P2P loans could change global lending practices
Subject Outlook for P2P lending. Significance Financial technology ('fintech') threatens to transform some traditional financial sector activities. In particular, online intermediation between lenders and borrowers could disrupt the established banking and consumer finance industries. Peer-to-peer (P2P) lending may advance quickly. Impacts The entry of one of the tech giants into the market might accelerate the development of P2P lending. Large banks may acquire or develop P2P platforms and reduce exposure to traditional lending aimed at consumers and small businesses. As P2P lending is much less interconnected with the financial system than traditional banking, it will pose less systemic risk. However, if P2P platforms expand to take deposits or borrow or lend in the interbank market, they could increase systemic risk.