Waimea Finance Limited
This company was formed by Bill & Brent Ferguson in 1987 to provide a finance facility for
customers of Brent Ferguson Motors Limited. Initially Waimea Finance was located at the retail
office of Brent Ferguson Motors, but as more and more business was being done with clients outside
that clientele, it was decided to open a separate retail office and actively promote finance
facilities to the general public.
Waimea Finance Limited subsequently moved to offices in Queen Street, Richmond in 1998, and grew
steadily, with a strong customer base mainly in the Nelson area. Many early customers have remained
loyal to the company and have provided repeat business over the ensuing years.
In 2008, Waimea Finance relocated their office to the first floor of Alma House, in Nelson.
Fico Finance staff - from left: Brian (Sales Manager), Scott Dodd (Executive Director), Jane (Credit Control), Bill (Administration), Sue(Reception)
Fico Finance Limited
In 1998 Geoff Lawes - already a Director on the board of Waimea Finance - was approached by the
franchiser of the 4 Seasons retail chain with a view to providing a finance facility to their
retail stores throughout the country. As a consequence Fico Finance Limited was formed and
developed an on-line facility to enable these retail stores to finance their sales with online
approval available on a 24 hour, 7 day a week basis.
Fico Finance Limited grew rapidly and soon had an extensive network of retailers and brokers /
agents resulting in a New Zealand-wide base of customers, many of whom have provided subsequent
repeat business.
Merger
In 2004 the Fico Finance Group was formed by the merger of Waimea Finance Limited and Fico Finance
Limited. This was beneficial to both entities in terms of economies of scale and the mix of the
lending portfolio with securities spread over a large range of retailing products as well as
property mortgages and the commencement of a leasing facility. In 2006 the group expanded further
by taking over the business of Nelson Finance Centre.
The End Result
The end result is a Nelson based company with a sound client and lending base which can provide
funding to suit a wide range of personal and commercial situations. if you need to borrow money, we
have Freedon Loan finance to suit your needs.
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