Levi says it must retain control of its own image.

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This is because Lendio only sends borrowers that are particularly suited to what each bank is looking for, says Levi King, president and COO at Salt Lake City-based Lendio.

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"We determined that running a world-class e-commerce site was unaffordable, " says a Levi spokesman.

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But that may not happen for another year, Levi's Shank says.

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"It's a bit of a touchy spot, " says a Levi executive.

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In the crucial area of corporate transparency, says Michael Levi, professor of criminology at the University of Cardiff, Jersey and Guernsey have tighter controls than Britain, where it is possible to conceal the identity of the beneficial owner of a company.

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"I've never made a profit in any year of the company that has surpassed that amount, " says Mr. Levi, 62 years old.

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While the company won't share specific numbers, "the business savings costs are real, " says Michael Kobori, Levi's V.

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But like Mr. Levi and Mr. Epstein, she says she can't predict how many of her remaining employees will go onto the company's plan next year, when all individuals will be required to have health insurance.

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"Look to companies like Patagonia and Levi's who are really doing it, " she says, noting the world's largest retailer, Walmart, as another frontrunner credited with making significant changes to its supply chain.

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