New P2P lender launches

New P2P lender launches




A new, disruptive peer-to-peer lending platform has launched with the aim of positively altering the lending landscape.

JustUs is looking to raise £5.35m, which includes £1m from a crowdfunding platform. It was started by entrepreneur Lee Birkett with backing from former advertising boss John Hegarty and start-up specialist Thomas Teichman.

Former global principal in fintech at Google Thomas Adalbert has joined JustUs as chief marketing officer. The platform is looking to create up to 130 jobs in the North West over the next three years.

"JustUs is for everyone. It's an exciting evolution for the sector, which I believe can only become more relevant as consumers see that despite the worst financial crisis in a generation, banks and bankers' behaviour hasn't really changed,” said Lee.

"I believe we are completely disrupting the status quo with a range of accessible products for borrowers from a comprehensive range of backgrounds and credit history.”

JustUs is expecting to deliver a loan book at around £254m by the end of its fourth year. The site attracted £130m of borrower applications during the beta testing of the site.

"Secured lending backed by property is a much more secure place for investors combined with a much better return than cash,” added Thomas Teichman.

"I'm using it myself to raise my yields on a part of my assets. JustUs has a very deep experience base in this area. "

Thomas Adalbert added that JustUs was going back to the early days of the lending marketplace, after he felt that lending had lost its way as the whole banking fraternity had become too greedy.

"This, on the other hand, is going back to the roots, allowing you to help out other people through lending money.

“The alternative finance sector is evolving and growing and that is why I have given up my job with Google to invest my time and my money into JustUs."

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