zopa - Internet Marketing News and Blogs

P2P lending site Zopa is set to launch in the US this week, where it will compete with firms like Prosper and CircleLending, recently rebranded as Virgin Money USA.

Zopa's US version will differ from its UK site as investors will have their funds 'federally insured', instead of spreading their risk by loaning small amounts to multiple borrowers. 

This guarantee, the firm hopes, will allow it to attract capital quickly as it is not something competing P2P sites currently offer.

Lending Club, a P2P loans community on Facebook, has launched a new website to expand its model beyond the social network.

Lending Club, a P2P lending community on Facebook, seems to have found some early popularity among the social network's users.

Lending Club launched when Facebook opened up to widgets on May 24th. Since then it has approved 27 loans worth over $100,000, with $212,650 in lending due to go through in the next 12 days, according to TechCrunch.

British "social lending" exchange Zopa has raised a $12.4m (£6.6m) series C investment with the aim of breaking the company in to the US market.

The funds from Bessemer Venture Partners, Benchmark Capital and Wellington Partners will also continue to support Zopa's UK operation, with several new features scheduled.

A new study has claimed that the social networking boom could eventually threaten the dominance of traditional lenders.

A study by the Social Futures Observatory think-tank found that many consumers would consider borrowing through online ‘social lending’ communities rather than high street banks and other traditional lenders.