne Furmidge founded American Credit Financial and merged with a Dallas-area credit company three years ago. The call center was based in Plano, Texas, though over time Furmidge got tired of traveling back and forth to Texas.

“We want to grow,” Furmidge said of American Credit Financial. Since 2008 resulted in plunging home values and rising joblessness, Furmidge said business has exploded. The company offers credit optimization services for consumers who have fallen behind on payments. He needed to consolidate the company’s operations, and to do so he decided on Wilmington.

Furmidge signed a five-year lease yesterday for 7,800 square feet of office space at 2704 Exchange Drive. Brian Green at Cape Fear Commercial helped Furmidge find the space, and property owner Ken Dull played a key role in the finalization of the lease. He has promised city and county officials 70 jobs will be created by the new call center, but he has much higher hopes.

“Not all consumers are buyers. We’re after consumers who are viable and have been in the marketplace but who have hit some speed bumps,” Furmidge said. “Our goal is to make knowledgeable, performing consumers.”

Furmidge has seen success locally. Tim Milam, President of Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty, has worked with American Credit Financial for years. “They are a phenomenal company to work with,” he said. “They have helped a large number of clients to improve their credit so we’ve been able to sell them a home. They are very efficient.”

“We’ve used (American Credit Financial) extensively in the last year,” said Chris Hutchens of Alpha Mortgage. In 2009, Hutchens was the No. 1 mortgage lender in North Carolina, completing 469 loans worth more than $100 million. “(Furmidge) has probably helped 25 of my borrowers buy a house in the last 12 months.”

American Credit Financial has plans to continue to offer more services to consumers, from debt counseling to identity theft help.

“Credit optimization is the catalyst for other vertical markets. We’re not going to be able to help everybody, but they still need help. We want to provide an honorable referral rather than a future default.”

Ico insights

INSIGHTS

SPONSORS' CONTENT
Web awstaffpic2020 1 132245438

The 2024 Luncheon for Literacy featuring Special Guest Jason Mott

Alesha Edison Westbrook - Cape Fear Literacy Council
2022052 75 142344351

Bridging Futures: The Case for Toll Funding in Wilmington’s Cape Fear Memorial Bridge Revamp

Natalie English - Wilmington Chamber of Commerce
Jimheadshot

The Wilmington Construction Market: Trends, Recognition, and Challenges

Jim Hundley - Thomas Construction Group

Trending News

Conservation Group Signs $8M Deal To Buy The Point On Topsail Island

Audrey Elsberry - Mar 26, 2024

National Organization Bestows Top Award On Cape Fear Professional Women In Building

Staff Reports - Mar 26, 2024

Engineering Firm Hires Four Employees

Staff Reports - Mar 26, 2024

N.C. Ports Officials React To Baltimore Bridge Collapse

Audrey Elsberry - Mar 26, 2024

NCino's Fourth-quarter Earnings Signal Rebound From Liquidity Crisis

Audrey Elsberry - Mar 27, 2024

In The Current Issue

MADE: Polyhose Inc.

Polyhose manufactures and fabricates hose protection, paint hose assemblies and rubber hydraulic assemblies from its Pender County facility....


Hacking Cyberdefense Shortage

A shortage of cybersecurity professionals influenced professor Ulku Clark and her team to slowly evolve UNCW’s offerings to now include eigh...


INFO JUNKIE: Jack Fleming

Jack Fleming, owner of Socialry Marketing & Scourz and emcee for 1 Million Cups Wilmington, shares his media and tech picks....

Book On Business

The 2024 WilmingtonBiz: Book on Business is an annual publication showcasing the Wilmington region as a center of business.

Order Your Copy Today!


Galleries

Videos

2023 Power Breakfast: Major Developments