FinTech News
LendingClub Announces Upcoming Rebrand to Happen Bank
As former peer-to-peer loan platform LendingClub continues to expand and evolve, it’s now preparing for a total rebrand.
About LendingClub’s Transition to Happen Bank:
This week, LendingClub announced its plans to take on a new name: Happen Bank. The rebrand comes six years after the FinTech became a licensed bank and discontinued its peer-to-peer lending platform.
LendingClub was founded in 2006 as a tool where investors could fulfill loans for borrowers. Ten years later, co-founder and CEO Renaud Laplanche stepped down (and would later found Upgrade). It was at this time that current CEO Scott Sanborn was appointed.
In 2020, the company completed its acquisition of Radius Bank and took on the moniker LendingClub Bank. However, while the service does still originate loans, it also offers checking, savings, and other consumer accounts. Because of this, the platform now intends to change away from the long-held LendingClub to Happen Bank.
Explaining the name, the bank currently known as LendingClub says that Happen was chosen because “it signals action, progress, and forward momentum.” Moreover, Happen Bank is described as being a digital bank for the “Motivated Middle.” This segment is defined as those with high credit scores and above-average income who are also digitally savvy and who take an active role in managing their finances.
According to a press release, the Happen name will roll out starting this summer. Ahead of that, banners on the website are already teasing the transition. Importantly, the bank’s operations are not impacted by this change, meaning that new and existing customers can continue to use their accounts and services as normal.
What They’re Saying:
In a statement, Sanborn said, “The LendingClub name no longer fits with everything we offer today. The Happen Bank brand reflects both our expanded banking capabilities and our core mission: to clear the way for people going places.”
He added, “Our members are goal-oriented and know what they want to achieve. They’re not looking for marketing fluff, they want products that deliver reliable value, are easy to understand, and are effortless to use. That’s exactly what we’re built to deliver – and how we help them make it happen.”
LendingClub Chief Customer Officer Mark Elliot also remarked on the rebrand, stating, “Our members don’t want banking to slow them down. The Happen Bank brand reflects how we show up for them – clear, human, and action-oriented. It’s about making financial products feel intuitive and supportive, so people can spend less time navigating banking and more time moving their lives forward.”
My Thoughts:
This is definitely the end of an era. But, as Sanborn and others note, the LendingClub name really didn’t make a lot of sense once they retired the P2P lending model. As for what I think of the “Happen” name… it’s certainly interesting, which I guess could be good.
Overall, though, I do think that this rebrand is a good idea and gives the bank the best chance at future success. RIP, LendingClub.
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