Lending Club and Credit Karma Partner to Help Consumers Save Money as They Get Out of Debt

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Jan. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Lending Club, the world's leading platform for investing in and obtaining personal loans, is joining with Credit Karma, the consumer's credit advocate, to help consumers save money on interest and fees as they pay off their debt. By analyzing data from users' credit reports, Credit Karma can now suggest a personal loan through Lending Club to creditworthy borrowers who could save money with a low-interest, fixed-rate personal loan.

Rates on unsecured personal loans through Lending Club start at 6.78 percent APR(i) for creditworthy borrowers, well below the average starting APR of 13.15 percent offered on credit cards to similar borrowers(ii).This difference can mean hundreds or possibly even thousands of dollars in savings as people pay off their debt.

"Currently sixty-three percent of Lending Club's borrowers have taken lower interest loans to pay off high interest debt," said Lending Club CEO Renaud Laplanche. "We believe in giving consumers an alternative to high-interest credit cards, and Credit Karma's track record of consumer advocacy is right in line with our values and goals. We're honored to partner with a company known for supporting consumers in making smart decisions to improve their financial health."

Fixed-rate personal loans through Lending Club are available with various terms and maturities, and provide consumers with a clear end date to their debt. There are no prepayment penalties and no hidden fees, and the online application process is simple, secure and confidential. It takes minutes to check what rate a borrower qualifies for, and once the loan is funded by investors, loan proceeds can be deposited in a borrower's account in less than two weeks.

"At Credit Karma, we believe in providing consumers the best financial options. With Lending Club, our members have an opportunity to lower their interest rates with a reputable and innovative service," said Kenneth Lin, CEO of Credit Karma. "Together, we can help consumers find financing options that can save them thousands of dollars."

Lending Club uses the power of the Internet to connect investors with creditworthy borrowers. Without the costs and complexities associated with the traditional banking system, Lending Club is able to provide borrowers better rates and investors better returns.

About Lending Club

Lending Club is an online platform that enables the issuance of and investment in consumer loans.  Lending Club brings together investors and creditworthy borrowers -- eliminating the cost and complexity of traditional bank lending -- to offer borrowers better rates and investors better returns.  Lending Club was recently recognized as one of the 20 "Breakthrough Ideas for 2009" by Harvard Business Review, has been nominated for "Top 100 Innovators" by The Industry Standard, is on the JMP Hot 100 list, and the Always On Global 250 Top Private Companies list.  In addition Lending Club won the Webby Award in 2008 for the "Best Banking Website". Founded in 2006, Lending Club is headquartered in Redwood City, CA. More information is available at: http://www.lendingclub.com.

Additional information about Lending Club is available in the prospectus for Lending Club's notes, which can be obtained on Lending Club's website at https://www.lendingclub.com/info/prospectus.action.

About Credit Karma

CreditKarma.com is a completely free credit management service that enables consumers to put their credit to work for their overall financial health by providing them with customized savings recommendations. CreditKarma.com's goal is to help its more than 2 million users realize the everyday cost savings of having a good credit score by providing free credit scores, as well as a range of tools to help consumers improve their financial situation. For more information, visit www.creditkarma.com.

(i)  Rate based upon A1 (best) credit grade.  APRS range from 6.78% to 25.41%.  All Loans are issued by WebBank, an FDIC insured Utah chartered industrial bank located in Salt Lake City, Utah. Borrowers must be US citizens or permanent residents and at least 18 years old. Valid bank account and social security numbers are required.  All loans are subject to credit approval.  Loans are not issued in IA, ID, IN, ME, MS, ND, NE, or TN.

(ii)  Source for average starting credit card APR for consumers with "Good to Excellent Credit" calculated using headline rates on Credit Cards offered to borrowers with "Good to Excellent Credit" at www.creditcards.com as of 9/30/10

SOURCE Lending Club