Finturf-Palmetto Partnership Opens New Financing Channels for HVAC Contractors
Finturf has integrated Palmetto's consumer financing platform into its contractor network, giving HVAC installers another financing tool for heat pumps, high-efficiency furnaces, and IAQ upgrades that customers increasingly struggle to pay for upfront.
Finturf's platform now routes contractors to Palmetto's financing products, expanding the pool of lenders available when customers need payment plans for system replacements. The integration targets energy-efficient equipment specifically—think cold-climate heat pumps running $15,000 to $25,000 installed, ductless mini-splits, and 96+ AFUE condensing furnaces that pencil out over time but hit homeowners hard at signing.
Palmetto built its lending business around solar installations and whole-home electrification projects, so their underwriting already accounts for efficiency rebates, utility incentives, and tax credits under IRA Section 25C and 25D. That matters when you're selling a dual-fuel setup or an all-electric retrofit where the customer qualifies for state and federal money but needs financing to bridge the gap until rebates arrive. Traditional HVAC lenders don't always structure terms around those delayed incentives.
For contractors, the practical advantage is speed and approval rates. Finturf's system lets you submit one application that checks multiple lenders simultaneously, including Palmetto. You're not filling out three separate forms while the homeowner sits in the kitchen. Approval typically comes back within minutes, and you can close the sale same-day if the numbers work. Palmetto's rates are competitive with established HVAC finance players, generally ranging from 5.99% to 9.99% APR depending on credit tier and term length.
What to Do This Week
If you're already in Finturf's network, log in and verify Palmetto appears as a lender option in your account settings. If you're not using Finturf yet, compare their offering against your current financing partner—especially if you do heat pump installs in states with aggressive electrification incentives like Massachusetts, New York, or California. Run a test application on a recent quote you lost to price and see if the approval amount or rate structure would've changed the outcome.
Train your sales team on how to position financing early in the conversation. Don't wait until you've quoted $18,000 and the homeowner goes silent. Lead with monthly payment ranges during the diagnostic visit, especially on jobs where you're recommending a capacity upgrade or efficiency jump. Customers approve financing they expected; they balk at surprise payment plans after they've mentally committed to a lower number.
One longer-term question: as more lenders chase HVAC and electrification work, will we see the same debt-loading problems that hit the solar industry in 2022 and 2023? Contractors should track default rates and lender stability, not just approval speed.