"Let's say you get a $1,000 bonus," Laplanche said. "If you decide to pay down your mortgage or pay off your credit card, it's going to have a very different impact on your credit score and cost of credit." Upgrade spent until late July testing the platform but began ramping up lending in August. Laplanche won't disclose lending to date or growth figures. He said he hopes to launch a new product each year, with plans to branch into mortgages, auto loans, credit cards, home equity, and lines of credit.

http://www.businessinsider.com/interview-renaud-laplanche-lending-club-exit-upgrade-2017-10