Renaud Laplanche

Upgrade launches mobile banking and debit card with 2% cash back

01/14/21

The online lender founded by Renaud Laplanche is now a full-fledged challenger bank that can offer generous checking terms because, it says, it can count on its loans for profits.

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Santander Group invests $40M in consumer lender Upgrade

06/17/20

Other challenger banks focused on personal loans have struggled since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.

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Alternative lender rolls out contactless card amid pandemic

04/09/20

Upgrade's hybrid loan-card product can now be used without swiping as consumers and retail workers seek to minimize spread of novel coronavirus.

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LendingClub founder's new firm launches card-loan hybrid product

10/10/19

Renaud Laplanche, one of the first fintech disruptors, is launching an unusual type of credit product at Upgrade, his new company, that is a cross between a credit card and an unsecured loan.

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Renaud Laplanche’s redemption story is a bad omen for fintech

10/19/18

Despite being barred from the securities industry by the SEC, LendingClub’s founder has found plenty of people to back his latest venture — and that’s a problem.

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Lending Club founder settles; banks fear weak third quarter

10/01/18

Laplanche agrees to a three-year securities industry ban and a small fine to settle SEC fraud charges on loan sales; analysts are expecting a "tepid" quarter as some trading activity suffers.

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Former LendingClub CEO fined for misusing investor funds

09/28/18

Renaud Laplanche agreed to pay $200,000 and accept a ban from the securities industry to settle a long-running SEC probe. A LendingClub subsidiary and the firm's former CFO, Carrie Dolan, were also fined.

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Renaud Laplanche's journey from scandal to second act

08/29/18

The LendingClub founder responded to being booted from his company by starting a new one with involvement from former investors — and a loan buyer he had supposedly wronged.

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Renaud Laplanche’s comeback venture raises $62 million

08/23/18

Upgrade, a marketplace lender founded by Laplanche just a few months after he was ousted from LendingClub, has secured more than $100 million in equity capital and says it is poised to offer more consumer credit products.

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Online lender touts new personal credit line as HELOC alternative

04/10/18

Upgrade's new product, unveiled Tuesday, is aimed at consumers who are expecting a big expense but may not need to borrow all the money at once. Unlike a home equity line of credit, the loan can be approved in minutes because there is no need for collateral or an appraisal process.

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