The Factoring Industry Celebrates the Life of a Legend
August 25, 2025 - It is with deep sadness that the International Factoring Association announces the passing of Anthony "Tony" Kinninger, a cherished member of the factoring community, who passed away on August 21, 2025.
Tony Kinninger started in the commercial finance industry in 1971. He founded Orange Commercial Credit in Anaheim, California in 1979. He started off with just two employees and was a pioneer in an early industry. In those early days, Tony was a one-stop factoring shop. He personally visited clients’ businesses, making weekly rounds with a stack of checks. He funded invoices on the spot while asking for referrals and signing up new business. He recalls a few occasions when clients called him asking for help with bail!
Back in the day invoices were funded with no reserve, no recourse, and non-notification. According to Tony, “You better bet the clients loaded the schedule with uncollectable bills.” Everything was done on handwritten ledgers, with no detail or computer of any kind. A few years later, the OCC operations team would begin working with Russ Opper to develop what would eventually become FactorSoft and introduce automation to the factoring industry. Today, there are an estimated 600 factoring companies in the US, and FactorSoft is the most widely used software in the industry.
In 2007 Tony, alongside Kathleen Dasal, founded Ansonia Credit Data. With Tony and Kathleen at the helm, Ansonia quickly became the predominate source for the factoring industry for debtor credit.
David B. Clark, childhood friend of Tony Kinninger and founder of Riviera Finance said, "Tony will be missed by me - as a lifelong friend of 75 years - but he will be missed even more so by the factoring community for the integrity he brought to this industry."
Tony and his wife Linda spent the majority of their time in their most favorite place, Loreto, Baja California. Together they formed Eco-Alianza de Loreto A.C. to support and protect the Loreto community and natural beauty. In lieu of flowers, donations in Tony’s memory at Welcome - Eco Alianza de Loreto | Loreto, B.C.S. would be most appreciated to ensure his legacy continues.
Private services for Tony’s friends, family and colleagues will be held as follows:
Monday, September 8th 10:00am mass at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Newport Beach, California. Also, for Tony’s friends in Loreto, on Monday, October 27th there will be a mass at Mission of Our Lady of Loreto in Baja, California.