LendingCrowd
 | |
| Company type | Ltd. |
|---|---|
| Founded | United Kingdom (2014) |
| Founder | Stuart Lunn |
| Headquarters | , |
Area served | UK |
| Products | Business loans |
| Website | https://www.lendingcrowd.com/ |
LendingCrowd is a British financial technology company specialising in providing business loans to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The company is based in Edinburgh, Scotland and was originally founded as a peer-to-peer lender. Launched in 2014, LendingCrowd created a platform that enabled investors to support small and medium-sized businesses by lending personal capital through small loans, whilst earning a monthly interest payment.
The company fully transitioned its business model in 2022 and now is funded by institutional capital. In 2024, the business announced that it would close the peer-to-peer part of the business.
History
[edit]Launched in 2014, LendingCrowd is the trading name of Edinburgh Alternative Finance Ltd. and was founded by CEO Stuart Lunn.[1] Since September 2014, the LendingCrowd platform has delivered more than £515 million in loans for over 3,300 SMEs across Britain [2] In October 2018, LendingCrowd announced the appointment of former Standard Life CEO Sir Sandy Crombie as its chairman.[3]
Innovative Finance ISA
[edit]In February 2017 LendingCrowd became one of the first peer-to-peer business lending platforms to provide the Innovative Finance ISA.[4] Only fully FCA authorised platforms are eligible to offer this product giving investors the opportunity to invest in peer-to-peer lending without having to pay tax on the interest earned.[5][6]
Risk and Regulation
[edit]Financial Conduct Authority
[edit]LendingCrowd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). In November 2016 LendingCrowd became one of the first peer-to-peer lenders to move from interim permissions to fully authorised.[7]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "LendingCrowd does 'transformational' £18m deal to back SMEs; Insider.co.uk". insider.co.uk. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
- ^ "About us; LendingCrowd". lendingcrowd.com. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
- ^ "Sir Sandy Crombie joins LendingCrowd as Chairman | LendingCrowd". lendingcrowd.com. October 2018. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
- ^ White, Lucy (9 August 2017). "Octopus is the latest firm to offer the peer-to-peer Innovative Finance Isa". City A.M. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
- ^ Jones, Rupert (18 February 2017). "A new Isa is offering tax-free returns of 12% – so what's the catch?". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
- ^ Murray, Amelia (13 November 2017). "Peer-to-peer lending: is it too late to profit?". The Telegraph. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
- ^ "Lending Crowd gains full FCA approval | Peer2Peer Finance News". P2pfinancenews.co.uk. 3 November 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2017.