News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on Kiva Now Allows You to Lend to US Small Businesses. Parent comment

Re:Kiva Now Allows You to Lend to US Small Businesses by philwelch on Wednesday June 10, 2009 @07:04PM (#651981)
It's not a zero interest loan, is it?

Lending is the most common form of investment, and it's comparatively safe. Equity investment is what's risky and dangerous (unless you get into junk bonds, or lending to bankrupt companies).

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Kiva Now Allows You to Lend to US Small Businesses by apsec112 on Wednesday June 10, 2009 @07:28PM (#652010)
It's not a zero-interest loan, but the Kiva "field partner" pockets the interest, so there's no possibility of return. From their website:

"Lending to the working poor through Kiva involves risk of principal loss. Kiva does not guarantee repayment nor do we offer a financial return on your loan. "

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Kiva Now Allows You to Lend to US Small Businesses by robg on Wednesday June 10, 2009 @08:27PM (#652072)
What are the regulatory obstacles to running a business that does offer a small return? I have to assume there are some, no, or else you get loan sharks.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Kiva Now Allows You to Lend to US Small Businesses by callmeed on Wednesday June 10, 2009 @08:55PM (#652105)
That's what Prosper was doing but the SEC forced them to temporarily stop lending and jump through more hoops.

http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/11/26/sec-outlines-its-reason...

I'm not sure where they sit now, but when you browsed Prosper you could find people requesting loans for business (not just personal items like cars).

[ Parent | on HN ]