LendingTree provides an online marketplace which connects consumers with multiple lenders that compete for their business, as well as an array of online tools and information to help consumers find the best loan.

Yes, LendingTree is a legitimate loan company that offers personal loans to a variety of borrowers.

LendingTree is not a direct lender. Each loan it matches you with will have its own application process, fees and terms.

A loan is a form of debt incurred by an individual or other entity. The lender - usually a corporation, financial institution, or government - advances a sum of money to the borrower. In return, the borrower agrees to a certain set of terms including any finance charges, interest, repayment date, and other conditions.

Understanding How Borrowing (and Lending) Works Usually, lenders are reimbursed by ongoing, monthly payments made by the borrower until the total amount owed is received. In return for lending the money, the lender charges the borrower a percentage of the amount borrowed, which is known as an interest rate.

IAC/InterActiveCorp IAC ownership LendingTree went through an initial public offering (IPO) on February 15, 2000. In May 2003, LendingTree was acquired by IAC/InterActiveCorp, former owner of Ticketmaster, Home Shopping Network and Match.com. In 2004, LendingTree acquired HomeLoanCenter.com and formed LendingTree Loans.

An expert on the consumer finance industry and mortgage markets, Doug provides insight and analysis on the current and future state of consumer lending and how FinTech companies, such as LendingTree, are using cutting-edge technology to change financial services.

A lender is an individual, a public or private group, or a financial institution that makes funds available to a person or business with the expectation that the funds will be repaid. Repayment includes the payment of any interest or fees.

It enables the flow of money between savers and borrowers, allowing businesses to invest, grow and create jobs. Lending is, therefore, a critical part of the banking system, and banks must lend to support economic growth while also protecting against risks.

Banks make money by charging higher interest rates to borrowers than the rates paid to savers. The fractional reserve banking system is a system in which banks hold back a small fraction of their deposits in a reserve and loan out the rest of their deposits to borrowers.

Although banks do many things, their primary role is to take in funds - called deposits - from those with money, pool them, and lend them to those who need funds. Banks are intermediaries between depositors (who lend money to the bank) and borrowers (to whom the bank lends money).

Fintech lending works by using digital technology tools to help lenders issue loans online through websites or mobile apps. There are several business models within fintech lending, including peer-to-peer lending, mortgages, business loans, and investor loans.