US peer-to-peer lender Prosper has scored a £165 million financing round led by Credit Suisse and supported by a clutch of top banks.
The Series D financing included participation by JPMorgan Asset Management, USAA subsidiary SunTrust Banks and BBVA Ventures alongside a host of more conventional private equity firms.
The latest round values the online lending business at $1.9 billion and demonstrates considerable growing interest and confidence in the sector by some of the world's biggest banks.
The funding comes on the heels of a record quarter, with nearly $600 million in loans originated through the Prosper platform, up 200% from the year ago quarter.
Aaron Vermut, chief executive officer at Prosper, comments: “The explosion of interest in P2P lending demonstrates that a shift is in progress in the way that consumers borrow and lend. This new funding will help us scale the business to meet this growing awareness and demand.”
Vic Pascucci, head of corporate development at USAA says: "Prosper’s digital capabilities and peer-to-peer lending services are just the kind of innovation we look for in an investment.”