One way of challenging banking norms – an increasingly popular activity nowadays – is to offer cashback. Assuming cash remains popular, which is probable in the short term, this new development, reported by our friends at Crowdfundinsider, could have quite a radical effect across the alternative-finance sector:
Upside Saving, a UK-based open-banking-marketing-platform connects Brands with consumers by offering frictionless cashback, is set to close its equity crowdfunding campaign on Seedrs with more than £330,000 raised. The funding round was launched earlier this month and has attracted over 315 Seedrs investors.
As previously reported, Upside Saving is using open banking and AI to help customers automate their savings. The company noted that its platform connects retailers with consumers in a “relevant and rewarding way” by offering frictionless cashback. Retails then help consumers build up emergency savings in their time of need while driving incremental sales.
Historical Performance And IFISA Process Guide
That figure is the result of over £20 million of loans facilitated on the site, as we bring individuals looking for a good return on capital together with carefully vetted small companies seeking funds for growth. Bear in mind that lenders’ capital is at risk. Read warnings on site before committing capital.
All loans on site are eligible to be held in a Money&Co. Innovative Finance Individual Savings Account (IFISA), up to the annual ISA limit of £20,000. Such loans offer lenders tax-free income. Our offering is an Innovative Finance ISA (IFISA) that can hold the peer-to-peer (P2P) business loans that Money&Co. facilitates. For the purposes of this article, the terms ISA and IFISA are interchangeable.
So here’s our guide to the process:
The ISA allowance for 2019/20 is unchanged from last tax year at £20,000, allowing a married couple to put £40,000 into a tax-free environment. Over three years, an investment of this scale in two Money&Co. Innovative Finance ISAs would generate £8,400 of income completely free of tax. We’re assuming a 7 per cent return, net of charges and free of tax here.
Once you have made your initial commitment, you might then consider diversifying – buying a spread of loans. To do this, you can go into the “loans for sale” market. All loans bought in this market also qualify for IFISA tax benefits.
Risk: Security, Access, Yield
Do consider not just the return, but the security and the ease of access to your investment. We write regularly about these three key factors. Here’s one of several earlier articles on security, access and yield.