CAFO INC.

What CAFO INC. does

CAFO INC. is a Toronto-based insurance premium finance provider that enables insurance brokers and their commercial insureds to pay insurance premiums in installments rather than as lump sums. The company, founded in 1955/1960 and operating for over 60 years, positions itself as Canada's longest-established and leading premium finance provider. CAFO funds the premium upfront to the insurer and recovers the balance from the insured over an installment contract with applicable interest, generating revenue through transaction-based interest and fees on these premium installment contracts.

The technology stack is built around two web-based broker portals: PBS NetAccess and the IQ Login system. These portals allow insurance brokers to generate quotes, look up accounts, and process premium finance transactions for their insured clients, and they support both Canadian-dollar and US-dollar accounts. Underwriting is performed in-house, supporting customized plans including seasonal schedules, extended-term financing, flexible down payments, and multi-year financing. CAFO also operates cross-border capabilities through its US affiliate AFCO, providing access to the US marketplace, and maintains dedicated expertise in Quebec and Canadian regulatory frameworks as well as specialized programs for Aboriginal communities and tribal bands.

CAFO operates on a B2B channel-partner go-to-market exclusively through insurance brokers across Canada, supported by three regional offices in Toronto, Edmonton, and Montreal that provide localized broker customer service. Pricing is quote-based and varies per account based on creditworthiness, policy size, and payment requirements; rates and terms are not publicly disclosed. CAFO is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Truist Financial Corp (NYSE: TFC), a US financial services holding company with $544 billion in assets, which provides substantial low-cost funding capacity. The company serves commercial insureds across diverse segments including energy, hospitality, real estate, shipping/transportation, municipal governments, and specialty industries, with Navacord Corp identified as a primary distribution partner among Canada's largest commercial brokerages.

Name

CAFO INC.

Legal name

CAFO, INC.

Website

https://cafo.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CAFO is a Toronto-based insurance premium finance provider that funds commercial insurance premiums in installments on behalf of Canadian insurance brokers and their insured clients, operating for over 60 years as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Truist Financial Corp.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Insurance Premium Finance

NAICS

Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities (5242), Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (524210)

SIC

Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411), Fire, Marine & Casualty Insurance (6331)

akta.pro primary industry

Commercial Lines Insurance Brokerage (FSAEADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mid-Market Commercial Package (Package Policies) (FSAJAFAB), Commercial Umbrella Insurance (FSAJANAB)

Keywords

• Insurance premium finance
• Commercial insurance financing
• Premium installment loans
• Broker premium funding
• Premium billing system

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Premium Finance Interest and Fees: CAFO earns revenue through interest charges and fees on premium installment contracts. These are financing arrangements where businesses pay insurance premiums in installments rather than lump sums upfront. The company provides the upfront payment to insurers and recovers funds from insureds over the contract term with applicable interest.
2. Premium Installment Contract Processing: Revenue generated from structuring and administering premium finance agreements for commercial insurance policies across various industry segments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

CAFO provides insurance premium finance solutions exclusively through insurance brokers, enabling commercial and personal insureds to spread large lump-sum insurance premium payments over customized installment schedules. The company pays insurers upfront on behalf of insured clients, then recovers funds through interest-bearing premium installment contracts. Services are supported by in-house underwriting, broker-facing PBS and IQ quoting portals, regional offices, and cross-border capabilities via its US affiliate AFCO.

Product overview

CAFO INC. offers a unified premium insurance finance platform centered on its core premium finance product, which enables brokers to help insured businesses spread insurance costs over customized payment schedules. The platform includes broker-facing portals (PBS and IQ) for quote generation and account management. Specialized add-on capabilities include Cross-Border Capabilities (via US affiliate AFCO), Legal and Regulatory Expertise, Solutions for Tribal Bands and Aboriginal Communities, Specialty Industries financing, and Underwriting Capabilities. The portfolio is designed to serve the Canadian insurance broker channel, offering both standard and highly customized financing arrangements for complex accounts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AFCO: US affiliate operating in the United States marketplace for premium finance services
• AFCO Direct

Products and services

• Premium Insurance Finance

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Navacord Corp.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNavacord Corp., one of Canada's top four commercial insurance brokerages, re-affirmed CAFO as its primary premium finance provider. The partnership enables Navacord's broker partners to offer CAFO's premium finance solutions to their clients, maximizing cash flow while providing competitive rates and flexible plans. The agreement has been in place for over 5 years with mutual renewal commitment.
• AFCO (US Affiliate)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFCO is CAFO's US affiliate, enabling seamless cross-border premium finance capabilities for brokers and insureds accessing the US marketplace. Together, CAFO and AFCO have promoted client success for over 50 years in the premium finance industry, providing unparalleled experience and resources.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Premium Financing Specialists: Premium Financing Specialists provides insurance premium finance solutions to insurance brokers and their clients in North America, offering customized payment plans for commercial insurance policies through a similar broker distribution model.
• IPFS Corporation: IPFS Corporation is a leading insurance premium finance provider serving insurance agents and brokers across the United States. They offer similar installment financing for commercial and personal insurance premiums through a broker distribution channel.
• AFCO: AFCO is CAFO's US affiliate and sister company under Truist Financial Corp, providing insurance premium finance solutions in the United States. They operate the same business model with cross-border coordination, making them the most directly comparable peer.
• Liberty Premium Finance: Liberty Premium Finance specializes in insurance premium financing for commercial and personal lines, operating through insurance brokers. They serve similar market segments with comparable installment payment products.
• North American Premium Finance: North American Premium Finance is a specialty premium finance company serving insurance brokers across North America. They offer similar commercial insurance financing solutions with emphasis on middle-market and complex accounts.
• Bankers Financial Corporation: Bankers Financial Corporation provides premium financing services through its Premium Finance division, offering similar loan products to insurance brokers and policyholders for commercial insurance premiums.
• Geneva Capital Group: Geneva Capital provides premium finance solutions for insurance brokers and agents, specializing in commercial insurance premium financing. They serve a similar customer base with comparable installment payment products.

Broad incumbents

• Wells Fargo Insurance Premium Finance: Wells Fargo offers insurance premium finance solutions as part of its broader commercial banking and insurance services portfolio. As a major US bank, they provide premium financing with extensive capital resources but as part of a wider financial services offering.
• JPMorgan Chase Insurance Premium Finance: JPMorgan Chase provides insurance premium finance solutions through its commercial banking division. As one of the largest US banks, they offer premium financing with substantial funding capacity but as part of a diversified banking portfolio.

Regional players

• Navacord Corp. Navacord is one of Canada's top four commercial insurance brokerages and CAFO's primary distribution partner. While they are a customer rather than direct competitor, they represent a key broker relationship and comparable commercial insurance distribution model in the Canadian market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cafo-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CAFO INC.