UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

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CONSUMER PORTFOLIO SERVICES, INC.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

______________________________ 

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement if other than the Registrant)

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NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

OF

CONSUMER PORTFOLIO SERVICES, INC.

3800 Howard Hughes Parkway, Las Vegas, Nevada 89169

Phone: 949-753-6800

The annual meeting of the shareholders of Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc. (the "Company") will be held at 10:00 a.m., local time, on Tuesday,Thursday, October 22, 20192020 at the Company's Nevada office at 3800 Howard Hughes Parkway, Las Vegas, Nevada for the following purposes:

Only shareholders of record at the close of business on Wednesday,Friday, September 18, 20192020 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting.

Whether or not you expect to attend the meeting in person, please complete, date, and sign the enclosed proxy exactly as your name appears thereon and promptly return it in the envelope provided, which requires no postage if mailed in the United States. Proxies may be revoked at any time and, if you attend the meeting in person, your executed proxy will be returned to you upon request.

By Order of the Board of Directors

Mark Creatura, Secretary

Dated: September 24, 20192020

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on October 22, 20192020. The Proxy Statement and Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 20182019 are available at www.consumerportfolio.com/AnnualMeeting2019.html.AnnualMeeting2020.html

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF SHARES YOU OWN. WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING, YOU ARE URGED TO VOTE BY COMPLETING, SIGNING, DATING AND RETURNING THE PROXY CARD IN THE PRE-ADDRESSED RETURN ENVELOPE PROVIDED. IF GIVEN, YOU MAY REVOKE YOUR PROXY BY FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE PROXY STATEMENT AND ATTACHED PROXY CARD.

CONSUMER PORTFOLIO SERVICES, INC.

3800 Howard Hughes Parkway

Las Vegas, Nevada 89169

949-753-6800

PROXY STATEMENT FOR

ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

TO BE HELD OCTOBER 22, 2019

_________2020

_________ 

INTRODUCTION

This proxy statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc. (the "Company" or "CPS") for use at the annual meeting of the shareholders to be held at 10:00A.M. local time on Tuesday,Thursday, October 22, 20192020 at the Company's office at 3800 Howard Hughes Parkway, Las Vegas, NV 89169, and at any adjournment thereof (the "Annual Meeting").

All shares represented by properly executed proxies received in time will be voted at the Annual Meeting and, where the manner of voting is specified on the proxy, will be voted in accordance with such specifications. Any shareholder who executes and returns a proxy may revoke it at any time prior to the voting of the proxy by giving written notice to the Secretary of the Company, by executing a later-dated proxy, or by attending the meeting and giving oral notice of revocation to the Secretary of the Company.

The Board of Directors of the Company has fixed the close of business on September 18, 2019,2020, as the record date for determining the holders of outstanding shares of the Company's Common Stock, without par value ("CPS Common Stock") entitled to notice of, and to vote at the Annual Meeting. On that date, there were 22,525,71822,504,868 shares of CPS Common Stock issued and outstanding. Each such share of CPS Common Stock is entitled to one vote on all matters to be voted upon at the meeting, except that holders of CPS Common Stock have the right to cumulative voting in the election of directors, as described herein under the heading "Voting of Shares."

The notice of the Annual Meeting, this proxy statement and the form of proxy are first being mailed to shareholders of the Company on or about September 24, 2019.2020. The Company will pay the expenses incurred in connection with the solicitation of proxies. The proxies are being solicited principally by mail. In addition, directors, officers and regular employees of the Company may solicit proxies personally or by telephone, for which they will receive no payment other than their regular compensation. The Company will also request brokerage houses, nominees, custodians and fiduciaries to forward soliciting material to the beneficial owners of Common Stock of the Company and will reimburse such persons for their expenses so incurred.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THIS PROXY STATEMENT AND ANNUAL MEETING

PROPOSAL NO. 1 - ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Nominations

The individuals named below have been nominated for election as directors of the Company at the Annual Meeting, and each has agreed to serve as a director if elected. The entire board of directors of the Company is elected annually. Directors serve until the next annual meeting of shareholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualified.

The names of the nominees, their principal occupations, and certain other information regarding them are set forth below. None of the nominees currently serves on the board of directors of any other publicly-traded companies.companies

Charles E. Bradley, Jr., 59,60, has been the President and a director of the Company since its formation in March 1991, and was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors in July 2001. Mr. Bradley has been the Company's Chief Executive Officer since January 1992. From April 1989 to November 1990, he served as Chief Operating Officer of Barnard and Company, a private investment firm. From September 1987 to March 1989, Mr. Bradley, Jr. was an associate of The Harding Group, a private investment banking firm. Having been with the Company since its inception, Mr. Bradley brings comprehensive knowledge of the Company’s business, structure, history and culture to the Board and the Chairman position.

Chris A. Adams, 70,71, has been a director of the Company since August 2007. Since 1982 he has been the owner and chief executive of Latrobe Pattern Company and K Castings Inc., which are firms engaged in the business of fabricating metal parts. With his experience as chief executive of manufacturing companies, Mr. Adams contributes to the Company’s Board significant organizational and operational management skills.

Louis M. Grasso, 74, has been a director of the Company since October 2019. Mr. Grasso was the founder and majority owner of PFC Corporation until his retirement in November 2011, upon sale of PFC’s portfolio of assets to Capstone Realty Advisors. Over a period of 35 years, PFC Corporation originated over $1.8 billion of mortgage loans, and issued $1.8 billion of mortgage-backed securities. He brings to the Board knowledge and experience bearing in particular on the Company’s strategies for meeting its capital requirements, and broad organizational and management skills.

Brian J. Rayhill, 56,57, has been a director of the Company since August 2006. Mr. Rayhill has been a practicing attorney in New York State since 1988. As an experienced advocate, counselor and litigator, Mr. Rayhill brings legal knowledge and perspective to the Company’s Board.

William B. Roberts, 81,82, has been a director of the Company since its formation in March 1991. Since1991.Since 1981, he has been the President of Monmouth Capital Corp., an investment firm that specializes in management buyouts. Having spent decades in the business of finance, Mr. Roberts brings to the Company’s Board his perspective and judgment regarding means of financing its business.

Gregory S. Washer, 57,58, has been a director of the Company since June 2007. He was the president and owner of Clean Fun Promotional Marketing, a promotional marketing company, from its founding in 1986 through its sale in September 2014. He continued to act as president of Clean Fun through August 2017, and is now retired. With his experience in promotions and marketing, Mr. Washer contributes to the Board significant organizational and operational management skills, combined with a wealth of experience in promotion and marketing of services.

Daniel S. Wood, 60,61, has been a director of the Company since July 2001. Mr. Wood was president of Carclo Technical Plastics, a manufacturer of custom injection moldings, from September 2000 until his retirement in April 2007. Previously, from 1988 to September 2000, he was the chief operating officer and co-owner of Carrera Corporation, the predecessor to the business of Carclo Technical Plastics. As president of Carclo, Mr. Wood was responsible for the overall operation of that company and for the quality and integrity of its financial statements. He brings to the Board the knowledge and perspective useful in evaluating the Company’s financial statements, and broad organizational and management skillsskills.

Louis M. Grasso, 73, is nominated to fill a newly-created seat on our Board of Directors. Mr. Grasso was the founder and majority owner of PFC Corporation until his retirement in November 2011, upon sale of PFC’s portfolio of assets to Capstone Realty Advisors. Over a period of 35 years, PFC Corporation originated over $1.8 billion of mortgage loans, and issued $1.8 billion of mortgage-backed securities. Mr. Grasso has not, within the past five years, served on the board of directors of any other publicly-traded companies. He would bring to the Board knowledge and experience bearing in particular on the Company’s strategies for meeting its capital requirements, and broad organizational and management skills.

The Board of Directors has established an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, and a Nominating Committee. Each of these three committees operates under a written charter, adopted by the Board of Directors. The charters are available on the Company’s website,www.consumerportfolio.com/charters.html. The Board of Directors has concluded that each member of these three committees (every director other than Mr. Bradley, the Company's chief executive officer), is independent in accordance with the director independence standards prescribed by Nasdaq, and has determined that none of them have a material relationship with the Company that would impair their independence from management or otherwise compromise the ability to act as an independent director.

The members of the Audit Committee are Mr. Wood (chairman), Mr. Rayhill and Mr. Washer.

The Audit Committee is empowered by the Board of Directors to review the financial books and records of the Company in consultation with the Company's accounting and auditing staff and its independent auditors and to review with the accounting staff and independent auditors any questions that may arise with respect to accounting and auditing policy and procedure.

The Board of Directors has further determined that Mr. Wood has the qualifications and experience necessary to serve as an "audit committee financial expert" as such term is defined in Item 407 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC. Mr. Wood, as president of Carclo Technical Plastics, was responsible for the preparation and evaluation of the audited financial statements of that company.

The members of the Compensation Committee are Mr. Adams (chairman), Mr. Roberts, and Mr. Wood. This Committee makes determinations as to general levels of compensation for all employees of the Company and the annual salary of each of the executive officers of the Company, and administers the Company's compensation plans. Those plans include the Company's Executive Management Bonus Plan and the CPS 2006 Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan.

The members of the Nominating Committee are Mr. Rayhill (chairman), Mr. Adams and Mr. Washer. Nominations for board positions are made on behalf of the Board of Directors by the nominating committee. Because neither the Board of Directors nor its nominating committee has received recommendations from shareholders as to nominees, the Board of Directors and the nominating committee believe that it is and remains appropriate to operate without a formal policy with regard to any director candidates who may in the future be recommended by shareholders. The nominating committee would consider such recommendations if received.

When considering a potential nominee, the nominating committee considers the benefits to the Company of such nomination, based on the nominee's skills and experience related to managing a significant business, the willingness and ability of the nominee to serve, and the nominee's character and reputation. The Company does not have a policy regarding the consideration of diversity in identifying nominees for director.

Shareholders who wish to suggest individuals for possible future consideration for board positions, or to otherwise communicate with the Board of Directors, should direct written correspondence to the corporate secretary at the Company's principal executive offices, indicating whether the shareholder wishes to communicate with the nominating committee or with the Board of Directors as a whole. The present policy of the Company is to forward all such correspondence to the designated members of the Board of Directors. There have been no changes in the procedures regarding shareholder recommendations in the past year.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Directors, executive officers and holders of in excess of 10% of the Company's common stock are required to file reports concerning their transactions in and holdings of equity securities of the Company. Based on a review of reports filed by each such person, and inquiry of each regarding holdings and transactions, the Company believes that all reports required with respect to the year 20182019 were timely filed.filed, except that the initial report of our newly-elected director, Mr. Grasso, which reported holdings of zero, was filed late.

Code of Ethics

The Company has adopted a Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers, which applies to the Company's chief executive officer, chief financial officer, controller and others. A copy of the Code of Ethics may be obtained at no charge by written request to the Corporate Secretary at the Company's principal executive offices.

Meetings of the Board

The Board of Directors held four meetings and acted fivesix times by written consent during 2018.2019. The Audit Committee met sixfive times during 2018,2019, including at least one meeting per quarter to review the Company's financial statements, while the Compensation Committee met four times during 2018.2019. The Nominating Committee met oncethree times during 2018.2019. Each nominee attended at least 75% of the meetings of the Board of Directors and its committees that such individual was eligible to attend in 2018.2019. The Company does not have a policy of encouraging directors to attend or discouraging directors from attending its annual meetings of shareholders. In addition to theThe chairman and chief executive officer, Mr. Washerand no other directors, attended last year’s annual meeting of shareholders.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" EACH OF THE NOMINEES ABOVE.

PROPOSAL NO. 2 – RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has appointed the accounting firm of Crowe LLP ("Crowe") to be the Company's independent auditors for the year ending December 31, 2019.2020. Crowe also performed the audit of the Company's financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2008 through 2018.2019.

A proposal to ratify the Audit Committee’s appointment of Crowe will be presented to shareholders at the Annual Meeting. If the shareholders do not ratify the selection of Crowe at the Annual Meeting, the Audit Committee will consider selecting another firm of independent public accountants. Representatives of Crowe are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting. Such representatives will have an opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so, and will be available to respond to appropriate questions from shareholders in attendance.

Fees Paid to Auditors

The following table sets forth the fees accrued or paid to the Company’s independent registered public accounting firms for the years ended December 31, 20172018 and 2018.2019. Crowe has served as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm since February 2009, and reported on the Company’s financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2008 through 2018.2019.

_________________________

Audit Committee Supervision of Principal Accountant

The Audit Committee acts pursuant to a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors. Pursuant to the charter, the Audit Committee pre-approves the audit and permitted non-audit fees to be paid to the independent auditor, and authorizes on behalf of the Company the payment of such fees, or refuses such authorization. The Audit Committee has delegated to its chairman and its vice-chairman the authority to approve performance of services on an interim basis. In the fiscal years ended December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017,2019, all services for which audit fees or audit related fees were paid were preapproved by the Audit Committee as a whole, or pursuant to such delegated authority.

In the course of its meetings, the Audit Committee has considered whether the provision of the non-audit fees outlined above is compatible with maintaining the independence of the respective audit firms, and has concluded that such independence is not and was not impaired.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF CROWE LLP.

PROPOSAL NO. 3 – NON-BINDING VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

General

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) and Section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act enable the shareholders to vote to approve, on an advisory or non-binding basis, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers as disclosed in accordance with the SEC’s rules in the “Executive Compensation” section of this proxy statement beginning on page 11,9, below. This proposal, commonly known as a “say-on-pay” proposal, gives the shareholders the opportunity to express their views on the Company’s named executive officers’ compensation as a whole. This vote is not intended to address any specific item of compensation or any specific named executive officer, but rather the overall compensation of all of our named executive officers and the philosophy, policies and practices described in this proxy statement. The Company’s current policy is to seek such say-on-pay votes annually, at every regular meeting of shareholders.

The say-on-pay vote is advisory, and therefore not binding on the Company, the Compensation Committee or the Board of Directors. The say-on-pay vote will, however, provide information to the board and the Compensation Committee regarding investor sentiment about our executive compensation philosophy, policies and practices, which the Compensation Committee will be able to consider when determining executive compensation for the remainder of the current fiscal year and beyond. The Board of Directors and its Compensation Committee value the opinions of the shareholders; accordingly, to the extent there is any significant vote against the named executive officer compensation as disclosed in this proxy statement, the Compensation Committee will consider the shareholders’ concerns and evaluate whether any actions are necessary to address those concerns.

Summary of 20182019 Executive Compensation Program

Following is a summary of some of the key points of our 20182019 executive compensation program:

See the “Executive Compensation” section beginning on page 11,9, below, for more information.

We believe that the information provided above and within the Executive Compensation section of this proxy statement demonstrates that our executive compensation program was designed appropriately and is working to ensure management’s interests are aligned with our shareholders’ interests to support long-term value creation. We also believe the compensation paid to our executive officers during 20182019 was appropriate in light of our financial performance.

Accordingly, we ask that our shareholders vote “FOR” the following resolution, which will be presented at the Annual Meeting:

“RESOLVED, that the Company’s shareholders approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the named executive officers as disclosed in the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 20192020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the compensation tables and the other related disclosure.”

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE ADVISORY (NON-BINDING) VOTE APPROVING EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.

PROPOSAL NO. 4 – NON-BINDING VOTE ON THE FREQUENCY OF FUTURE ADVISORY VOTES ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The Dodd-Frank Act also enables our shareholders to indicate, at least once every six years, how frequently we should seek a non-binding vote on the compensation of our named executive officers, as disclosed pursuant to the SEC’s compensation disclosure rules, such as Proposal Three on page 8 of this proxy statement. By voting on this Proposal Four, shareholders may indicate whether they would prefer a non-binding vote on named executive officer compensation once every one, two, or three years.

After careful consideration, the board of directors has determined that holding an advisory vote on executive compensation every year is the most appropriate policy for the Company at this time, and recommends that shareholders vote for future advisory votes on executive compensation to occur every year. While the Company’s executive compensation programs are designed to promote a long-term connection between pay and performance, the board of directors recognizes that executive compensation disclosures are made annually. Given that the “say-on-pay” advisory vote provisions are first applicable to the Company this year, holding an annual advisory vote on executive compensation provides the Company with more direct and immediate feedback on our compensation disclosures. However, shareholders should note that because the advisory vote on executive compensation occurs well after the beginning of the compensation year, and because the different elements of our executive compensation programs are designed to operate in an integrated manner and to complement one another, in many cases it may not be appropriate or feasible to change our executive compensation programs in consideration of any one year’s advisory vote on executive compensation by the time of the following year’s annual meeting of shareholders. We believe that an annual advisory vote on executive compensation is consistent with our practice of seeking input from our shareholders on corporate governance matters (including the Company’s practice of having all directors elected annually and annually providing shareholders the opportunity to ratify the Audit Committee’s selection of independent auditors) and is consistent with our executive compensation philosophy, policies and practices.

This advisory vote on the frequency of future advisory votes on executive compensation is non-binding on the board of directors. Shareholders will be able to specify one of four choices for this proposal on the proxy card: one year, two years, three years or abstain. Shareholders are not voting to approve or disapprove the board’s recommendation. Although non-binding, the board and the Compensation Committee will review the voting results. Notwithstanding the board’s recommendation in this year’s proxy statement and the outcome of the shareholder vote, the board may in the future decide to conduct advisory votes on a more or less frequent basis and may vary its practice based on factors such as discussions with shareholders and the adoption of material changes to compensation programs.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE TO CONDUCT FUTURE ADVISORY VOTES ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION EVERY YEAR.

INFORMATION REGARDING THE COMPANY

Management Structure

The board of directors is responsible for overseeing the management of the Company. Its oversight is aimed at seeing to it that the company’s business is managed to meet our goals, and that the interests of the shareholders are served.

Charles E. Bradley currently serves as both the chairman of the board and our chief executive officer, and is the only member of our board who is not independent of the Company. Largely because of the small number of directors (seven members in total), our board has chosen not to designate any individual formally as the lead independent director. Each director retains his full oversight responsibility.

Our board structure supports the independence of our non-management directors. Our audit committee, compensation committee and nominating committee are each composed solely of independent directors. Our bylaws provide that any two directors have the authority to call meetings of the board of directors, as do specified officers, including the president and the secretary. To enhance the possible use of that authority by independent directors, the corporate secretary is under standing instructions to call a meeting at the instance of any one director.

The board believes that combining the chairman and chief executive officer positions is currently the most effective leadership structure given Mr. Bradley’s in-depth knowledge of our business and industry and his demonstrated ability to formulate and implement strategic initiatives. Mr. Bradley is continuously involved in developing and implementing our strategies, working closely with the company’s other senior executives to seek continued disciplined growth and excellence in operations. His close involvement in management places Mr. Bradley in the best position to decide which business issues require consideration by the independent directors of the board. In addition, having a combined chairman and chief executive officer enables us to speak with a unified voice to shareholders, customers and others concerned with our company. The board believes that combining the chief executive and chairman roles, as part of a governance structure that includes oversight of management responsibilities by independent directors, provides the preferred system for meeting the requirement that the Company be managed in the best interest of our shareholders.

Risk Oversight

The board’s overall responsibility for directing the management of the company includes risk oversight. The risk oversight function is performed at the board level, and by the Audit and Compensation Committees.

The board of directors as a whole in its regular meetings discusses and considers the risk inherent in the existing business of the Company and in proposed initiatives. Because the Company’s business consists of extending consumer credit to individuals believed to be of higher risk than others (sub-prime credit), the assessment of the risk assumed in such extensions of credit is a primary consideration on the part of the board. Risk oversight is also a key function of the Audit and Compensation Committees.

The principal risk management function performed by the Audit Committee is the ongoing assessment of the credit estimates and allowances periodically recorded in the Company’s books. The committee reviews that assessment regularly. Other risk assessments performed by the Audit Committee include assessments of contingent liabilities, and of other reserves and allowances.

The principal risk management functions performed by the Compensation Committee are its setting and evaluation of objectives for the chief executive officer, in connection with its administration of the executive management bonus plan. The committee recognizes that the company’s business of extending subprime credit inherently includes a conflict between growing the business and managing the risk of credit losses: one means to increase the company’s business is to offer credit on terms that are priced too low for the risk assumed. The Compensation Committee manages that risk by insisting that objectives to grow the business are qualified by a mandate that credit quality be maintained at appropriate levels. To some extent, such risk management is shared with the Audit Committee, which performs the primary oversight of whether credit risk assumed is reflected with adequate allowances in the company’s financial statements.

Code of Ethics

The Company has adopted a Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers, which applies to the Company's chief executive officer, chief financial officer, controller and others. A copy of the Code of Ethics may be obtained at no charge by written request to the Corporate Secretary at the Company's principal executive offices.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Compensation Committee Report

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed with CPS management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis contained in this report. Based on such review and discussions and relying thereon, we have recommended to the Company's Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis set forth below be included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.2019.

THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

Chris A. Adams (chairman)           William B. Roberts           Daniel S. Wood 

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

20182019 Say-on-Pay Advisory Vote Outcome

The Compensation Committee annually considers the results of the most recent advisory vote by shareholders to approve executive officer compensation. In the 20182019 advisory vote, 57%a majority of the voted shares (56%) approved the compensation of our named executive officers, and theofficers. The Compensation Committee interprets thathas noted the substantial negative vote, as a reasonbut has determined to retain the existing design, purposes and structure of our executive compensation programs. The Compensation Committee will continue to consider the results from future shareholder advisory votes regarding executive officer compensation in its future administration of executive compensation.

Compensation Objectives

The Company's objectives with respect to compensation are several. The significant objectives are to cause compensation (i) to be sufficient in total amount to provide reasonable assurance of retaining key executives, (ii) to include a significant contingent component, so as to provide strong incentives to meet designated Company objectives, and (iii) to include a significant component tied to the price of the Common Stock, so as to align management's incentives with shareholder interests. The compensation committee ("Committee") of the Company's Board of Directors is charged with administering the Company’s compensation plans to meet those objectives. To the extent that elements of compensation would not advance such objectives, or would do so less effectively than would other elements, the Committee seeks to avoid paying compensation in those forms.

Role of the Compensation Committee and the chief executive officer

Our Board of Directors has authorized the Compensation Committee, which is composed solely of independent directors, to make all decisions regarding executive compensation, including administration of our compensation plans. In that regard, the Compensation Committee:

The Compensation Committee is authorized to form subcommittee(s) and to retain experts and consultants to assist in the discharge of its responsibilities. To date it has not done so.

The chief executive officer, who attends meetings of the Compensation Committee by invitation of the Committee’s chairman, assists the Committee in determining the compensation of our other executive officers by, among other things:

The other executive officers do not have a role in determining their own compensation, other than to discuss their annual individual performance objectives and results achieved with the chief executive officer.

Our Overall Approach

The Committee has put into place a compensation system consisting of three key components: base salary, an annual cash bonus pursuant to an incentive plan, and long-term equity incentives in the form of stock options.

The table below provides comparative information regarding the components of our year 20182019 executive compensation program. We are applying the same elements in our executive compensation program for the year 2019.2020.

The Committee has from time to time considered providing additional elements of executive compensation. It has considered elements such as restricted stock awards, restricted stock units, compensation contingent on a change in control, defined benefit pension plans, deferred cash compensation, and supplemental retirement plans (supplemental in the sense that they exceed the limits for tax advantaged treatment). To date, the Committee has elected not to pay compensation in such forms, having determined that the Company's objectives are better met by one or more of the elements of compensation that it does pay.

Regarding restricted stock and restricted stock units, the Committee has noted that any form of equity equivalent to or closely tied to common stock does serve to meet the objective of aligning officers' personal interest with that of the shareholders generally. The Committee believes, however, that the objective is better met by grants of stock options than by grants of share equivalents, because recipients of the grants will face the same degree of variance in results at a lesser cost to the Company, when option grants are compared to grants of restricted stock units. Further, unlike restricted stock, option grants will not provide a reward to the holder absent an improvement over time in the Company’s stock price. The committeeCommittee has elected not to provide material perquisites as compensation, having determined that cash is a better medium of exchange.

Regarding compensation that would be payable contingent on a change in control of the Company, the Committee believes that there are certain legitimate objectives to be met by such contingent compensation. As of the date of this proxy statement, however, no such contingent compensation plans are in place. Regarding defined benefit pension plans, deferred cash compensation and supplemental retirement plans, the Committee believes that the Company's retention objective is better met by straight cash payments, whether in the form of base salary or in the form of bonus compensation. In particular with respect to plans for deferred compensation, the Committee believes those make sense for the Company and for the recipient only on the basis of assumptions regarding future tax rates payable by each. Having no assurance that such assumptions would be correct, the Committee has chosen not to put into place any special deferred compensation programs for the company’s executive officers. Those officers do participate in a company-sponsored tax-deferred savings plan, commonly known as a 401(k) plan, on the same terms available to company employees generally.

The Committee may in the future revisit its conclusions as to any of the components discussed above, or may consider other forms of compensation.

The Base Salary Element

With respect to the retention objective, the Committee considers an executive's base salary to be the most critical component. Acting primarily on the basis of recommendations of the chief executive officer, the Committee adjustsdetermines whether to adjust other officers' base salaries annually, with typical adjustments ranging from zero (applicable to most of the adjustment generally consisting ofCompany’s executive officers from 2017 to the present) to as much as a 2% to 10% increase from the prior year's rate. Where exceptional circumstances apply, such as recruitment of a new executive officer, a promotion to executive officer status or a special need to retain an individual officer, the chief executive officer may recommend, and the Committee may approve, a larger increase.

The Company's general approach in setting the annual compensation of its named executive officers is to set those officers’ base compensation by reference to their base rates for the preceding year. During the year ended December 2018,2019, the Company's chief executive officer, Charles E. Bradley, Jr., received $995,000 in base salary. In setting that rate in January 2018,the first quarter of 2019, the Committee considered the base salary rate that the Company had paid in the prior year ($995,000), the desirability of providing an annual increase, the desirability of ensuring retention of the services of the Company's incumbent chief executive officer, the Company’s financial performance, and the levels of chief executive officer compensation prevailing among other financial services companies. Subsequent to year-end, theThe Committee considered whether to adjust officers’ base compensation for 2019, and determined not to increase the base rate for the chief executive officer nor foror the other named executive officers.

The Annual Incentive Bonus (EMB) element

To encourage executive officers and key management personnel to exercise their best efforts and management skills toward causing the Company to meet its overall objective, and toward achieving designated specific individual objectives, the Company has implemented an Executive Management Bonus Plan, with annual payouts. Under the Company's bonus plan as applied to the year ended December 2018,2019, the Company’s two executive vice presidents (each of whom is among the named executive officers) were eligible to receive a cash bonus of up to 160% of their base salaries, and the Company’s senior vice presidents (two of whom areis among the named executive officers) were eligible to receive a cash bonus of up to 120% of their base salaries. The chief executive officer was eligible to receive a cash bonus of up to 600% of his base salary. The implementation of this element for the year 20182019 is discussed below.

The Long-Term Incentive Compensation Element

The Committee also awards incentive and non-qualified stock options under the Company's stock option plans. Such awards are designed to assist in the retention of key executives and management personnel and to create an incentive to create shareholder value over a sustained period of time. The Company believes that stock options are a valuable tool in compensating and retaining employees. During the year ended December 31, 2018,2019, the Committee granted stock options to the Company's executive officers. All such grants were awarded in May 2018,August 2019, and all carry exercise prices equal to the market price for the Company's common stock at the date of grant. The terms of such options are described below, under the caption "Grants of Plan-Based Awards in Last Fiscal Year." The numbers of shares made subject to each of the option grants were based on various factors relating to the responsibilities of the individual officers and to the extent of previous grants to such individuals.

Because the exercise price of all options granted is equal to or above the fair market value of the Company's common stock on the date of grant, the option holders may realize value only if the stock price appreciates from the price on the date the options were granted. This design is intended to focus executives on the enhancement of shareholder value over the long term.

Other Elements

The Company also maintains certain broad-based employee benefit plans, such as medical and dental insurance, and a qualified defined contribution retirement savings plan (401(k) plan), in which executive officers are permitted to participate. Such officers participate on the same terms as non-executive personnel who meet applicable eligibility criteria, and are subject to any legal limitations on the amounts that may be contributed or the benefits that may be payable under the plans. The Company does not maintain any form of defined benefit pension or retirement plan in which executive officers may participate, nor does it maintain any form of supplemental retirement savings or supplemental deferred compensation plan.

Exercise of Discretion

In exercising its discretion as to the level of executive compensation and its components, the Committee considers a number of factors. Members of the Committee conduct informal surveys of compensation paid to comparable executives within and without the consumer finance industry. The Committee finds these data useful primarily in evaluating the overall level of compensation paid or to be paid to the Company's executive officers. The Committee noted that the Company met and exceeded its budget objectives for the year. Operational factors considered included individual and group management goals; indicators of the performance and credit quality of the Company's servicing portfolio, including levels of delinquencies and charge-offs; and indicators of successful management of personnel, including employee stability. All of such factors are assessed with reference to the judgment of the Committee as to the degree of difficulty of achieving desired outcomes. With respect to payment of annual bonuses and grants of stock options, the Committee also takes note of factors relating to the degree of the Company's success over the most recent year.

Specific Objectives and Evaluation

In the first quarter of 20182019 the compensation committee designated specific objectives with respect to the chief executive officer to be accomplished within the year 2018,2019, and fixed weights to be associated with each such objective. The chief executive officer proposed to the committee specific annual objectives with respect to each other executive officer of the company, which the committee, after making certain modifications, approved. These objectives and the Committee’s administration of the annual incentive bonus element of compensation are discussed in detail below, under the heading “-“ - Grants of Plan-Based Awards in Last Fiscal Year - Executive Management Bonus Plan.”

Grants of Options

The Committee's award of stock options to the Company's officers in May 2018August 2019 included option grants to the chief executive officer and the other named executive officers. In determining the appropriate level of such grant, the Committee considered the long-term performance of the chief executive officer and the desirability of providing significant incentive for future performance, as well as the desirability of ensuring that officer's continued retention by the Company, and the various factors noted above with respect to option grants generally. These grants and the Committee’s administration of the long-term incentive element of compensation are discussed in detail below, under the heading “-Grants of Plan-Based Awards in Last Fiscal Year – Equity Incentives.”

Stock Ownership, Hedging and Pledging.Pledging. 

Our board of directors and compensation committee have considered whether to establish a minimum stock ownership goal for members of our senior management. We have elected not to do so, considering that such a policy would either be strict and mandatory, in which case it would undermine the compensatory objectives of our equity compensation plans, or would be merely hortatory, in which case it could be expected to have little effect. We’ve also noted that the multiyear vesting terms of the equity incentives granted under our plans have the effect of aligning our executives’ individual personal financial incentives with the future price performance of the Company’s stock. 

As part of our comprehensive compliance policy, we remind all company executive officers of the mandatory legal prohibition on selling short company shares. We also prohibit company executive officers from entering into transactions that would have the effect of causing those individuals to benefit from a decline in the price of the company stock, such as the purchase of “put” options. We prohibit such “hedging” transactions but we do not find it appropriate to prohibit our executive officers from pledging their shares of company stock as security for a loan. We believe that the beneficial incentives of owning company stock remain substantially the same with or without such a pledge.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

The Compensation Committee comprises non-employee directors Chris Adams (chairman), William Roberts and Daniel Wood. As discussed below under the heading “Certain Transactions – Subordinated Notes,” to which discussion the reader is directed, Mr. Roberts throughout 2018 held $4,000,000 of subordinated notes issued by the Company. The board of directors has considered whether such holdings would reasonably be expected to impair Mr. Roberts’ exercise of independent judgment, and has concluded that his independence is not impaired. In coming to that conclusion, the board noted that the Company’s repayment obligation is subordinated to all other debt of the Company, creating a near-alignment of interest with the holders of common stock, and also noted Mr. Roberts’ substantial beneficial ownership of Company common stock.

Summary of Compensation

The following table summarizes all compensation earned during the three fiscal years ended December 31, 20182019 by the Company's chief executive officer, its chief financial officer, and the other three most highly compensated individuals (such five individuals, the "named executive officers") who were serving in such position or as executive officers at any time in 2018.2019. It lists their names, the principal positions in which they served in those years, and each component of compensation paid with respect to those years.

Summary Compensation Table

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Grants of Plan-Based Awards in Last Fiscal Year

Equity Incentives

In the year ended December 31, 2018,2019, we did not grant any stock awards or stock appreciation rights to any of our named executive officers. We granted options to substantially all of our management level employees on May 9, 2018.August 8, 2019. The option grants noted in the tables above and below were awarded to the named executive officers as part of those grants. We also granted awards under our Executive Management Bonus Plan, which were evaluated in Januaryafter the end of 2019, and have been paid.the year. The amounts paid are shown in the table above (Summary Compensation Table) as “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation.”

In the May 2018August 2019 grant, the chief executive officer received an option to purchase 300,000 shares of the Company's common stock at the market closing price ($3.483.53 per share) on the date of grant, with such right to purchase to become exercisable in increments of 25% on each of the first through fourth anniversaries of the grant date, and to expire on the seventh anniversary. Each of the other executive officers of the Company received a grant at that time on the same terms. Mr. Fritz and Mr. Lavin received such a grant with respect to 90,000 shares, and the other executive officers of the Company each received such a grant with respect to 60,000 shares.

The table below provides information regarding the awards granted to the named executive officers in 2018.2019.

Grants of Plan-Based Awards

Estimated future payouts under non-equity incentive plan awards

The “target” and “maximum” figures appearing in the table above represent themaximum cash payout under the individual executives’ Executive Management Bonus Plan awards as of the date the incentive was fixed. The actual payout to each individual named in the table above has been determined and paid prior to the date of this proxy statement. That amount was in each case materially less than the maximum (approximately 45%44% of the maximum, in the case of the chief executive). The respective actual payments are described below, and appear above in the Summary Compensation Table under the heading “Non-Equity Plan Compensation.” Because each non-equity incentive plan award has been settled and paid, the future payout under such awards as of the date of this report is in each case zero. The “grant date fair value” figures appearing in the table above, which are the computed fair values of stock option awards, are computed as described in note 1 to the Summary Compensation Table.

Executive Management Bonus Plan

The Executive Management Bonus Plan award granted to the chief executive officer, Mr. Bradley, called for him to meet as many as possible of seven separate operational and financial objectives within the year 2018.2019. The Compensation Committee assigned to each of those objectives a value as a percentage of base salary. The objectives and their weightings were as follows: to meet the Company’s quarterly budgeted earnings (25% each quarter, total of 100%), to raise $50$70 million or more of debtnew capital (50%), to renew aor replace each of two designated existing warehouse credit facilityfacilities on terms equal to or better than those pre-renewal (50%), to acquire a material new servicing portfolio (100%), to execute three rated securitization transactions after the first quarter of 20182019 (40% each, 120% total), to increase the Company’sachieve annual originations of receivables toexceeding each of five targets (100% in the aggregate, creditable in increments of 20% for reaching aggregate amounts of $800 million, $850 million, $900 million, $950 million, and $1.0 billion), and to cause the Company’s common stock to trade in excess of each of four targets (80% in the aggregate, creditable in increments of 20% for reaching prices of $5.00, $5.50, $6.00 and $6.50 per share).

The total of the seven weightings is 600%; accordingly, the target and maximum possible value to that officer of the award was 600% of his base salary for 2018.2019.

In a series of meetings, the committee evaluated the chief executive’s performance in comparison to the goals. The Compensation Committee determined that the budget objective was met in twoone of the four quarters of 2018,2019, and credited the chief executive with half of the maximum value,one increment, or 50%25%.

The Company was not successful in raising new debt capital in May 2018, induring the amount of $40 million. The Committee accordingly determined that creditable performance of 40%, out of the target of 50%, had been achieved.year, and no credit was given 

The Committee alsonoted the successful renewal of both of the two designated warehouse lines, in February and December, and determined that the Septembereach renewal of the designated warehouse line was on materially better terms than those previously in place, andthat met the stated objective. The Committee therefore credited the chief executive with the full 50% designated for that objective.possible. No new portfolio was acquired in 2018,2019, and the Committee found no credit was earned in that respect.respect 

The Committee noted that the Company had executed four rated securitizations during the year, three of them after the objective was set, representing creditable performance of 120%. It determined that our originations volume exceeded $900 million$1.0 billion for the year while maintaining credit quality, representing creditable performance in the amount of 60%100%. None of the stock price objectives were fulfilled.

The aggregate valuation of all creditable performance for the chief executive officer was thus 320%295%, which would imply a bonus payment under our Executive Management Bonus Plan of $3,184,000.$2,935,000. The committee elected to pay a bonus of somewhat less than the maximum creditable percentage, in the amount of $2,700,000,$2,600,000, representing 271%261% of our chief executive’s base salary.

The Executive Management Bonus Plan awards granted to the named executive officers other than the chief executive officer are evaluated on a more subjective basis, and were set by the Compensation Committee in consultation with and on the recommendation of the chief executive officer. Factors used in determining the amount of bonus for the two named executive officers who are executive vice presidents of the Company are these: (I) an evaluation of the executive’s skills and performance, 26.7%, (II) whether the executive has met three individual objectives approved by the compensation committee, 32% in aggregate, (III) whether the Company as a whole has met or exceeded budget targets, 13.3%, (IV) a subjective evaluation of the officer's performance, 53.3%, and (V) a discretionary allocation recommended by the chief executive officer and approved by the compensation committee, 34.7%.

Numerical scores are assigned to each of these factors, up to the maximum percentages stated above, and can result in a maximum bonus of 160% of base compensation.

Similar factors are applied in determining the amount of annual bonus for executive officers who are senior vice presidents of the Company: (I) skills and performance, 20%, (II) three individual objectives, 24%, (III) Company budget, 10%, (IV) subjective evaluation of that executive’s department, 40%, and (V) discretionary allocation, 26%, resulting in a maximum bonus of 120% of base compensation.

Following the end of the year 2018,2019, our compensation committee evaluated each named executive officer’s performance in relation to these standards and goals. In two quarters out of four, the Company met its overall budget target, and each officer accordingly received 50% credit with respect to that target.

With respect to the individual factors, the compensation committee, acting in part on the advice of our chief executive officer, determined that creditable performance for 20182019 for each named executive officer other than the chief executive officer was as set forth below:

On that basis, the Compensation Committee approved payments to these named executive officers in the amounts shown in the rightmost column.

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-end

The following table sets forth as of December 31, 20182019 the number of unexercised options held by each of the named executive officers, the number of shares subject to then exercisable and unexercisable options held by such persons and the exercise price and expiration date of each such option. Each option referred to in the table was granted at an option price per share no less than the fair market value per share on the date of grant. None of such individuals holds a stock award; accordingly, only information concerning option awards is presented.

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Option Exercises in Last Fiscal Year

Four of the five named executive officers exercised stock options during 2018.2019. The table below shows the realized value and the number of options exercised for those four individuals. None of our officers hold stock awards; accordingly, no stock awards vested during 2018.2019.

Option Exercises and Stock Vested

Executive Management Bonus Plan (Non-equity Incentive Plan)

The salary and cash bonus of the named executive officers are determined by the Compensation Committee. The compensation appearing in the Summary Compensation Table above under the caption "Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation" is paid pursuant to an executive management bonus plan (the “EMB Plan”). The EMB Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee. Among other things, the Compensation Committee selects participants in the EMB Plan from among the Company’s executive officers and determines the performance goals, target amounts and other terms and conditions of awards under the EMB Plan. With respect to officers other than the chief executive officer, determinations of base salary and of criteria relating to the EMB Plan are based in part on evaluations of such officers prepared by the chief executive officer, which are furnished to and discussed with the Compensation Committee.

Director Compensation

Throughout 2018,2019, we paid our non-employee directors a retainer of $5,167 per month, with an additional fee of $500 per month for service on a board committee ($1,000 for a committee chairman). Non-employee directors also receivedper diem fees of $1,000 for attendance in person at meetings of the board of directors, or $500 for attendance by telephone. Noper diem fees are paid for attendance at committee meetings. The Board in 2018August 2019 approved issuance to each non-employee director of options to purchase as little asan aggregate of 30,000 shares or as much as 60,000 shares. The exercise prices of all such options are the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant, which was $3.48$3.53 per share. The following table summarizes compensation received by our directors for the year 2018:2019:

(1)       This column reports cash compensation earned in 2019 for Board and committee service.

(2)       This column represents the dollar amount recognized for financial statement reporting purposes with respect to the 2019 fiscal year for the fair value of stock options granted to the directors in 2019. The fair value was estimated using a binomial option-pricing model in accordance with SFAS 123R. The fair value per option was $1.03, based on assumptions of 3.24 years expected life, expected volatility of 38.77%, expected dividend yield of 0.0%, and a risk-free rate of 1.53%. In addition to the stock option awards granted in 2019, our directors other than Mr. Grasso held at December 31, 2019 option awards granted in previous years. The total options held at December 31, 2019 represent the right to purchase shares as follows: Mr. Bradley, 3,549,999 shares; Mr. Adams, 300,000 shares; Mr. Rayhill, 417,000 shares; Mr. Roberts, 150,000 shares; Mr. Washer, 300,000 shares; and Mr. Wood, 315,000 shares.

(3)       Mr. Bradley's compensation as chief executive officer of the Company is described elsewhere in this report. He received no additional compensation for service on the Company's Board of Directors.

(4)       Mr. Grasso joined our Board in October 2019.

Pension Plans

The Company's officers do not participate in any pension or retirement plan, other than a tax-qualified defined contribution plan (commonly known as a 401(k) plan).

Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control

This section provides information regarding payments and benefits to the named executive officers that would be triggered by termination of the officer’s employment (including resignation, or voluntary termination; severance, or involuntary termination; and retirement) or a change of control of the Company.

Each of the named executive officers is an at-will employee and, as such, does not have an employment contract. In addition, if the officer’s employment terminates for any reason other than a change of control of the Company, any unvested stock options are terminated, and vested options become subject to accelerated expiration: ordinarily three months following separation from service, or twelve months in the case of disability, retirement or death. Accordingly, there are no payments or benefits that are triggered by any termination event (including resignation and severance) other than in connection with a change of control of the Company.

Benefits Triggered by Change of Control or Termination after Change of Control

Our stock option plans provide that each employee of ours who holds outstanding unexpired options under our stock option may have the right to exercise such options following a change of control of the Company, without regard to the date such option would first be exercisable. Each of the named executive officers holds such options. The “acceleration” of options is mandatory following certain changes of control, and subject to the discretion of the Compensation Committee following certain others. Acceleration is mandatory in the event of (i) the sale, or other disposition of substantially all of the Company’s assets, or (ii) a merger or similar transaction in which shareholders of the Company hold less than 50% of the shares of the surviving entity; provided, however, that acceleration following a merger or similar transaction is mandatory only if the holder suffers a Qualifying Termination (defined below) within one year following the transaction, or if the surviving entity does not provide the holder with an equivalent award. Acceleration is also mandatory if a holder suffers a Qualifying Termination within one year following (iii) a change within a three-year period in the membership of a majority of the board of directors (excluding changes recommended by the board), or (iv) a person’s acquisition of outstanding voting securities of the Company, other than directly from the Company and without approval of the board, resulting in that person’s having beneficial ownership of greater than 25% of the Company.

Under our stock option plans, the Compensation Committee may exercise its discretion to provide for acceleration under other circumstances than those described above with respect to any particular stock option or class of stock options. The committee would expect to exercise its discretion with the intention of preserving the value of the stock option award. To date, such discretion has not been exercised. A “Qualifying Termination” is a termination of the holder’s employment by the Company other than for cause, disability or death, or by the holder for “good reason” (principally relating to a material diminution in the holder’s authority, compensation or responsibilities, or a relocation of greater than 50 miles). The preceding description applies to options held by officers and employees. Options issued to non-employee directors accelerate without the exercise of discretion upon any of the four categories of change of control described above.above 

As of December 31, 2018,2019, no named executive officers would realize a benefit if unvested stock options were to become immediately exercisable upon a change in control, based on the value of the shares underlying such options at the closing market price on December 31, 2018,2019, which closing price was $3.01$3.37 per share).

Policies

Stock Ownership, Hedging and Pledging. Our board of directors and compensation committee have considered whether to establish a minimum stock ownership goal for members of our senior management. We have elected not to do so, considering that such a policy would either be strict and mandatory, in which case it would undermine the compensatory objectives of our equity compensation plans, or would be merely hortatory, in which case it could be expected to have little effect. We’ve also noted that the multiyear vesting terms of the equity incentives granted under our plans have the effect of aligning our executives’ individual personal financial incentives with the future price performance of the Company’s stock.

As part of our comprehensive compliance policy, we remind all company executive officers of the mandatory legal prohibition on selling short company shares. We also prohibit company executive officers from entering into transactions that would have the effect of causing those individuals to benefit from a decline in the price of the company stock, such as the purchase of “put” options. We prohibit such “hedging” transactions but we do not find it appropriate to prohibit our executive officers from pledging their shares of company stock as security for a loan. We believe that the beneficial incentives of owning company stock remain substantially the same with or without such a pledge.

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The table below sets forth the number and percentage of shares of the our Common Stock (our only class of voting securities) owned beneficially as of September 18, 20192020 (the record date) by (i) each person known to us to own beneficially more than 5% of the outstanding Common Stock, (ii) each director nominee and each named executive officer, and (iii) all of our director nominees and executive officers, as a group. Except as otherwise indicated, and subject to applicable community property and similar laws, each of the persons named has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares shown as beneficially owned by such persons. Percent of class is calculated by reference to 22,525,71822,504,868 shares outstanding on the record date. Except as otherwise noted, each person named in the table has a mailing address at 3800 Howard Hughes Parkway, Suite 1400, Las Vegas, Nevada 89169.

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______________________

Equity Compensation Plan Information

The table below presents information regarding securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans, including the CPS 2006 Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan, as of December 31, 2018.2019.

CEO Pay Ratio

The Dodd-Frank Reform and Consumer Protection Act includes a mandate that public companies disclose the ratio of the compensation of their CEO to their median employee. Our CEO-median employee pay ratio calculation for 20182019 is 86:77:1. We determined the pay ratio by dividing the total 20182019 compensation of the CEO as disclosed in the Summary Compensation Table by the total 20182019 compensation of the median employee, using the same components of compensation as used in the Summary Compensation Table for the CEO.

There have been no changes to our employee population or compensation arrangements that we believe would result in a significant change in the pay ratio. Accordingly, we have computed the ratio by reference to the same employee whomwho we identified as our median employee for the year 2017, who was determined using the compensation of employees who were actively employed on December 31, 2017. The total compensation of our median employee in 2018,2019, using the same methodology we use for Mr. Bradley’s Summary Compensation Table compensation, was $46,710.$51,116. The total compensation of the CEO Charles Bradley in 20182019 was $4,022,600.$3,929,770.

CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS

Citigroup.On July 10, 2008, CPS and its wholly owned subsidiary Folio Funding II, LLC, as borrower, agreed with Citigroup Financial Products Inc. (“CGFP”), an affiliate of Citigroup Inc. (“Citigroup”), to amend and restate the agreements governing a pre-existing revolving residual credit facility. CGFP was the note purchaser in and administrative agent of that credit facility. The amendments included the issuance to an affiliate of CGFP of a ten-year warrant to purchase (for nominal consideration) 2,500,000 shares of Company common stock, which warrant was subsequently transferred to CGFP. Upon issuance of such warrant, CGFP became a person with beneficial ownership of greater than 5% of the Company’s common stock. On March 10, 2010, the Company repurchased a portion of the warrant, representing 500,000 of the 2,500,000 shares available for purchase upon exercise of such warrant. On July 10, 2018, CGFP exercised the remaining warrant, receiving 1,999,995 shares after surrender of shares equal in value to the nominal exercise price.

In September 2011, and approximately quarterly thereafter, CGMI acted as a placement agent of asset-backed notes issued by securitization trusts sponsored by CPS. The issuances of investment-grade and below investment-grade notes, and the placement compensation to CGMI, from January 1, 20162017 to the present, are set forth in the table below. In each case, one or more other placement agents also received compensation for placing such notes, as well as CGMI.

On May 11, 2012, the Company entered into a one-year revolving credit agreement (the "Citi Warehouse Agreement") and related agreements with affiliates of Citigroup and others, under which the lenders have agreed to lend up to a maximum of $100 million, to be secured by automobile receivables. In connection with the Citi Warehouse Agreement, the Company paid a closing fee of $1,000,000. The Company first incurred indebtedness under the Citi Warehouse Agreement in the amount of $9.1 million on May 14, 2012. The Company used the proceeds of that draw for working capital.

Following earlier extensions in 2013, 2014 and 2016, the Company and the lenders agreed on September 21, 2018 to extend the revolving term of the Citi Warehouse Agreement to September 21, 2020.2020 (extended in September 2020 to October 21, 2020). At the conclusion of the revolving period, at the election of either the borrower or the lender, the loans are to amortize for an additional one year, and then become due in full. Loans under the Citi Warehouse Agreement bear interest during the revolving period at a floating rate equal to one-month LIBOR plus 3.00%, but in all events no less than 3.75% per year, and during the amortization period (if any) at a floating rate equal to one-month LIBOR plus 4.00%, but in all events no less than 4.75% per year. The loans are subject to acceleration upon the occurrence of certain defined events of default. In connection with the 2018 renewal of the Citi Warehouse Agreement, we paid a closing fee of $730,000.

The maximum principal amount of indebtedness under the Citi Warehouse Agreement during 20182019 was $99.9$100 million. During 2018,2019, the Company paid $357.9$502.6 million of principal and $1.9$2.5 million of interest on such debt. As of September 18, 2019,2020, the principal amount owed was $52.3$1.1 million. The Company intends to incur additional indebtedness under the Citi Warehouse Agreement from time to time as it purchases motor vehicle receivables from dealers.

CPS Leasing.The Company holds 80% of the outstanding shares of the capital stock of CPS Leasing, Inc. ("CPSL"). The remaining 20% of CPSL is held by Charles E. Bradley, Jr., who is the chief executive officer and chairman of the board of directors of the Company. CPSL engaged in the equipment leasing business, and is currently in the process of liquidation as its leases come to term. The Company financed the operations of CPSL by making operating advances and by advancing to CPSL the fraction of the purchase prices of its leased equipment that CPSL did not borrow under its lines of credit. The aggregate amounts of the advances made by the Company and outstanding to CPSL as of December 31, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2018,2019, were approximately $227,000, $186,000, and$153,000,$153,000, and $122,000, respectively.

Subordinated Notes. Director William Roberts on December 3, 2007 purchased $4,000,000 of unsecured subordinated three-year notes directly from the Company. The interest rate was determined by negotiation, and Mr. Roberts and the Company have agreed to a series of successive extensions of such indebtedness, with interest paid at 10% per annum throughout the years 2016 through 2018. The Company in the years 2016, 2017 and 2018 paid interest of $400,000 per year on such notes, and in 2019 paid interest of $33,333, in accordance with those terms. The Company repaid the notes in full on February 1, 2019.

Policy on Related Party Transactions and Director Independence.The agreements and transactions described above, other than those described under the caption “Citigroup,” were entered into by the Company with parties who personally benefited from such transactions and who had a control or fiduciary relationship with the Company. It is the Company's policy that any such transactions with persons having a control or fiduciary relationship with the Company may take place only if approved by the Audit Committee or by the members of the Company's Board of Directors who are disinterested with respect to the transaction, and independent in accordance with the standards for director independence prescribed by Nasdaq. Such policy is maintained in writing in the charter of the Audit Committee. The agreements and transactions above were reviewed and approved by the members of the Company's Board of Directors who were disinterested with respect to the transaction, except that the subordinated notes transaction was reviewed and approved by the Audit Committee.

The six incumbentseven directors of the Company are Charles E. Bradley, Jr., Chris A. Adams, Louis M. Grasso, Brian J. Rayhill, William B. Roberts, Gregory S. Washer, and Daniel S. Wood, of whom Messrs. Wood, Rayhill and Washer compose the Audit Committee. The Board of Directors has concluded that other than Mr. Bradley (who is the Company's chief executive officer), each of the other fivesix directors is independent in accordance with the director independence standards prescribed by Nasdaq, and has determined that none of them has a material relationship with the Company that would impair his independence from management or otherwise compromise his ability to act as an independent director.

FURTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO THE ANNUAL MEETING

Voting Ofof Shares

The Board of Directors recommends that an affirmative vote be cast in favor of each of the nominees and proposals listed on the proxy card. The Board of Directors knows of no other matters that may be brought before the meeting which require submission to a vote of the shareholders. If any other matters are properly brought before the meeting, however, the persons named in the enclosed proxy or their substitutes will vote in accordance with their best judgment on such matters.

Votes cast in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting will be tabulated by the Inspector of Elections with the assistance of the Company's transfer agent. The Inspector of Elections will also determine whether or not a quorum is present. In general, California law provides that a quorum consists of a majority of the shares entitled to vote, represented either in person or by proxy, that is, a minimum of 11,262,86011,252,435 shares of the 22,525,71822,504,868 shares outstanding at the record date.

You are entitled to one vote per share on each matter other than election of directors. As to election of directors, you may cumulate votes and give any nominee an aggregate number of votes equal to the number of directors to be elected (seven) times the number of your shares, or distribute that number of votes among as many nominees as you see fit. However, no one will be entitled to cumulate votes for any nominee unless the nominee's name has been placed in nomination prior to the voting and the shareholder wishing to cumulate votes has given notice at the Annual Meeting prior to the voting of his intention to cumulate votes. If anyone has given such notice, all shareholders may cumulate their votes for nominees. We are seeking discretionary authority to cumulate votes of shares represented by proxies. The seven persons properly placed in nomination at the meeting and receiving the most affirmative votes will be elected as directors.

Approval of each of the other proposals requires the affirmative vote of a majority of those shares voting on the proposal, provided that such affirmative votes are at least a majority of the required quorum, that is, the affirmative votes must be greater than the negative votes, and must be no less than 5,631,431.5,626,218. Provided that at least the minimum number of affirmative votes are cast in favor of such proposals, an abstention will have no effect on the outcome; however, if less than 5,631,4315,626,218 affirmative votes are cast in favor of such proposals, then each abstention will have an effect equivalent to that of a negative vote.

The Inspector of Elections will treat abstentions as shares that are present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum, but as not voting for purposes of determining the approval of any matter submitted to the shareholders for a vote. Any proxy that is returned using the form of proxy enclosed and that is not marked as to a particular item will be voted FOR the director nominees named in this proxy statement, FOR ratification of Crowe LLP as the Company’s auditors for the year 2019, 2020, FOR the approval, by non-binding vote, of executive compensation, FOR the approval, by non-binding vote, of annual non-binding votes on executive compensation; and will be deemed to grant discretionary authority to vote upon any other matters properly coming before the Meeting, including procedural matters such as a recess or adjournment. We believe that brokers holding shares for their customers in general will not be permitted to vote without instruction from their customers on any proposal other than ratification of the selection of independent auditors. If a broker indicates on the enclosed proxy or its substitute that it does not have discretionary authority as to certain shares to vote on a particular matter (“broker non-votes”), those shares will be considered as abstentions with respect to that matter, and will have the effect of abstentions as described above. While there is no definitive specific statutory or case law authority in California concerning the proper treatment of abstentions and broker non-votes, the Company believes that the tabulation procedures to be followed by the Inspector of Elections are consistent with the general statutory requirements in California concerning voting of shares and determination of a quorum.

Shareholder Proposals

We plan to hold our year 20202021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders on April 30,May 12, 2020. In order to be considered for inclusion in our proxy statement and form of proxy for the 20192021 Annual Meeting, any proposals by shareholders intended to be presented at such meeting must be received by the Secretary of the Company at 3800 Howard Hughes Parkway, Las Vegas, Nevada 89169 no later than a reasonable time before we print our proxy materials for the 20202021 Annual Meeting. In addition, any such proposals will need to comply with Rule 14a-8 adopted under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which lists the requirements for the inclusion of shareholder proposals in company-sponsored proxy materials. Notice of any director nomination or other proposal that you intend to present at the 20202021 annual meeting of shareholders, but do not intend to have included in the proxy statement and form of proxy relating to the 20202021 annual meeting of shareholders, must be delivered to the Company’s Secretary by mail at the address given above, a reasonable time before we send our proxy materials for that meeting. The proxy we solicit for the 20202021 annual meeting of shareholders will confer discretionary authority on the Company’s proxies to vote on any proposal presented by a shareholder at that meeting for which we have not been provided with such notice.

Availability of Annual Report on Form 10-K

We have provided a copy of our 20182019 Annual Report with this proxy statement. Shareholders may obtain, without charge, a copy of the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K, upon written request.Any such request should be directed to "Corporate Secretary, Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc., 3800 Howard Hughes Parkway, Suite 1400, Las Vegas, Nevada 89169." The annual report on Form 10-K is also available on our website, at the following address:

http://www.consumerportfolio.com/2018Form10K.html

2019Form10K.html

CONSUMER PORTFOLIO SERVICES, INC.

THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON OCTOBER 22, 20192020

The undersigned shareholder of CONSUMER PORTFOLIO SERVICES, INC., a California corporation, hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement with respect to the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc. to be held at the offices of said corporation at 3800 Howard Hughes Parkway, Las Vegas, NV 89169 on October 22, 2019,2020, at 10:00 a.m., and hereby appoints Charles E. Bradley, Jr. and Jeffrey P. Fritz, and each of them, proxies and attorneys-in-fact, each with power of substitution and revocation, and each with all powers that the undersigned would possess if personally present, to vote the Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc. Common Stock of the undersigned at such meeting and any postponements or adjournments of such meeting, as set forth below, and in their discretion upon any other business that may properly come before the meeting (and any such postponements or adjournments).

(Continued and to be signed on the reverse side.)

ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS OF

CONSUMER PORTFOLIO SERVICES, INC.

October 22, 2020

Please date, sign and mail your proxy card in the envelope provided as soon as possible.

Please detach along perforated line and mail in the envelope provided.

ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS OF

CONSUMER PORTFOLIO SERVICES, INC. October

OCTOBER 22, 2019 2020

PROXY VOTING INSTRUCTIONS

NOTICE OF INTERNET AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIAL: The Notice of Meeting, proxy statement and proxy card are available at www.consumerportfolio.com/AnnualMeeting2019.html Please sign, date and mail your proxy card in the envelope provided as soon as possible. Signature of Shareholder Date: Signature of Shareholder Date: Note: Please sign exactly as your name or names appear on this Proxy. When shares are held jointly, each holder should sign. When signing as executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If the signer is a corporation, please sign full corporate name by duly authorized officer, giving full title as such. If signer is a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person. 1. Election of Directors: O Brian J . Rayhill O William B . Roberts O Gregory S . Washer O Daniel S . Wood 2. To ratify the appointment of Crowe LLP as independent auditors of the Company for the year ending December 31, 2019. 3. To approve an advisory resolution on executive compensation. 4. To vote on an advisory resolution as to the frequency of advisory resolutions on executive compensation. FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN WITHHOLD AUTHORITY FOR ALL NOMINEES FOR ALL EXCEPT (See instructions below) 5. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment(s) thereof. INSTRUCTIONS : To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark “FOR ALL EXCEPT” and fill in the circle next to each nominee you wish to withhold, as shown here: THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS SPECIFIED OR, IF NO CHOICE IS SPECIFIED, FOR THE ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES, FOR PROPOSALS 2 AND 3 , FOR “ 1 YEAR,” ON PROPOSAL 4 , AND AS SAID PROXIES DEEM ADVISABLE ON SUCH OTHER MATTERS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING AND ANY POSTPONEMENTS OR ADJOURNMENTS THEREOF . PLEASE VOTE, SIGN, DATE AND PROMPTLY RETURN THIS CARD . To change the address on your account, please check the box at right and indicate your new address in the address space above . Please note that changes to the registered name(s) on the account may not be submitted via this method . NOMINEES: FOR ALL NOMINEES O Charles E. Bradley, Jr. O Chris A. Adams O Louis M. Grasso THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS, AND LY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. PLEASE MARK YOUR VOT “FOR” PROPOSALS 2 AND 3 AND “1 YEAR” ON PROPOSAL 4. PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPT E IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS SHOWN HERE x Please detach along perforated line and mail in the envelope provided. 20730304000000000000 1 102219 1 YEAR 2 YEARS 3 YEARS ABSTAIN FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN

AnnualMeeting2020.html

Signature of Shareholder Date: Signature of Shareholder Date: Note: Please sign exactly as your name or names appear on this Proxy. When shares are held jointly, each holder should sign. When signing as executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If the signer is a corporation, please sign full corporate name by duly authorized officer, giving full title as such. If signer is a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person. 1. Election of Directors: O Brian J . Rayhill O William B . Roberts O Gregory S . Washer O Daniel S . Wood WITHHOLD AUTHORITY FOR ALL NOMINEES FOR ALL EXCEPT (See instructions below) NOMINEES: FOR ALL NOMINEES O Charles E. Bradley, Jr. O Chris A. Adams O Louis M. Grasso ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS OF CONSUMER PORTFOLIO SERVICES, INC. October 22, 2019 INTERNET - Access “ www . voteproxy . com ” and follow the on - screen instructions or scan the QR code with your smartphone . Have your proxy card available when you access the web page . TELEPHONE - Call toll - free 1 - 800 - PROXIES ( 1 - 800 - 776 - 9437 ) in the United States or 1 - 718 - 921 - 8500 from foreign countries from any touch - tone telephone and follow the instructions . Have your proxy card available when you call . Vote online/phone until 11 : 59 PM EST the day before the meeting . MAIL - Sign, date and mail your proxy card in the envelope provided as soon as possible . IN PERSON - You may vote your shares in person by attending the Annual Meeting . GO GREEN - e - Consent makes it easy to go paperless . With e - Consent, you can quickly access your proxy material, statements and other eligible documents online, while reducing costs, clutter and paper waste . Enroll today via www . astfinancial . com to enjoy online access . PROXY VOTING INSTRUCTIONS LY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. PLEASE MARK YOUR VOT “FOR” PROPOSALS 2 AND 3 AND “1 YEAR” ON PROPOSAL 4. PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPT E IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS SHOWN HERE x COMPANY NUMBER ACCOUNT NUMBER NOTICE OF INTERNET AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIAL : The Notice of Meeting, proxy statement and proxy card are available at www.consumerportfolio.com/AnnualMeeting2019.html Please detach along perforated line and mail in the envelope provided IF you are not voting via telephone or the Internet. 20730304000000000000 1 102219 THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS, AND 2. To ratify the appointment of Crowe LLP as independent auditors of the Company for the year ending December 31, 2019. 3. To approve an advisory resolution on executive compensation. 4. To vote on an advisory resolution as to the frequency of advisory resolutions on executive compensation. 5. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment(s) thereof. INSTRUCTIONS : To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark “FOR ALL EXCEPT” and fill in the circle next to each nominee you wish to withhold, as shown here: THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS SPECIFIED OR, IF NO CHOICE IS SPECIFIED, FOR THE ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES, FOR PROPOSALS 2 AND 3 , FOR “ 1 YEAR,” ON PROPOSAL 4 , AND AS SAID PROXIES DEEM ADVISABLE ON SUCH OTHER MATTERS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING AND ANY POSTPONEMENTS OR ADJOURNMENTS THEREOF . PLEASE VOTE, SIGN, DATE AND PROMPTLY RETURN THIS CARD . To change the address on your account, please check the box at right and indicate your new address in the address space above . Please note that changes to the registered name(s) on the account may not be submitted via this method . FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN 1 YEAR 2 YEARS 3 YEARS ABSTAIN FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN

ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS OF

CONSUMER PORTFOLIO SERVICES, INC.

OCTOBER 22, 2020

PROXY VOTING INSTRUCTIONS