Plend Impact Report

PLEND'S IMPACT

Our 2024 Financial Inclusion Report found nearly half (44%) of UK adults to be financially vulnerable, with an even higher amount struggling to repay their loans. At a time when support is needed the most, 28% of people feel excluded from the current financial system; a figure that remains unchanged from last year.
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As an ethical and impact-driven lender, we have a steadfast commitment to making a positive impact on our customers. We’ve been on a mission to provide affordable credit, not only to those locked out of affordable finance, but to everyone in need.
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Recognising our role in supporting our community as a financial organisation, we have embedded a promise to regularly report on our performance data into our Articles of Association. This commitment underscores our dedication to transparency and accountability.

Unless stated otherwise, the figures provided represent Plend's trading performance from April 2022 to March 2024.

*weighted average annual percentage rate (APR) charged to current Plend customers as of 28 March 2024

*weighted average interest and fees saved by Plend customers who have accessed a debt consolidation loan, benchmarked against a competitor average APR of 30%

*an individual lacking access to 'useful and affordable' financial services due to limitations in the data held on them by third parties. See here for more detail

LOAN PURPOSE

A substantial majority of our loans are for debt consolidation, providing a vital lifeline to over 47% of our customers who seek to break free from harmful cycles of debt. An additional 24% of our loans empower individuals to undertake home improvement projects, enhancing their overall quality of home life.

Ensuring affordability is a top priority for us, and we regularly assess our rates against those of competitors. With a commitment to providing the most affordable rates within our risk parameters, our current Plend customer base is charged an average APR of 18.31%. When compared to competitors, Plend consistently offers a lower APR, affirming our dedication to affordability.

AVERAGE APR VS COMPETITORS*

*weighted average annual percentage rate (APR) originated by Plend benchmarked to four similar lenders with the same product range and risk appetite. Based on loan acquisition comparison data from Monevo, Credit Karma, Totally Money and ClearScore

FINANCIALLY EXCLUDED CUSTOMERS*

*An individual lacking access to 'useful and affordable' financial services due to limitations in the data held on them by third parties. This typically includes a lack of credit reference agency data over the past 24 months and/or only two sources of non-financial data, or no UK bank account. See here for more detail

We are dedicated to enhancing the lives of financially excluded individuals by actively seeking innovative ways to provide them with affordable credit options. Our data reflects this commitment, with 80.03% of our customers falling into the category of those traditionally overlooked by financial services.

One of our key commitments as a business is to prioritise affordability. We are determined to tackle the poverty premium and bring more affordable credit options to the market. Our debt consolidation services have saved customers an average of £2,009 compared to a competitor with a 30% APR, illustrating our dedication to providing cost-effective financial solutions.

AVERAGE SAVINGS PER CUSTOMER VS COMPETITORS*

*weighted average interest and fees saved by Plend customers who have accessed a debt consolidation loan, benchmarked against a competitor average APR of 30%

AGE

REGIONS

INCOME BAND PER YEAR

RESIDENCE TYPE

Plend’s impact extends to a wide variety of customers across different demographics – the data showcases the diversity of those we serve. Notably, over 40% of our customer base earns an annual salary below £30,000, exemplifying our commitment to supporting those most in need of our services. Currently, over 15% of our customers originate from the top two most deprived regions in the UK. We are dedicated to augmenting this percentage annually, reflecting our unwavering commitment to fostering financial inclusion and promoting social mobility.

MICHAEL, 55
NURSING HOME UNIT MANAGER FROM YORK

Michael had resorted to using multiple credit cards to cover his regular expenses. As time passed, the high-interest rates on these cards caused his debts to grow rapidly, and he urgently needed a solution to consolidate them. Adding to his financial challenges were past mistakes that had a lasting impact on his credit report, making it difficult for him to access affordable credit. With the increasing pressures of the ongoing cost of living crisis, Michael was determined to break free from the cycle of debt. With his Plend loan, Michael is saving over £200 every month, and is closer to reaching his financial goals.

‍“Before Plend I was stuck,” said Michael, “other lenders are offering credit at such huge interest rates and I had no other choice but to pay the higher rates. Plend was the first time anyone had given me an affordable option.”

‍“The Plend loan has given me a way of getting rid of old debt, which I'm paying off each month. I’m on a decent wage, but with the cost of living rising, things are still hard. The Plend loan has allowed me to take control of my finances and stay on track.”

‍“I think open banking is the way to go, I know credit scores will always be here, but with open banking, it gives access to your recent banking data in order to understand exactly what you can afford to pay each month. It’s a great way to demonstrate if you can actually afford the loan. The way Plend are doing things is the way forward.”

“[Throughout the application process,] I felt kept in the loop all the time. I spoke to an underwriter who had a chat with me about what my loan was for and what I needed to pay off - within a day or so, the team got back to me and said I'd been approved. It was brilliant - I never felt left in the dark or forgotten about, or wondering what the next step would be.”

“My overall experience with Plend has been great. Every time I’ve asked a question I've been given a response the same day and you feel like you’re talking to a human rather than an automated chatbot. You get the personalised touch with Plend.”

HEIDI, 48
BUSINESS CONSULTANT FROM NORWICH

Heidi, a single parent with two children, faced financial challenges during the Covid pandemic. To make ends meet, she had to rely on credit cards, which came with high-interest rates. Unfortunately, the interest payments often exceeded what she could pay toward reducing her credit card balances. Heidi's past financial mistakes had left her with a poor credit history, making it difficult for her to access affordable loans. Thankfully, our open banking system provided Heidi with an opportunity to secure a loan that she truly deserved. With this loan, she was able to pay off all her credit card debts.

“Before Plend, I didn’t have much of a chance for affordable credit in my life,” said Heidi. “I had accepted that past mistakes I had made meant I'd always pay more if I wanted credit."

“When I saw Plend’s low interest rate, I wanted to give it a go. In the back of my mind I wasn’t sure I was going to be accepted because of my credit history. However, fortunately, Plend’s innovative open banking approach meant that was not the case.”

"I used my entire Plend loan to pay off my credit card debt. I completely cleared one of the cards, and the other had only a small amount remaining, which I've now paid off as well. The loan made a huge difference by allowing me to pay off my debt at a much more affordable rate.”

‍“The open banking approach is definitely a fairer way of doing things. Credit scores are very outdated nowadays. Plend was the first lender I used that used open banking. Other lenders just look at your credit rating and judge you based on a number, but with Plend, it was good to see that you were able to look at the money that was going in and out of my bank account and see that actually [the loan] could be affordable for me.”

“I have already recommended Plend to friends and family because it is so easy and it’s shown me that you can have confidence in opening banking - for me, it made the right decision.”

PLEND'S IMPACT

LOAN PURPOSE

AVERAGE APR VS COMPETITORS*

FINANCIALLY EXCLUDED CUSTOMERS*

AVERAGE SAVINGS PER CUSTOMER VS COMPETITORS*

OUR CUSTOMERS

AGE

REGIONS

INCOME BAND PER YEAR

RESIDENCE TYPE

BILLY, 38FROM SCOTLAND

JENNY, 29FROM THE WEST MIDLANDS

HELENA, 30BANKING / FINANCE FROM ESSEX

MICHAEL, 55NURSING HOME UNIT MANAGER FROM YORK

HEIDI, 48BUSINESS CONSULTANT FROM NORWICH

GIVING THE UK THE CHANCE THEY DESERVE

HEIDI, 48BUSINESS CONSULTANT FROM NORWICH

MICHAEL, 55REGISTERED NURSE FROM YORK

HELENA, 30FROM ESSEX

JENNY, 29FROM THE WEST MIDLANDS

BILLY, 38FROM SCOTLAND

HEIDI, 48BUSINESS CONSULTANT FROM NORWICH

MICHAEL, 55REGISTERED NURSE FROM YORK

HELENA, 30FROM ESSEX

JENNY, 29FROM THE WEST MIDLANDS

BILLY, 38FROM SCOTLAND

HEIDI, 48BUSINESS CONSULTANT FROM NORWICH

MICHAEL, 55REGISTERED NURSE FROM YORK

HELENA, 30FROM ESSEX

JENNY, 29FROM THE WEST MIDLANDS

BILLY, 38FROM SCOTLAND

HEIDI, 48BUSINESS CONSULTANT FROM NORWICH

MICHAEL, 55REGISTERED NURSE FROM YORK

HELENA, 30FROM ESSEX

JENNY, 29FROM THE WEST MIDLANDS

BILLY, 38FROM SCOTLAND

SEE WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS SAY

BILLY, 38
FROM SCOTLAND

JENNY, 29
FROM THE WEST MIDLANDS

HELENA, 30
BANKING / FINANCE FROM ESSEX

MICHAEL, 55
NURSING HOME UNIT MANAGER FROM YORK

HEIDI, 48
BUSINESS CONSULTANT FROM NORWICH

HEIDI, 48
BUSINESS CONSULTANT FROM NORWICH

MICHAEL, 55
REGISTERED NURSE FROM YORK

HELENA, 30
FROM ESSEX

JENNY, 29
FROM THE WEST MIDLANDS

BILLY, 38
FROM SCOTLAND

HEIDI, 48
BUSINESS CONSULTANT FROM NORWICH

MICHAEL, 55
REGISTERED NURSE FROM YORK

HELENA, 30
FROM ESSEX

JENNY, 29
FROM THE WEST MIDLANDS

BILLY, 38
FROM SCOTLAND

HEIDI, 48
BUSINESS CONSULTANT FROM NORWICH

MICHAEL, 55
REGISTERED NURSE FROM YORK

HELENA, 30
FROM ESSEX

JENNY, 29
FROM THE WEST MIDLANDS

BILLY, 38
FROM SCOTLAND

HEIDI, 48
BUSINESS CONSULTANT FROM NORWICH

MICHAEL, 55
REGISTERED NURSE FROM YORK

HELENA, 30
FROM ESSEX

JENNY, 29
FROM THE WEST MIDLANDS

BILLY, 38
FROM SCOTLAND