When it comes to lending and borrowing money, traditionally this has been a transaction between a bank and a borrower. The bank loans the money with interest, and the borrower repays the loan plus interest over time. For centuries, banks have operated in this way. However, in the world of modern-day lending and borrowing, there is another avenue to pursue. This is peer-to-peer (P2P) lending. In this guide, we will discuss what peer-to-peer lending is, why it is so popular and how to obtain a loan in this way. Let’s get started.
What Is Peer-To-Peer Lending?
Instead of going to a bank, borrowers can now approach an individual lending company for a loan. The process of borrowing from a lending company is generally much quicker than the bank. Your loan can be approved and provided within hours, rather than waiting days for a bank appointment.
The interesting thing about lending companies is that they themselves do not have easy access to capital, so they partner with investors willing to fund loans and put the borrowers in touch with these investors. Investors benefit from the process of lending from P2P Empire, as they can earn up to 16% annually by investing in loans around the world. The borrower pays the lending company back, plus interest and a fee. The company then pays the lender back plus interest. Everyone’s a winner.
Why Is Peer-To-Peer Lending So Popular?
Now that we have a better idea of what peer-to-peer lending is, let’s look at why both investors and borrowers choose to get involved in P2P.
For Investors
Investing in P2P lending is very simple, which makes it appealing to investors. You simply register yourself as an investor on a P2P lending platform, verify your identity with documentation, and then transfer funds and start investing in loans. You are just required to be 18 years old or over and have a bank account in your name.
Your interest is either paid monthly or at the end of the loan term, depending on the kinds of loans in which you choose to invest. Once the loan is paid back, you can invest your funds again or withdraw them. It typically takes between one and three business days to withdraw your funds.
For Borrowers
There are several different kinds of borrowers on lending platforms, and these include businesses, consumers, property owners, and crypto users. Each one has their own reasons for seeking a loan, but all will choose P2P for its ease and simplicity.
Generally, with peer-to-peer borrowing, the loan approval will be quicker, the fees will be lowered, and the loan requirements will be less tough than with banks. Moreover, borrowers like P2P loans because they can actually boost borrowers’ credit scores, provided they make the repayments on time.
Is Peer-To-Peer Lending Safe?
For investors, the risk assessment can be a little complex when it comes to P2P lending. The best way to keep your funds safe as an investor is to invest in loans with a low risk of default. Ensure that you use a trusted and reliable platform with great risk and return ratio. Peer-to-peer lending is not risk-free, but if you do your due diligence and research thoroughly the lending platform and investment options, you can mitigate risks fairly well.
For borrowers, yes, peer-to-peer lending is safe. There are reasons why people might choose to go with the old traditional route of borrowing from banks, such as the lower interest rates offered. However, borrowers often choose peer-to-peer loans if they need money quickly. P2P loans are usually shorter-term and smaller loans than those offered by banks and can be offered to people with lower credit scores. So, it is a secure way for people in a less stable financial position to have a loan approved.
This has been a quick look at the process of peer-to-peer investing, lending and borrowing. As you have seen, this process is similar to the traditional transaction of borrowing money from a bank, but there are several perks to borrowing from private lenders which cause many borrowers to choose this modern path instead.
Investors provide the capital for lending companies to lend in the form of a loan to borrowers. Then, the borrower pays the lending company back, with interest and a fee. The lending company keeps the fee and sends the initial investment back to the investor, plus interest. This way, everyone wins and the investor sees the benefit of their investment. This is a relatively low-risk process.