Executives at JPMorgan Chase, Capital One and U.S. Bancorp all spoke this week about plans to take on upstarts that offer interest-free financing on consumer purchases. The increased competition figures to result in tighter margins across the category.

The bank’s decision to offer home improvement loans directly will not have a material impact on profits at the Atlanta-based fintech, according to GreenSky.

The fintech specializes in lending to dentists, veterinarians and other solo providers looking to grow or establish their own practice.

A growing number of companies like Klarna, Sezzle and Circle let consumers split large purchases into smaller transactions paid over time. But they say they need to offer more than one product to set themselves apart and build customer loyalty.

More than 97% of venture backing goes go white-owned startups. Firms like Mendoza Ventures, Chingona Ventures and MaC Venture Capital are stepping in to support underserved entrepreneurs.

There’s a new unicorn in Latin America: Clip, a payments fintech in Mexico targeting small and midsize companies.

Mike Cagney’s blockchain lending startup Figure Technologies plans to raise $250 million through a new blank-check company, according to an SEC filing.

Opportunity Financial, which offers consumer installment loans in partnership with banks, is merging with FG New America Acquisition Corp., a special-purpose acquisition corporation. The deal is expected to close in the second quarter.

Black Knight’s product is designed to assist mortgage lenders in performing due diligence while also preventing heightened risk of foreclosure losses.

The online installment lender is the latest consumer-focused tech company to see its stock price soar on the first day of trading.

Acting Comptroller of the Currency Brian Brooks pushed back on a recommendation from a task force — appointed by Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — suggesting that Congress should give the CFPB the authority to charter and regulate fintechs.

Several consumer advocacy organizations have urged the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to deny the online lender's application for a national bank charter, citing concerns about its lending and debt-collection practices.

The California fintech plans to issue $80.7 billion in securities backed by consumer installment loans made in conjunction with banks.

The agency finalized a rule to determine which party in a loan sale is subject to regulatory requirements. Advocates charged that the move will help predatory lenders.

The San Francisco fintech, which is buying Radius Bancorp, will discontinue peer-to-peer lending and instead offer new products, like high-yield savings accounts, to its retail investors.

The OCC is trying to seize jurisdiction by arguing that current supervision is haphazard. But states are already working together to streamline regulation while continuing to enforce consumer protections and encourage innovation.

Liberty Lending, Upstart Network and Regional Management Corp. are looking to price bonds backed by pools of unsecured consumer loans, amid market worries about the sectors' potential challenges during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The ratings agency reports that the MPL industry might reckon with a potential spike in defaults as borrowers are rolled out of two- and three-month COVID-19 hardship programs.

Fintech lenders that reported a surge in missed payments at the start of the pandemic have seen credit quality rebound substantially since. But credit performance could still deteriorate if high unemployment persists and Congress fails to enact more relief measures.

The agency’s plan to extend the "qualified mortgage" stamp of approval to more loans could help lenders that rely on alternative data and cushion the blow of other QM changes for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.