Goldman Sachs (GS) has launched a new online lending business that targets borrowers saddled with credit-card debt, the bank said on Thursday.
The business, called Marcus, represents Goldman’s first major foray into consumer lending as it tries to earn more from the $124 billion in deposits it has on its balance sheet.
Marcus, which kicked off on Thursday, will offer uncollateralized personal loans of up to $30,000 to borrowers who meet certain credit requirements, according to a press release. The business will focus on customers who want to manage their credit card debt, Goldman said.
The bank hired former Discover Financial Services executive Harit Talwar more than a year ago to help formulate a digital lending strategy. It surveyed thousands of consumers about their borrowing experience and found they were frustrated by hidden fees, changing interest rates, boilerplate payment options and difficulty in reaching a human customer-service representative when they encountered problems.
As a result, Marcus does not have any fees, has a fixed rate, allows customers to create their own payment dates and offers live customer support representatives. Goldman noted they are based in the United States.
Marcus aims to be a “simpler solution” for borrowers than cards, Talwar said in a statement. Goldman plans to tweak the platform in response to customer feedback.
Marcus represents part of Goldman’s long-running effort to reinvent itself after the 2007-2009 financial crisis, during which it obtained a banking license and came under scathing criticism for profits it earned from the U.S. mortgage market’s collapse.
Earlier this year, Goldman launched a complementary deposit-taking platform after acquiring GE Capital’s online bank. Its moves are similar to those of chief rival Morgan Stanley.
Although Marcus is a digital platform, borrowers will initially only be able to apply for a loan after receiving a code in the mail. As of Thursday, borrowers can use those codes at Marcus.com.
