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Wells Fargo “Way2Save” Savings Review & CD Rates


image credit: wellsfargo.com

Wells Fargo is a household name—a bank with as much recognition as history. Founded during the peak of the Gold Rush in 1852 to transport gold by steamship from San Francisco to New York City, this behemoth of a bank has grown tremendously alongside the American economy.

However, although the bank’s history is rich, their current savings rates will leave you far from it. Their most recognizable savings account – the Wells Fargo “Way2Save” – plus its current certificate of deposit rates are appallingly low.

The Wells Fargo Way2Save savings account may have racked up a lot of users in the past due to its previous incentives and lucrative rates, but it doesn’t have a lot of rave reviews currently and today’s APYs are abysmal. Similarly, Wells Fargo CD accounts would need to reward much higher rates in order to stand up to competitor products.

Simply put, there are minimal (if any) benefits to saving with a Wells Fargo Way2Save or a certificate account at the moment. Take a look at the rates, account details, and customer reviews of Wells Fargo accounts before you dismiss these products entirely, but don’t expect too much from the savings side of this bank anytime soon.

Way2Save Savings Account Details + APY

The Wells Fargo Way2Save savings account was designed for individuals (including minors) that need help setting aside savings regularly in an automated way. The account remains mildly popular despite historically low rates because of this benefit.

A Wells Fargo Way2Save savings account offers the option of having funds automatically transferred from a linked Wells Fargo checking account. You can achieve this by enabling “Save As You Go” transfers or by scheduling automatic transfers on a monthly basis. The Save As You Go savings feature is an optional program that automatically transfers $1 from your checking account into your Way2Save account for each debit card or online bill pay transaction.

Wells Fargo Way2Save Savings Account APY

BalanceAPY
$0 or more0.01%

To put this offer in perspective the current national average for a savings account is 0.07% APY, although many online only banks still offer above 1.50% APY on all sums. And in addition to offering a shockingly bad rate, the Way2Save account comes with some potential monthly service fees, minimum daily balance requirements, and incidental charges that many consumers only put up with in exchange for high yields.

You will be charged a $5 monthly service fee unless you meet one of the following criteria in any given month:

  1. maintain an average daily balance of $300 or more,
  2. make one or more Save As You Go transfers from your checking account,
  3. schedule an automatic transfer of at least $25 per month or $1 per day from your checking account, or
  4. you are under the age of 18.

Interest is compounded daily and credited monthly. These accounts are regulated by federal regulation D, which limits transactions to six a month. You will be charged $15 for each withdrawal or transfer over this.

As we mentioned, the Way2Save account was designed to help people reach savings goals without requiring them to plan or take much action. With a savings account of this nature, you’re prioritizing ease and convenience over everything else – namely respectable rates.

Generally speaking, savings accounts with higher interest rates are considered to be the best. But if you struggle with saving money and just want to take the pressure off of remembering to set aside funds each month, then this account might be beneficial for you.

Wells Fargo CD Rates + Account Details

You won’t find excellent certificate account rates with Wells Fargo either, but you will at least have options. The bank offers standard, step rate, and special CDs with normal and bonus APYs that in more favorable interest rate environments can be quite competitive. Currently however, the rates sit well below the national average.

Wells Fargo CD Rates

CD TermNormal APYBonus APY
3 months0.05%0.08%
*5 months special CD0.30%0.33%
6 months0.10%0.13%
1 year0.15%0.18%
**24 month Step Rate CD0.10%0.13%

All the deposit products (above) require an opening deposit of $2,500. There are no monthly service fees on certificate accounts with Wells Fargo and their rates are the same across all balances currently.

* 5 Month Special CD – This promotional deposit will earn you 0.30% interest normally and 0.33% if you qualify for the bonus rate. You will need to make a deposit of at least $5,000 to open this account.

** A Step Rate CD with Wells Fargo will earn you either 0.10% (standard) or 0.13% (bonus) and the only term available is 24 months. Over the course of this term, you will receive guaranteed rate increases and the option of making one penalty-free withdrawal per six month period (as long as the minimum opening deposit of $2,500 is maintained).

To qualify for bonus rates on any certificate, you must maintain a Wells Fargo Portfolio Checking account. This account comes with a $30 monthly service fee (avoid by maintaining $25,000 or more in qualifying linked bank deposits or $50,000 or more in qualifying linked bank, brokerage, and credit balances).

Normally, Wells Fargo CD accounts earn tiered interest rates based on balance. Right now, APYs are the same across all balance tiers. For future reference, these balance tiers are as follows:

  • $0 – 4,999.99
  • $5,000 – 9,999.99
  • $10,000 – 24,999.99
  • $25,000 – 49,999.99
  • $50,000 – 99,999.99
  • $100,000+

Interest is compounded daily and paid at your interval of choice. If your term is 12 months or less, you may choose to have your dividends paid monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or at maturity. If your term is 12 months or more, you may choose to be paid your dividends monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annually. These payments can be redeposited into the certificate account, transferred to a linked Wells Fargo saving or checking account, or paid by check (provided your balance is $5,000 or more).

Wells Fargo CDs can be altered within a grace period of 7 days after renewal or account opening. Making changes or withdrawals after that qualifies as early withdrawal. Early withdrawal from terms of less than 3 months will cost 1 month’s interest, from terms of 3 to 12 months will cost 3 months’ interest, from terms of 12 to 24 months will cost 6 months’ interest, and from terms over 24 months will cost 12 months’ interest.

Wells Fargo Banking Experience and Consumer Reviews

You might be wondering how Wells Fargo performs in the eyes of the people from a customer service and overall experience perspective. According to 311 ratings submitted to Consumer Affairs, not well. With an overall score of 1.2 stars out of 5 and almost entirely 1-star ratings in 2020, the verdict is that Wells Fargo does not deliver high-quality customer care but instead delivers unexpected closures and poor account protection in addition to enforcing rigid policies. 

Many customers have reported being solicited by Wells Fargo to take out loans they shouldn’t take out, experiencing longer-than-usual wait times on everything from payments to getting customer service help, and having their accounts locked for no apparent reason. Of course, all customer reviews should be taken with a grain of salt—Wells Fargo is one of the biggest banks in America and it’s difficult to consolidate all customer experiences into a neat and tidy description of what to expect. 

It’s worth mentioning also that Wells Fargo is still trying to restore its reputation as a trustworthy institution after its 2016 public account fraud scandal in which credit and debit accounts were wrongfully opened under customer names by Wells Fargo representatives in order to boost sales, and it’s clear that the people haven’t recovered from this offense. So while it may not clear whether Wells Fargo can be trusted as a corporation, you should at the very least be wary if you choose to bank with them. 

There’s no shortage of Wells Fargo branches and ATMs. You can get a separate ATM card with a Way2Save account or link your funds to an existing debit card. And if you do wish to manage your money from an ATM or branch, you’ll have no problem locating one. You’ll have access to more than 13,000 ATMs and about 5,400 in-person branches. But if you prefer to manage your money on-the-go, you can through the Wells Fargo mobile app or secure online portal.

To contact customer service with general banking questions or concerns, call 1-(800)-869-3557. To get online banking help, call 1-(800)-956-4442. Both lines are open 24/7. If you don’t mind a longer wait time, you can mail a letter to one of these addresses or reach out on social media through Twitter or Facebook.

Final Thoughts

Although FDIC-insured savings products from Wells Fargo have been lucrative in the past – both on their deposits and the Way2Save account – they are downright awful at the moment. They don’t come close to the national average and online institutions are offering APYs up to 20x Wells Fargo’s rates.

A Wells Fargo Way2Save savings account only has the benefit of automating the money one sets aside for savings each month. If you’re after high rates and zero fees, we’d suggest looking elsewhere.

Complete Guide to Peer to Peer Lending [As Investor & Borrower]


Peer to Peer platforms connect borrowers with investors seeking higher rates of return.

The current interest rate environment makes it difficult for investors to earn a reasonable rate of return. Income investors, such as retirees, need earnings to pay for living expenses, and producing a sufficient level of income is a challenge.

Investment rates of return at traditional lending institutions are near historical lows. Savings accounts, checking accounts, and certificates of deposit rates may not be attractive to you.

A growing number of investors and savers are considering peer-to-peer platforms as a viable alternative to traditional savings accounts or deposits.

Peer-to-peer (P2P) lending is an investment vehicle that can produce higher rates of return for investors who are willing to accept a higher level of risk. This comprehensive guide explains P2P lending, and the pros and cons for investors and borrowers. 

This guide also reviews the top eight P2P platforms, along with the advantages and drawbacks of these institutions.

P2P lending was started to provide borrowers an alternative to traditional banks. P2P platforms connect people who need to borrow with investors who are seeking higher rates of return. P2P firms use data analytics to assess the creditworthiness of investors, and to monitor the risk of borrower defaults.

In 2005, Zopa, Ltd. started P2P lending in the UK, and Prosper Marketplace started operations in the US. In 2008, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) required P2P lenders to submit to oversight rules. The SEC determined that the P2P lenders were selling unregistered investment securities, and required more regulation. 

Today, P2P firms must provide an SEC registered prospectus to each investor.

Loan originations reached $36 billion in 2015, but the industry started to experience larger than expected loan default rates. In 2016, the US Treasury called for increased oversight of P2P lending after LendingClub asked its CEO and other senior managers to resign for poor management practices.

Both investors and borrowers need to understand the basics of P2P lending before opening an account.

How Does P2P Lending Work?

Here is the process a borrower can use to apply for and repay a P2P loan:

  • Apply: Create a log in on the P2P platform, and enter the information requested to apply for a loan. Most sites use your Social Security number to determine the interest rate and dollar amount of your loan. This step does not impact your credit history.
  • Finalize the loan: If you choose to accept the terms of the loan, you’ll need to provide more information, including data to verify your employment. Borrowers pay an origination fee when the loan is closed, and the fee is added to the balance of your loan.
  • Loan payments: You make monthly payments through the P2P platform, and each payment includes principal and interest.

If you want to invest through a P2P platform, follow these steps:

  • Apply: In most cases, investors in P2P platforms must meet the requirements to be accredited investors. The P2P platform will ask about your net worth, annual income, and investment experience before you’re allowed to invest.
  • Invest: Investors deposit funds and purchase notes, which include a portion of a number of individual loans. You can choose the types of loans you prefer, based on the projection interest rate paid and the credit risk of the borrowers. 
  • Diversify your portfolio: Loans that are rated as a higher credit risk pay higher interest rates to investors. To reduce the risk of an individual borrower defaulting on a loan, you can spread your investment dollars among dozens (or hundreds) of individual loans. 
  • Withdraw funds to reinvest: As you earn interest, you can choose to reinvest your earnings in more loans, or withdraw funds.

This form of lending provides an alternative to traditional bank loans, and offers a competitive rate of return to investors. With peer-to-peer (P2P) lending, borrowers are connected with lenders through an online marketplace, with the P2P company serving as a facilitator. P2P firms earn loan origination and servicing fees.

The borrower doesn’t have to go through a lengthy loan approval process. Instead, the application process is simplified, and decisions are made quickly. The investor earns a return, based on a share of the interest rate charged to the borrower.

Companies such as Upstart and Funding Circle facilitate personal and business loans. PriceWaterhouseCoopers estimates that the market could reach $150 billion or higher by 2025.

These are unsecured loans, and there is a risk of default by a borrower. Fortunately, you can spread your risk by investing a small dollar amount in a number of different loans. Both the SEC and state entities regulate P2P lenders.

To start investing, the investor opens an account on a P2P website and invests a funds that will be loaned to borrowers.

What to Expect as an Investor + Pros and Cons

Both individual investors and institutions loan funds to P2P borrowers. Finder explains that the institutional investors, such as hedge funds, are now providing a large amount of funding to P2P firms. These institutions are seeking higher rates of returns than they can earn on traditional investments.

The risk of loan default is the primary concern for P2P investors. Investopedia reports that Zopa had a default rate of 4.52% for loans granted in 2017, according to the Financial Times.

The P2P platforms discussed below each report on their default rates, and you’ll find average default rates of 2% to 8%. For example, Upstart’s default rate is between 4% and 9%.

Here are the pros and cons of investing in P2P loans:

Pros

  • P2P investors earn better than average rates of return
  • Investors help real people overcome financial obstacles

Cons

  • P2P investing presents a higher level of risk than bank deposit or savings account, due to the risk of loan default
  • A growing percentage of P2P investors are institutions, leaving less options for retail investors who want to invest in P2P

Borrowers may want a loan for business purposes, or for personal reasons. Many consumers borrow funds to pay off higher interest rate credit cards, to finance a home improvement project, or to buy a car. How does the process work?

What to Expect as a Borrower + Pros and Cons

Borrowers with a high credit rating can expect to pay interest rates below 10%, while higher risk borrowers may pay 20% to 30% annual interest rates. Dozens of individual investors may purchase a portion of your loan. 

Once approved, you can get your P2P funds within a week. You’ll make payments through the P2P platform monthly, and your payments include interest and repayment of principal.

Here are the pros and cons of borrowing on P2P platforms

Pros

  • Borrowers with lower credit scores can find access to credit 
  • Once approved, you can receive funds within a week 

Cons 

  • The interest rate charged may be much higher than rates charged for a bank loan, or on credit cards balances

Here are the best P2P lending platforms, and details about each company’s lending practices.

Best Peer to Peer Lending Platforms

All of the platforms are required to quote loan interest rates based on the annual percentage rate, or APR. Investopedia defines APR as the actual yearly cost of funds over the term of a loan. The rate also calculates the amount of principal you’ll repay each year. 

APR includes both the interest on the loan, and the loan origination fee costs. Note however, that APR does not take interest compounding into account. 

Here are some of the larger P2P platforms used by investors and borrowers.

Lending Club Overview

The LendingClub has issued over $50 billion in loans to over 3 million customers.

The firm offers fixed interest rate personal loans of up to $40,000, and collateral is usually not required. Borrowers can get a loan decision and funds in as little as four days, and there is not a penalty for loan prepayment.

Borrower details

LendingClub’s current loan rates range from 10.68% to 39.89% APR.  Borrowers are charged a one-time loan origination fee of 2% to 6%, based on the individual’s credit score, and the fee is deducted from the loan proceeds. If the borrower receives a loan offer, he or she is given the choice of a 36-month or 60-month loan.

Once the loan is in place, the borrower must make payments on time. If a payment is more than 15 days late, the borrower is charged 5% of the unpaid payment amount or $15, whichever is larger. Late payments sharply increase the cost of the loan.

Investor details

Investors can start an account with a minimum of $1,000. Investors purchase notes, and notes are securities that correspond to fractions of loans. Here are some facts regarding notes, which apply to most P2P platforms:

  • Notes are considered investment securities that are registered with the SEC. 
  • Each note is graded, based on the credit risk of the loans in the note, and interest rate charged on the note’s loans.
  • The company recommends that investors purchase a diversified portfolio of notes to reduce investment risk. LendingClub states that 99% of investors with more than 100 notes have earned positive returns on their investments.

Notes mature in three to five years and are repaid monthly by borrowers. As principal and interest is repaid on the loans, you can reinvest using an automated allocation process, or use a manual system to reinvest. You can set the automated system to reinvest in notes based on credit risk, and interest rate criteria that you choose.

Upstart offers some unique features to P2P investors.

Upstart Overview

Upstart has originated more than $6.7 billion in consumer loans since launching in May 2014, and the company has a unique process for determining a borrower’s default risk:

“Our proprietary underwriting model goes beyond FICO scores — it identifies high-quality borrowers based on signals of their potential, even if they have limited credit and/or employment experience. We call these consumers ‘future prime’ borrowers.”

Borrower Details

In addition to credit history, Upstart uses the borrower’s education and job history as factors when making a loan decision. When you initially apply for a loan, the application will not impact your credit score. Here’s an explanation of the credit reporting policy:

“When you check your rate, we check your credit report. This initial (soft) inquiry will not affect your credit score. If you accept your rate and proceed with your application, we do another (hard) credit inquiry that will impact your credit score. If you take out a loan, repayment information will be reported to the credit bureaus.”

You can borrow from $5,000 to $30,000, and interest rates vary from 6.18% to 35.99%. You can choose a 3 or 5-year term for a loan. Currently, the average 3-year loan on the Upstart platform charges a 22% interest rate.

If the borrower accepts a loan by 5pm ET (not including weekends or holidays), he or she will receive the funds the next business day. For loans that are being used for education-related purposes, there is an additional 3-business day period between loan acceptance and when the individual receives the funds.

There is no prepayment penalty on Upstart loans. 

Investor details

Upstart funds loans using assets from financial institutions and wealthy individuals, which the firm refer to as partners. Upstart promotes its use of AI to improve the lending process for partners:

“Upstart offers a complete range of AI solutions for optimizing consumer lending. With smarter decisions, you can say yes to more borrowers and improve your portfolio performance.”

An Upstart study used the loan underwriting process of three banks, and evaluated the approval rates and loan loss rates using Upstart’s borrowers (as of 12/31/17).

Upstart’s study indicated that the firm had 173 percent more approvals with the same default rate when compared to big banks. The company also noted 75 percent fewer defaults with the same approval rate as big banks, based on how they qualify borrowers.

About 88% of Upstart loans are either current or paid in full.

FundRise Overview

FundRise markets itself as the first simple, low-cost real estate investment platform. Investors purchase a portfolio that invests in dozens of real estate projects, and the fund reports 8.7% to 12.4% historical annual returns. 

Many investors have portfolios in stock and bond investments, but not in real estate. By adding real estate to the portfolio, investors add diversification. This strategy spreads the investment risk over three types of investments, rather than two.

There are downsides to investing in real estate, however. Selling real estate requires appraisals and other legal work, and the process can take months. For this reason, real estate is considered an illiquid investment (an investment that cannot be sold quickly).

Conversely, stocks and bonds are liquid, because they trade on exchanges that are open each business day.

This firm invests in private market real estate. FundRise explains here that investment portfolios with at least 20% of the assets in real estate have outperformed portfolios that only invest in stocks and bonds.

Commercial real estate produces investor returns from rent and lease payments, and through the price appreciation of the real estate. You can choose an investment plan that focuses on steady rental and lease income, or a plan that focuses on price appreciation.

You can open an account for a minimum of $500.

Funding Circle Overview

Funding Circle focuses on the small business market. The company offers Small Business Administration (SBA) loans, including SBA 7(a) loans to provide capital to small businesses. The firm has helped over 81,000 small businesses obtain $11.7 billion in financing.

Funding Circle emphasizes that small businesses should be protected from unfair, deceptive financial practices. The firm co-wrote the first standard for the small business lending market, The Small Business Borrower’s Bill of Rights. Funding Circle is also a founding member of the Marketplace Lending Association, which was created to protect borrowers.

Borrower Details

SBA 7(a) loans allow small business can borrow from $25,000 to $500,000, and the interest rate is currently 6%. The loan term can be up to 10 years, and there is no prepayment penalty.

Funding Circle works with Preferred SBA Lenders, which are firms that offer in–house approvals and accelerated processing. These lenders give business owners fast answers and even faster closings.

Small businesses who meet the below criteria are eligible to apply for an SBA 7(a) loan:

  • In business for more than 3 years
  • At least $400,000 in annual revenue
  • No federal tax liens
  • 680 FICO for personal guarantor (Business owner’s personal guarantee)
  • Positive book value (company assets are greater than liabilities)

How to apply for an SBA 7(a) loan:

  1. Start your application online in 6 minutes by answering a few questions about you and your business. Applying will not impact your firm’s credit score
  2. Receive a call from your dedicated Account Manager who will get to know your business and discuss your needs in order to help you complete your application
  3. Submit application to SBA preferred lender partners. 
  4. Review and approve your Proposal Letter outlining the terms of your unique loan
  5. Collect remaining documents and submit complete loan package for final underwriting
  6. Sign your formal loan agreement

When you apply for the loan, you must provide three year of business financial statements and tax returns. Any owner who is guaranteeing the loan must also allow the lender to pull their credit history, and provide three years of personal tax returns.

Small business borrowers pay these fees:

  • SBA Loan Guarantee Fee – 1.7% for loans up to $150k and 2.25% for loans greater than $150k
  • Broker / Agent fee – Origination fee paid to the lender
  • Closing Costs – Costs associated with underwriting expenses such as background checks, placing liens, credit pulls

Over 100,000 global investors have used Funding Circle’s loan marketplace, including individuals, national banks, and governments.

Investor details

Individuals can invest in American small businesses through the purchase of notes issued by Funding Circle. Small businesses receive the funds they need to grow, and investors can earn attractive returns through the borrower’s monthly installment repayments.

Here are some other features:

  • Investors use their online account to easily lend to hundreds of businesses looking to borrow.
  • Funding Circle reviews applications and approve creditworthy businesses. The company then pays out their loans and process repayments for investors.
  • Businesses make fixed monthly repayments with interest, which Funding Circle distributes to all the investors who lent to them.

Funding Circle investors have earned historical annual returns of 5% to 7%. Historical annual returns are calculated as the sum of interest paid, minus the 1% servicing fee and defaults, plus recoveries, relative to the principal amount. 

How to invest:

  • Sign up for an account, and Funding Circle will verify your status as an accredited investor. Investopedia explains the requirements to be an accredited investor. Generally speaking, these investors have higher annual income, net worth, and more investment knowledge than other investors.
  • Invest a minimum of $25,000 into fractional notes, which represent a portion of a small business loan. You can automate the investing process, or choose notes manually. You can invest as little as $500 in a specific fractional note.
  • Monitor the monthly repayment of loans online. You can reinvest your earnings automatically or manually.

You are charged a 1% fee on loan repayments, and there are no other fees charged to investors.

StreetShares Overview

StreetShares provides secured and unsecured loans to businesses.

Borrower details

Secured loans require collateral. Business owners can secure the loan with personal property (real estate, vehicles), or by using business inventory, equipment, or accounts receivable balances. 

Owners can also apply for unsecured loans, which do not require collateral. StreetShares provides unsecured lines of credit that businesses use for short-term financing. 

The company also focuses on business loan for veterans. These owners may have gaps in their financial history, due to military service. Veteran small business loans are often easier to qualify for, and can offer better rates and terms than traditional small business loans. 

To apply, owners provide company bank statements, tax forms, and credit reports. The lender will also need time to secure the collateral and appraise the assets, if necessary.

Investor details

Investors can purchase Veteran Business Bonds, which currently pay a 5% interest rate. StreetShares has used the proceeds from bond sales to originate $100 million in loans. 

The bonds have a 3-year term, and investors must pay a 1% fee on any funds withdrawn before the end of the term. Investors can open an account with as little as $25. You can download an offering summary that explains the investment details here.

Peerform Overview

Peerform offers unsecured loans with rates from 5.99% to 29.99% APR. You can apply online, and the application will not impact your credit score. 

Borrower details

Loan amounts range from $4,000 to $25,000, and Cross River Bank originates the loans. The interest rate you are charged depends on your credit ranking, which is your Peerform grade. Borrowers pay a loan origination fee of 1% to 5%, based on the Peerform grade.

There is no prepayment penalty on your loan.

Investor details

Accredited investors can invest in Peerform loans. Peerform uses an algorithm to analyze the risk of loans and to determine the loan interest rates. Currently, the firm provides investing access to institutional investors purchasing whole loans.

Cross River Bank underwrites loans based on specific loan criteria, including:

  • Minimum FICO credit score of 600
  • Borrower debt-to-income ratio below 40%
  • A credit profile with no current delinquencies

Peerform uses a number of other factors to grade each loan, and the grade helps to determine the loan’s interest rate.

Prosper Overview

Prosper has provided $17 billion in loans to 1 million customers.

Borrower details

Just as with other P2P firms, Prosper provides loans with 3 or 5-year terms, and there is no prepayment penalty. Eligible consumers can borrow up to $40,000.

Origination fees vary between 2.41%-5%, and interest rate APRs through Prosper range from 7.95% to 35.99%, with the lowest rates for borrowers that have the best credit evaluations. Checking the interest rate available on a loan does not affect your credit score.

Investor details

Investing in Prosper requires you to meet suitability requirements. Investors must document their gross income, net worth, and investment experience, because P2P investing is more complex and carries more risk than traditional investments. Suitability requirements vary by state.

Prosper provides investors loan ratings from AA (lower risk, lower return) to HR (higher risk, higher return). Annual investment performance has ranged from 3.4% to 8.3%, and the historical return averages 5.1%.

Investors can search Prosper loans based on credit rating, dollar amount borrowed, interest rate charged (yield), and percentage of the total loan funded by investors. The minimum investment amount is $25.

Kiva Overview

Kiva is an international nonprofit, founded in 2005 and based in San Francisco, with a mission of expanding financial access to help underserved communities thrive. More than 1.7 billion people around the world are unbanked and can’t access the financial services they need, and Kiva exists to address that problem. 

The firm has worked with over 1.9 million lenders who have financially supported 3.6 million borrowers in 76 countries. A Kiva loan may fund a student’s tuition, help a woman start a business, or allow a farmer to invest in equipment. Kiva does not pay investors a rate of return, and you should view Kiva investing as a donation that a borrower will pay back without interest.

100% of funds lent on Kiva go to funding loans, which are referred to as Monthly Good support. Optional donations fund Kiva’s operations.

Investor details

You can start with Kiva by signing up for a monthly funding amount. Here are some other details that explain the lending process:

  • Kiva lends 100% of your funds to a borrower who needs financing to reach his or her goal. The borrower might be a farmer, student, artisan, or shopkeeper. 
  • Kiva updates the investor monthly to explain who the borrower is, and how they are using the funds to overcome a particular problem.
  • As the borrower repays funds, you can set up your account to automatically reinvest the proceeds into a new loan.
  • If you choose to stop monthly contributions, you can have Kiva continue to loan the balance in your account, or you can withdraw your funds.

Kiva reports that 96.7% of loans have been repaid.

Borrower details

In a Partner Loan, Kiva works with local nonprofits or lending institutions, which approve the borrower’s request. Kiva performs due diligence on the borrower’s application, and monitors the repayment status of the loan.

A Direct Loan is approved through “social underwriting”. Friends or family members determine the trustworthiness of the borrower, because they lend a portion of the loan dollars requested. In other cases, a Kiva-approved Trustee will confirm the trustworthiness of the borrower.

Once either type of loan is approved, investors fund the loan through the Kiva website.

Advantages, Drawbacks and Controversy of Peer to Peer lending

Investors and borrowers must fully understand P2P lending before opening an account on any P2P platform.

Investor risks

P2P platforms do not have the same financial controls in place as traditional lenders, and this increases risks for investors.

Bloomberg points out that the industry lacks the sorts of collateral and loan reserves that get traditional banks through tough times. A bank will require collateral (home, car) before originating loans to most individuals. Bank regulators also require banks to set funds aside to cover potential losses on loan defaults. 

P2P firms may not have these controls in place to reduce default risk. In a slowing economy (particularly during the coronavirus pandemic), borrowers may lose their jobs or see revenue declines in their businesses. These borrowers may fall behind on loan payments, or default.

P2P loans are, for the most part, unsecured. If a large number of unsecured loans default, P2P investors will incur large losses. There is no collateral for the lender to sell, and the P2P firm is not required to set up reserves to pay investors for losses.

Borrower risks

Interest rates charged on P2P loans may be much higher than rates charged by traditional lenders, and higher rates make it more difficult to repay the loan over time.

High interest rates mean that the monthly repayment amount will be higher. In an economic downturn, a borrower on a limited income will find it more difficult to repay a loan. The risk of default is higher, and a default has a big impact on the borrower’s credit rating.

Is Peer to Peer Lending Safe?

P2P investors and borrowers are exposed to higher levels of risk, when compared with traditional investments.

Bank checking accounts and certificates of deposit (CDs) offer Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) insurance to protect investors from losses. Financial institutions are also required to reserve funds, which are used to cover the cost of loan losses. P2P firms do not have this requirement.

While the historic risk of P2P defaults listed above are fairly low, the current economic downturn may sharply increase default rates. P2P investors and borrowers face higher risks today than in past years.

Investors must understand that the FDIC does not provide insurance for P2P loans. The investment may lose value, and past investment performance is not an indication of future returns.

Final Thoughts

P2P investing may be suitable for experienced investors with a high net worth.

If an individual invest a small portion of their investment dollars into a P2P lending platform, they are able to diversify a portfolio that is invested only in stocks and bonds. High net worth can afford short-term losses in a P2P investment, and experienced investors have the sophistication to understand the risks and potential returns.

Investors who are less experienced should consult with a financial professional before investing in P2P platforms.

P2P borrowers must understand how higher interest rates make it more difficult to repay a P2P loan. While P2P platforms lend to borrowers who can’t get loans through traditional banks, loan repayment can be a challenge. Borrowers should carefully consider the total cost of borrowing before signing a P2P loan agreement.