About Us
DefaultShield™ was created by lending professionals who understand the needs of underserved borrowers, lenders, and dealers — and the risk that stands between them.
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Our Mission
“To empower lenders to serve more borrowers by removing risk through smart, insured loan protection — helping more people drive forward with confidence.” Key themes: inclusion, innovation, financial responsibility
Our Story
DefaultShield™ is a proprietary program developed by The Conquer Group, in partnership with financial institutions and industry experts. After seeing too many qualified borrowers rejected — and too many lenders burned by loan losses — we set out to create a new kind of protection platform.
What began as a concept to reduce auto loan charge-offs has become a turnkey insured solution that helps lenders grow, dealers close more, and consumers buy better.
Our Founders
Darren Nitz
Founder & CEO, DefaultShield™ | Principal, The Conquer Group
Professional Snapshot
With more than two decades of hands-on experience in the automotive finance and credit union industries, Darren Nitz brings rare depth—from servicing cars to driving wholesale operations, and from dealership management to program design.
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His full-spectrum dealership background and subprime finance expertise drove him to launch DefaultShield™, a risk-mitigated auto loan protection system that empowers credit unions and lenders to safely serve underserved borrowers.
Leadership & Vision
As a believer in inclusivity and smart risk, Darren saw a gap: qualified borrowers—first-time buyers, thin-file, ITIN—were often declined due to lender risk limitations. DefaultShield™ was his solution: Insured loan loss protection that opens doors without compromising safety.
He founded DefaultShield through The Conquer Group, leveraging his deep understanding of dealership operations, lender dynamics, and borrower needs to develop a scalable, trusted program.
Personal Values & Interests
Family Life: Proud husband and father of four girls.
Leisure: When he finds time, Darren is an avid angler who loves time on the water.
These pursuits reflect Darren’s commitment to balance, mentorship, and staying grounded even as DefaultShield grows.
Walter “Walt” Agius
CEO & Credit Union Lending Expert | Automotive Finance Innovator
Professional Snapshot
Walt Agius brings decades of expertise in credit union lending and automotive finance. He currently serves as CEO of CU Professional Services and previously led CU Sol, LLC / CU Lending Edge—key CUSOs focused on enabling indirect auto lending partnerships with credit unions.
His career also includes managing California Bear Credit Union and serving as a leading voice on lending in the credit union space, including as a featured guest on the CU 2.0 podcast.
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David Berver
SVP of Systems at Lendgistics | Auto Finance & Credit Union Technology Specialist
Professional Snapshot
David currently serves as Senior Vice President of Systems at Lendsys, a fintech company that builds infrastructure for credit union and auto finance lenders, helping loans get approved and funded more efficiently through automated platforms. He is based in the Los Angeles metro area.
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With over two decades of experience in lending operations, his career spans dealership technology, indirect auto finance platforms, and credit union partnerships—bridging the gap between systems, underwriting, and end-user application workflows.
Industry Expertise
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Leads technology development at Lendsys, helping credit unions and lenders streamline indirect lending programs and reduce funding friction
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Focuses on systems integration that supports dealer-originated credit applications, underwriting automation, and third-party platform compatibility .​
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Prior career includes roles as a dealership finance consultant and systems analyst, enhancing his ability to innovate at the intersection of software and auto finance.
Personal Values & Interest
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Family Life: Proud husband and father of four boys.
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Leisure: David coaches youth wrestling. David spends most of his free time that he isn't spending with his family tending to his micro farm. David's farm consists of chickens, ducks, and goats.
David Sinishtaj
Automotive Sales & Finance Specialist — Detroit Metro Area
Professional Snapshot
David has spent nearly two decades serving the automotive finance and sales sectors in the Detroit area. He’s built a reputation as a versatile professional with expertise across dealership operations, training, and customer financing.
Management and Finance Trainer
Leadership & Expertise
David brings a holistic perspective to auto finance—from understanding dealership processes to crafting customer-focused financing solutions. His training background demonstrates his ability to educate teams and support new loan placement standards, especially in challenging market segments.
Who We Work With
DefaultShield™ works for financial institutions, credit unions, CUSOs, and dealer networks across the country. Together, our leadership has structured over $1 billion in auto loan programs and served thousands of dealers and members.
Our Values
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Integrity – Always act in the borrower’s and lender’s best interest
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Accountability – Transparent terms, claims, and performance
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Innovation – Building smarter ways to lend
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Access – Create inclusive financial products that serves real people
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Profitability – Align lender growth with borrower protection
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