Today, we’re excited to share that Prosper Marketplace has partnered with Lending Club and Funding Circle to launch the Marketplace Lending Association (MLA), a U.S. non-profit membership organization created to promote responsible business practices and sound public policy to benefit borrowers and investors.
Now is a critical time for online credit marketplaces. While marketplace lending becomes more mainstream, we increasingly face myths and misperceptions about the services that we provide, the credit models offered through our platforms, and the regulation of our industry.
As the three biggest U.S marketplace lending platforms, Prosper Marketplace, along with Lending Club and Funding Circle, we have a shared responsibility to address concerns and advance the industry. Through the MLA we plan to educate policymakers and other stakeholders to inform sound policy development. We will collectively advocate on behalf of our customers to expand access to affordable credit and enforce the highest standards of transparency and customer protection.
Additionally, to support responsible growth of marketplace lending, the MLA has established the Marketplace Lending Operating Standards, a code of business conduct addressing investor transparency, responsible lending, governance and controls, and risk management.
I’m thrilled to be a part of the first marketplace lending association and look forward to working with industry leaders to create a more transparent and efficient financial system.