Sources have reported to Crowdfund Insider that the platform has shut down; the online lender was providing lines of credit for up to $1,000; it last raised $3 million in February 2017. Source
Consumer lenders Lending Club and Prosper are reporting growth in originations; for the second quarter Lending Club loan originations reached $2.1473 billion, increasing 10% from the previous quarter and the second quarter of 2016; Prosper originated $774.7 million worth of loans in the second quarter of 2017, an increase from $586 million in Q1 and $445 million in the second quarter of 2016; both companies had high Q1 2016 originations which has kept first half 2017 totals down in comparison to 2016. Source
After a pilot study with ZestFinance to test alternative underwriting, the firm has now announced it will extend its model to more broadly consider alternative data for loan underwriting approvals; alternative loan data is being increasingly utilized across the financial services industry; Ford believes the new underwriting initiative could help improve sales for the firm which are down 4.3% year-to-date through July. Source
The lawsuit according to Crowdfund Insider names former CEO Renaud Laplanche along with current and former board members as well as former CFO Carrie Dolan; according to the complaint: "Throughout the period December 11, 2014 and continuing through May 9, 2016 (the "Relevant Period"), the individual defendants breached their fiduciary duties to LendingClub by failing to institute adequate internal controls regarding financial disclosures, related party transactions, and data integrity and security, all while causing LendingClub to represent in the Registration Statement and a series of subsequent filings that such controls were sufficient."; two shareholders filed the suit. Source
Following up on a recent article highlighting the Marqeta deal with Visa, the publication interviews Candace Klein, head of alternative lending at Marqeta; the interview covers the difference between credit cards and online lenders using prepaid cards to deliver funds; how does the borrower view the experiences and if credit card companies can bring rates down does that change the equation; Marqeta provides an open API issuer processor platform to change how payment cards, virtual cards, and mobile authorization products are being used and developed. Source
Brett Boehm, principal and director of business development for TBF Financial, shares the various options that lenders have for non-performing loans; many firms chase non-performing loans when perhaps selling the loans to a commercial debt buyer is a better option; blog post discusses commercial debt buying, recovery options for the lender, and how to deal with reputable buyers and brokers. Source
SoFi has faced challenges of opposition to its industrial loan charter from numerous parties for various reasons; now California Representative Maxine Waters, a Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, has written a letter to the FDIC calling for a public hearing to more broadly discuss the online lenders application and its market implications; fintech regulation is an ongoing topic for debate and Waters says, "Granting SoFi's application would set a precedent that a wide variety of other fintech companies may choose to follow even though concerns related to financial inclusion, consumer benefits, supervision, and regulation of such entities are still unresolved."; the industrial loan charter would give SoFi a number of advantages including the allowance for FDIC insured deposits with no supervisory reporting requirements at the holding company level; Waters also commented on the development of the OCC's special purpose national charter for fintech companies which would grant internet lenders nationwide business approval in a single charter, stating that the framework has not been fully developed for implementation; the industrial loan company charter is currently limited to business in the states of California, Colorado, Minnesota, Indiana, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah. Source
Highlights partnerships announced by Wells Fargo and Blend, and Walmart and Google Express; reports on economists' comments at the Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium discussing post-crisis market regulations and areas for further improvement; also mentions Jamie Dimon's annual letter and the role for third party risk infrastructure. Source
LendingRobot and NSR Invest are robo-advisors in marketplace lending; the firms have now merged to become the largest robo-advisor in the space; Lend Academy discusses the history of each company and the reasoning behind the merger; discusses the unique aspects of each offering and what the go forward plan is for the merged company. Source
The trading suspension was announced for American Security Resources Corp. (ARSC) on August 24, 2017; the suspension will be effective until September 8, 2017; according to the SEC, "The Commission temporarily suspended trading in the securities of ARSC because of questions that have arisen regarding publicly available information about the company in press releases on OTCMarkets.com, dated August 1, and August 8, 2017, concerning, among other things, the company's business transition to the cryptocurrency markets and early adoption of blockchain technology."; the SEC has suspended trading on at least two other companies involved in bitcoin that are listed on the OTC markets. Source