Lendi named as one of LinkedIn’s top startups
Leading online home loan platform, Lendi, has been recognised in the 2018 LinkedIn Top Startups list, honouring the 25 most sought-after startups in Australia. The LinkedIn Top Startups list celebrates the companies and people making an impact in the professional world. The list is derived from a blended score looking at factors including interest in the company, engagement with employees, job interest and retention, and is informed by the billions of actions taken by more than 575 million professionals on LinkedIn. “At Lendi, we put people at the heart of everything we do. To be featured on Australia’s first LinkedIn Top Startups list is a significant milestone for us. It […]
Raising the bar for SME lending
For those who work in the finance industry, there appears to be no shortage of lenders and loans in the marketplace. However, for those running Australia’s 2.1 million small and medium-sized enterprises, it can be difficult to see the wood for the trees. With the intention of addressing this, in July six fintechs signed the Code of Lending Practice, a document designed to bring transparency and clarity to the online balance sheet lending space. An initiative of the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO) and FinTech Australia, key elements include the introduction of a pricing comparison tool allowing customers to compare the cost of unsecured loans from the signatories; […]
Prospa becomes first online small business lender to complete review of loan terms with ASIC
Prospa is the first online small business lender to have undertaken a full review of its loan terms after consultation with ASIC. Prospa has agreed to certain recommendations from ASIC in relation to removing or amending some of its contract terms. Some of these terms have, historically, not been relied upon, and other terms were amended to clarify or reflect existing policies. Prospa notes that the amendments agreed with ASIC do not have any material impact on the company financially or operationally. Prospa’s COO Ben Lamb said: “We’re always looking for ways to improve finance outcomes for small business owners. As the first non-bank lender to complete its review, we […]
Xero State of Lending Report: Funding gap is stifling small business growth in Australia
Research unveiled today by Xero suggests Australia’s small businesses could borrow as much as $80 billion over the next 12 months, if they could get the funding. Instead, small businesses are struggling to access the capital they require, in large part due to the complexity of the loan process. This is creating a funding gap and holding back significant jobs and growth opportunities for the Australian economy. According to the Xero State of Lending Report, one in five small business owners (22%) say access to capital is the greatest pain point or perceived threat to their long-term growth aspirations, and a quarter of small business are not very confident in […]
Max ID launches Australian-first digital technology that provides ‘safe harbour’ identity verification for property transactions in less than 10 minutes.
Max ID, an Australian Fintech facilitator and RegTech specialist, has today publicly launched a technology solution that it believes will bring a broad range of industry players a step closer to their aim of delivering simple, efficient and inexpensive same-day ‘safe harbour’ identity verification for mortgages and property services transactions. Financial institutions and non-bank mortgage lenders have long been endeavouring to provide intra-day, unconditional home loan approvals. There are a number of hurdles to achieving that outcome in Australia, including the requirement to conduct a face-to-face and in-person interview with the borrower to meet regulatory requirements. Until now that requirement has created a conflict between delivering regulatory ‘safe harbour’ outcomes, […]
The $4b buy now pay later startup built on a legal loophole
“I’m pretty bad when it comes to shopping,” Amanda*, a 23-year-old disability worker based in Melbourne tells Fairfax Media. “If I liked it, I’d Afterpay it”. It’s been said that the ultimate goal for a tech startup is to become a verb. If that’s the case, then Sydney-based Afterpay has well and truly made it. Amanda started using the buy now pay later service in 2016. She used it to purchase clothes, electronics and Christmas presents. But when her financial circumstances changed, she quickly ran into trouble. “When I started using it I was getting good money from work. I could afford the repayments, I always made sure I would […]
Neo-lender raises $4m in capital
A neo-lender has raised more than $4million from shares, saying the investment acknowledges the transformation of the business. Wisr, which has also released its figures for the last financial year, provides personal loans and technology products to help borrowers. It will use the funds to take a more innovative approach on how loans are funded and to potentially increase margins. The capital will also assist in helping the company’s ongoing growth initiatives as part of its customer acquisition and retention strategy. Commenting on the capital raise, Anthony Nantes, chief executive officer, said, “We are delighted with the strong support we received from the capital raise. “This investment acknowledges the transformation […]
GetCapital appointed to PLAN Australia aggregator panel
GetCapital, Australia’s award-winning specialist lender to small and medium sized businesses (SMEs), has announced its appointment to the lending panel of leading aggregator PLAN Australia from 20 August. PLAN is one of Australia’s largest mortgage aggregation groups, with over 1,650 members and a total loan book value close to $70 billion. The aggregator’s commercial and asset finance volumes reached $990 million in the six months to March 2018. The partnership will see GetCapital’s innovative multi-product offering of business loans, equipment finance and trade finance become available on PLAN’s extensive broker network across Australia. “We welcome the opportunity to work with PLAN as part of our commitment to support the growth […]
