Online lender Avant was one company greatly affected by the industry’s challenges in 2016; in May it laid off 60 workers with further reductions in July; it also paused its plans to expand into Australia and offer new auto loans and credit cards; a new partnership with Regions Bank has helped revive the company’s growth and it also plans to announce another partnership in February; the new business activity has helped it to begin hiring again and it’s currently looking for 25 technologists and some additional customer service support; in 2017 Avant’s President, Adam Hughes, says the firm will focus on three main initiatives: growing Avant’s core lending product, partnering with more brick-and-mortar banks and launching the credit card product; it also has plans to continue its previous initiatives including Australia expansion and auto loans. Source
