Peer to Peer Lending Cuts Out the Bank
When you participate in peer to peer lending, you’re cutting the bank out of the equation (and replacing it with your P2P service). Banks have their place in the world, but sometimes your best bet is to borrow elsewhere. Peer to peer lending gives you another option for secured and unsecured loans.
Peer to Peer Lending Services
The peer to peer lending marketplace is quickly growing. You can read about some of the major players in detail:
- Prosper.com - the original eBay for loans
- Lending Club - lenders and borrowers find something in common
- Virgin Money - borrow from friends and family but make it official
Peer to Peer Lending Rates
Borrowing via peer to peer lending usually means you can borrow less expensively. Banks have more overhead than some guy on the internet, and they have to pay for it somehow. Peer to peer lending services also allow individuals to bid on your loan. They compete by offering a lower rate.
Credit Issues With Peer to Peer Lending
You’ll need decent credit to get a decent loan. The peer to peer lending services check your credit as part of your application – and they tell potential lenders how good your credit is. Likewise, if you fail to pay off the loan as agreed your credit will suffer.
Peer to Peer Lending Logistics
In most cases the peer to peer lending service handles all the logistics of your loan, including:
- Deduct payments from your bank account
- Send money to the lender
- Provide a website and customer service
- Verify identities for regulatory compliance
- Communicate with credit bureaus
