2019 Global Benchmark Study: Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance & Canadian Lenders Association Continue Partnership

Cambridge, UK., and Toronto, Canada, May 16, 2019 –The Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF) and the Canadian Lenders Association (CLA) today announced a continuation in their partnership to support research into the innovative Canadian lending sector through the 2019 Americas Alternative Finance Benchmarking survey.

The CCAF’s Global Benchmark continues to be the largest academic benchmarking study on alternative finance and provides invaluable vetted market intelligence on the fintech industry, informing local and regional regulatory authorities and policymakers.

The survey launches globally today – May 16, 2019 and will inform the CCAF’s fourth investigation into the alternative finance sector in the Americas, as part of a global overview of the marketplace. Last year’s study Reaching New Heights – included survey responses from over 234 platforms from across the region, 25% of which operated in multiple jurisdictions. This report was widely cited as the very best data available on the growth of the industry. This year’s survey covers activity in 2018 and focuses on shedding light on some of the key trends uncovered in the previous research.

The alternative finance marketplace continues to evolve across the Americas, particularly in Canada. Through this partnership, the CCAF and CLA will continue to encourage broader participation by Canadian platforms in this high-profile and high-impact research, and further expand coverage on this fast-changing industry. Canada’s alternative finance market continues to be the second largest in the region, and with a 159% growth rate it also is quickly growing.

The survey can be found at: https://jbs.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9N1wL5T4lC0kVx3 and must close July 17, 2019.

To aid in the process, platforms can explore the survey questions before completing the survey.

Based in Cambridge University’s Judge Business School, the CCAF is the global leader in research on alternative funding sources. The CCAF is dedicated to the study of alternative finance, which includes financial channels and instruments that emerge outside of the traditional financial system (i.e. regulated banks and capital markets).

Based in Toronto, the CLA supports the growth of companies in the Canadian market that are in the business of lending, and providing other means of credit, to small businesses and individuals, by providing its members with tools to innovate and to foster safe and ethical lending practices.

“The CLA is committed to bringing data and research to our lenders and the broad lending ecosystem,” said Gary Schwartz, President of the CLA. “We believe that this onward-going international partnership will increase the sector insights and direction for regulators and business leaders working in the innovative digital lending space in Canada.”

“We’re happy to continue our research partnership with the CLA, and work together to further

capture the development of the Canadian marketplace. Their participation in our benchmarking research last year provided essential insight into the Canadian market and is essential to further detaining the growth of the market this year,” said Tania Ziegler, Head of Global Benchmarking, CCAF.

About the Canadian Lenders Association

The Canadian Lenders Association (CLA) supports the growth of companies in the Canadian market that are in the business of lending, or providing other means of credit, to small businesses and individuals by non-conventional or innovative means to exchange ideas and explore ways of improving the sector;  encourage principled and professional practices by innovative lenders; educate the public at large about innovative lending;  encourage individual potential borrowers to be informed about the appropriateness of innovative lending to the borrowers’ circumstance; and to advocate on behalf of, and represent the interests of innovative lenders.

www.canadianlenders.org
www.canadianlenderssummit.com
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About the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance

The Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF) is an international interdisciplinary academic research institute dedicated to the study of alternative finance, which includes financial channels and instruments that emerge outside of the traditional financial system (i.e. regulated banks and capital markets). The Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance is forging a cutting-edge, multidisciplinary and collaborative research agenda in alternative finance, which includes financial instruments and channels that emerge outside the traditional financial system. From innovation and regional development to social and cognitive behavioural finance; from issues of reputation and trust, to asset pricing and organisational behaviour, our research agenda on all forms of alternative finance (e.g. crowdfunding, p2p lending and virtual currency) is expansive, innovative and rigorous.

CCAF https://www.jbs.cam.ac.uk/faculty-research/centres/alternative-finance/about-us/

Contact:

Gary Schwartz for the CLA
gary.schwartz@canadianlenders.org