Peer-to-peer lender Squirrel Money is to launch a secondary market for its investors next week.
Wednesday, August 17th 2016, 6:00AM
It will allow loans to be on-sold to other investors, by those who need to get their money out before the loan term is
up.
The Squirrel offer will be the first peer-to-peer secondary market available in New Zealand.
Managing director John Bolton said it was something that was often requested by those thinking about putting their money
into a peer-to-peer platform.
"For us to be a successful platform with older people putting money in the secondary market is important because it's
offers that liquidity that is really important to them. I think initially for us it's about having it there so that
people who are a bit nervous about investing in a five-year loan, even though they tend to pay back faster than that, it
give them extra comfort."
Squirrel Money is also offering an auto-renew function to allow investors to reinvest any money that is returned to
them, without having to keep a close watch on the site.
An app for investors is also imminent.
Squirrel Money has so far lent $225,899 in loans.
It has a different model to other peer-to-peer providers because it uses a reserve fund to cover any potential losses to
investors. They receive a lower interest rate return because of this added security - it offers up to 8.8% on five-year
investments at present.
ends