In having financing through its own subsidiary, Block differs from the other tax preparation chains who were left looking for financing after regulators forced Santa Barbara Bank & Trust out of the refund loan business. Liberty Tax turned to Republic Bank & Trust for all of its financing, but Jackson Hewitt, which also inked a deal with Republic, has so far been able to get backing for only an estimated 50 percent of its RAL volume. Jackson Hewitt did get financial backing for its Assisted Refund program. Block has not responded to requests for comment about the RAL programs.
Block Details RAL Financing
While other tax companies sought outside funding for their tax-season bank products, H&R Block has entered a financing program with its subsidiary Block Financial. Block Financial, which has been financing refund loans and other products since July 1, 2006, has agreed to provide a $2.5 billion HSBC RAL Participation Credit Facility during tax season.
