Peer Funding

Peer Funding Limited was a UK company directly authorised by the FCA to operate an electronic platform in relation to lending (FRN 668078). The FCA granted permission in August 2016 under Part 4A of the Financial Services and Markets Act.

The firm ceased accepting new business and announced closure in August 2019, citing a failure to attract external investment, and entered a wind-down to return investor funds. The company is therefore inactive and does not operate as a platform today.

While active, Peer Funding operated as a peer-to-business (P2B) platform: businesses applied for loans, the platform performed underwriting and hosted listings for investors to fund (typically splitting loans across multiple investors), and the platform facilitated borrower repayments. These mechanics were standard for P2B platforms; specific operational details and fee schedules are not available in the recent public record and should be treated as unknown for a closed platform.

While operational, the firm stated intentions to offer business loans, secured business loans, selective invoice and debtor finance, and short-term property loans such as bridging and development finance. The FCA register noted a restriction from 22 August 2016: 'No CBTL business unless registered'. The platform was permitted to hold and control client money subject to FCA requirements while authorised.

As the platform is inactive, none of these products are available today and any historical product terms should not be treated as current.

Peer Funding is no longer available to investors or borrowers. Historically the platform targeted investors prepared to accept higher risk than bank deposits in exchange for income from lending to businesses and property borrowers. Important historical considerations included the absence of FSCS protection for capital invested via P2B agreements, the possibility of borrower default and capital loss, and limited liquidity compared with deposit accounts or listed securities.