LendingClub has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Radius Bancorp, and its wholly owned subsidiary Radius Bank, in a cash and stock transaction valued at $185 million.
Combining Radius and LendingClub will create a digitally native marketplace bank at scale with the power to deliver an integrated customer experience, enabling consumers to both pay less when borrowing and earn more when saving.
Radius is an online bank founded in 1987 and based in Boston, with more than $1.4 billion in diversified assets. It is known for its award-winning, branchless digital banking platform that combines state-of-the-art technology with the best checking and savings account features. In addition, the company offers commercial lending options for businesses, and treasury management services for pension funds, unions, municipalities, and non-profit organizations.
LendingClub is a provider of personal loans in the country, facilitating more than $12.3 billion in loans in 2019. With a proven 14-year track record of improving customers’ financial health, the company has helped its over three million members to save money versus their high interest credit card debt.
“This is a transformational transaction that allows us to reimagine banking in a way that is free from legacy practices and systems and where the success of LendingClub is aligned with the success of our customers,” said Scott Sanborn, CEO of LendingClub. “By combining with Radius, we will create a category-defining experience for our members that will dramatically enhance the resilience and earnings trajectory of our business.”
“LendingClub has always been a fintech innovator, and I look forward to leveraging the strengths of both of our talented teams as we usher in a new era in banking,” said Mike Butler, Radius’ president and CEO. “We are excited for our employees to operate our virtual banking platform with more resources and for our clients to gain access to an industry-leading lending product. This is a perfect marriage, with LendingClub bringing the leading digital asset generation platform, and Radius contributing a leading online deposit gathering platform, to position the combined company for long-term success.”
Additional compelling strategic and financial benefits of the transaction include that it will:
- Diversify and increase earnings by capturing the sizeable revenue opportunity that is currently being absorbed by issuing banks, reducing the use of high-cost warehouse lines, and generating additional and recurring net interest income
- Enhance resiliency over the economic cycle by offering a source of low-cost, stable funding
- Deliver regulatory clarity through a direct relationship with a primary regulator
- Attract new members through the addition of banking services that leverage LendingClub’s marketing strength
- Offer new products, services and resources through an expanded BaaS offering to better serve partners; while increasing the cross-sell power for Radius clients to gain access to lending products
- Increase engagement with existing LendingClub members to help them manage their cash flow and earn savings, while generating more data to inform underwriting and help consumers progress on a path to better financial health
The combined entity expects to be substantially accretive with a cash payback of the purchase price premium and all costs in two years. The purchase price is subject to certain adjustments set forth in the definitive agreement, and the transaction is subject to regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions and is expected to close in the next twelve to fifteen months with benefits starting to materialize immediately after close.
J.P. Morgan Securities served as exclusive financial advisor to LendingClub in connection with the transaction, and Sullivan and Cromwell served as its legal counsel. Broadhaven Capital Partners and Piper Sandler served as financial advisors to Radius Bancorp and Hogan Lovells US served as its legal counsel in connection with the transaction.