Ombudsman calls for greater clarity on fintech loan terms
Speaking to Mortgage Business, the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO), Kate Carnell, stated her concern that fintechs, including Prospa, are making their interest rates “really hard to understand”. The small business lender, which postponed its public listing this week, reportedly has an average annual interest rate north of 40 per cent. However, while Ms Carnell did not suggest the interest rate was inappropriate, she did question the transparency around the actual rate itself. “If somebody wants to pay a 40 per cent [annual percentage rate], that’s absolutely fine,” Ms Carnell told Mortgage Business. “For particular sorts of loans that could have high levels of risk, that’s an […]
Prospa founders admit float lost ‘vital momentum’
The co-founders of small business lender Prospa maintain the company can return to the public markets for a future float, after a last-minute regulatory query this week created “confusion” that sapped the listing of vital “momentum.” Prospa was meant to be one of most-watched floats of 2018, but these plans were thrown into disarray this week as scrutiny from regulators apparently caught the company, and its investment bankers, off-guard. After Thursday night’s decision to postpone the float, on Friday, co-founders Greg Moshal and Beau Bortoli said Prospa was taking the opportunity to “regroup” and one day return to the public markets. Prospa had been due to list around lunchtime on […]
Fintech startup HashChing has launched an equity crowdfunding campaign
Mortgage marketplace startup HashChing, a fintech startup disrupting the monopoly of the big banks, has launched an equity crowdfunding campaign. It’s currently live on the Equitise platform, which has one of the seven crowdfunding licences issued for the first time this year. HashChing, which is seeking between $1 million and $5 million, has so far raised $286,500, at a minimum $250 investment, with another eight days to go. “A slight difference in interest rates can cost a homeowner thousands of dollar each year,” says Mandeep Sodhi, founder and CEO. “This is why one out of two Australians like to deal with a mortgage broker instead of going direct to the […]
Online lender Prospa delays float 30 minutes to listing
The sharemarket float of online lender Prospa has been postponed about half an hour before the planned listing, after the corporate watchdog wanted further details of its small business loan contracts. Prospa and its joint lead managers – investment banks UBS and Macquarie – said the 48-hour delay was because it was “seeking to clarify queries raised by ASIC yesterday in relation to Prospa’s small business loan terms,” as part of a wider review. “Prospa was first contacted yesterday by ASIC in relation to its industry-wide review of small business lending – bank and non-bank. The review covers a range of topics,” a Prospa spokeswoman said. “We take our legal […]
Wisr launches employee financial wellness solution: Wisr @ Work
Neo lender Wisr has launched a financial wellness program aimed at helping businesses combat one of the biggest causes of workplace stress, personal financial difficulties. Called Wisr @ Work, this program allows businesses to provide staff with online tools, education materials and debt reduction applications to help employees take control of their money and improve financial wellness. According to a Wisr survey of 250 Australians, it was found 48% of employees had experienced stress in the workplace because of their personal financial situation. Almost 65% said they had experienced feelings of anxiety or panic at work because of monetary issues, whilst 43% said it impacted their productivity and 35% had […]
Mortgage group’s “mortgage hell” billboard above CBA
Online mortgage startup HashChing is advertising with a billboard above a Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) branch. The home loan marketplace has launched a campaign against the big banks, which includes this billboard in the Melbourne CBD. The slogan reads, “Our brokers will go to mortgage hell, so you don’t have to”. Mandeep Sodhi, CEO of HashChing, said the new billboard made light of the fact that applying for a mortgage or refinancing an existing one can be quite an onerous experience. He added, “By positioning this billboard above a CBA branch, we’re encouraging the 80% of borrowers who are currently with a big four bank to find a better […]
GetCapital announces new partnership with FAST
Leading aggregator Finance & Systems Technology (FAST) has announced the appointment of specialist small business finance provider GetCapital to its lending panel. Founded in 2000, FAST is one of the largest and most established aggregators in Australia, supporting more than 1,300 brokers to arrange over $21 billion in residential and commercial lending for customers annually. Brendan Wright, CEO of FAST, said this latest appointment reinforced the aggregator’s commitment to continually supporting FAST brokers to meet their business clients’ needs. “This announcement is very much aligned with FAST’s strategy to support brokers to cater to SME clients. Business and commercial finance have long been hallmarks of FAST’s unique value proposition, with […]
DomaCom acquires $100m lending facility
Property crowdfunding firm DomaCom and a number of private lenders have partnered to provide the DomaCom Fund with an initial lending line of $100 million. In a statement, DomaCom chief executive Arthur Naoumidis said the lending facility would allow the company to purchase up to $250 million in property. “We have been seeking a default lending solution for our platform for three years as it is clear that advisers are seeking to use debt to deliver long-term tax effective returns for their clients,” he said. “In addition to the recently announced capacity to being able to crowdfund their own debt, advisers can now simply select the debt level they are […]
