For more than four decades, Meridian Financial Services has served as a trusted financial services partner within the vacation ownership industry, providing compliant, stable, and ethical receivables solutions that prioritize both client protection and consumer dignity.
Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Asheville, North Carolina, Meridian is a veteran-owned company led by owner Greg Sheperd. From its earliest days, Meridian was built on a simple but enduring philosophy: financial services, particularly within collections, must be grounded in integrity, discipline, and respect. That philosophy continues to guide every operational, compliance, and client-facing decision the company makes today.
Meridian currently services a portfolio of approximately 70,000 active accounts and has the infrastructure, personnel, and controls in place to scale beyond that volume without sacrificing accuracy or compliance. The company supports both domestic and international clients within the vacation ownership space, offering the consistency and reliability required by an industry that operates across jurisdictions, regulatory environments, and consumer expectations.
What truly distinguishes Meridian within the financial services sector is its uncompromising commitment to compliance. Meridian does not view regulatory adherence as a minimum standard; it treats compliance as a core service offering. The company operates with a dedicated internal compliance function led by an experienced compliance officer, ensuring that federal and state requirements are not only met but continuously monitored, interpreted, and operationalized.
Meridian goes well beyond basic regulatory obligations by actively educating its clients on evolving compliance risks, regulatory trends, and best practices. This advisory role allows Meridian to function as an extension of its clients’ organizations, helping them mitigate risk, avoid costly errors, and maintain long-term reputational stability. In an industry where regulatory missteps can carry significant financial and reputational consequences, Meridian’s compliance-first approach provides clients with confidence and continuity.
Equally important is Meridian’s approach to consumer engagement. The company adheres to a “kinder collections” model that balances financial responsibility with professionalism and respect. Meridian recognizes that successful outcomes are built on clear communication, fairness, and consistency. By treating consumers with dignity while maintaining firm adherence to contractual and legal obligations, Meridian achieves results without unnecessary escalation, reinforcing trust on all sides of the process.
Meridian’s strength is further reflected in the stability of its workforce. The company’s management team has an average tenure of 18 years, while its collectors average more than 12 years of service. This level of institutional knowledge is rare in the financial services sector and ensures consistency in decision-making, training, and client experience. Long-term employee retention also reflects a disciplined operational culture where expectations are clear, leadership is engaged, and professionalism is the standard.
In 2025, Meridian achieved the highest profitability year in its history—an outcome driven not by shortcuts or aggressive practices, but by disciplined growth, long-standing client relationships, and operational excellence. Many Meridian clients have partnered with the company for more than 15 years, a testament to the trust Meridian has earned through consistency, transparency, and results.
Within the vacation ownership industry, Meridian Financial Services is recognized not simply as a vendor, but as a reliable financial partner—one that elevates standards, protects stakeholders, and delivers outcomes with integrity. Through decades of service, a compliance-forward operating model, and a deeply experienced team, Meridian continues to demonstrate what best-in-class financial services should look like in a complex and highly regulated industry.
For these reasons, Meridian Financial Services exemplifies the qualities honored by the GNEX Best Financial Services Award.