Pennie announced the continued expansion of its income-focused lending marketplace in 2026, building on record-setting performance in 2025. The platform, which connects borrowers with personal and debt consolidation loan offers from a nationwide network of lenders, processed over 200 million customer inquiries in 2024 and has now funded 32 million people since launch.
Income-Focused Lending for Borrowers Rebuilding Credit
The 2026 expansion focuses on broadening access for borrowers rebuilding after financial setbacks—including those recovering from job loss, medical debt, divorce, or other circumstances that damaged their credit scores but not their earning capacity.
"2025 proved that millions of Americans are looking for a different path to borrowing," said Sam Mkhitaryan, Co-founder of Pennie. "Traditional lenders turn people away based on credit scores alone. We built a platform that looks at the full picture—income, stability, ability to repay. That's what we're scaling in 2026."
A New Model That Prioritizes Earning Power
Pennie's lending partners evaluate earning power and employment stability alongside credit history—giving more weight to a borrower's current financial capacity. This income-driven model serves borrowers whose scores don't tell the whole story, including workers with steady paychecks who are still recovering from past financial challenges.
The Pennie platform accepts multiple income types, including W-2 employment, self-employment and freelance income (1099), Social Security benefits, disability income, retirement and pension income, military pay, and other documented sources.
"A credit score is a snapshot of the past," Mkhitaryan added. "For someone who went through a job loss or medical emergency two years ago but now has stable income, that score doesn't reflect their current reality. Our platform gives those borrowers a real chance."
Record-Setting 2025 Results Reflect Growing Demand
Pennie's 2025 results underscored demand for income-focused lending:
- 32 million people funded through the Pennie platform to date
- Over 350 million loan offers delivered to borrowers
- Over 200 million customer inquiries processed in 2024
- 4.9 Trustpilot rating from borrowers citing fast offers, clear terms, and respectful communication
The platform's growth reflects broader dissatisfaction with traditional lending models that prioritize credit scores over current financial capacity.
How the Platform Works — A Fast, Transparent Borrowing Experience
Borrowers complete a 60-second application and receive personalized loan offers through a soft credit inquiry that does not affect their credit score. Offers are displayed in a private dashboard where borrowers can compare rates, terms, and monthly payments side-by-side before deciding whether to proceed.
Loan amounts up to $250,000, repayment terms up to 10 years, and starting APRs as low as 5.99% may be available depending on borrower profile and lender criteria. Qualified applicants can receive funding as soon as the next day.
Pennie does not sell or share customer data with third parties—a key differentiator from lead generation platforms that monetize borrower information.
Exploring Blockchain for Privacy and Security
As part of its 2026 roadmap, Pennie is exploring blockchain technology to further strengthen borrower privacy and data control. The company is evaluating decentralized verification protocols that would allow borrowers to own their financial identity—verifying income and employment through secure, blockchain-based systems rather than submitting documents to centralized databases.
"Privacy has always been central to what we do," Mkhitaryan said. "Blockchain offers an opportunity to take that further—letting borrowers prove their income without permanently handing over sensitive documents. They stay in control."
Looking Ahead to 2026 — Aligning with Broader Fintech Trends
The fresh approach aligns with broader fintech trends toward borrower empowerment. While blockchain and cryptocurrency have reshaped areas like payments and trading, Pennie sees the technology's greatest potential in verification and data ownership—giving borrowers more control over how their financial information is shared.
The 2026 expansion will focus on reaching more borrowers in underserved segments, including gig workers, self-employed individuals, and those with thin or recovering credit files. Pennie plans to continue growing its lending network while maintaining its commitment to privacy and income-focused qualification.
"The goal has always been to give everyday Americans a fair shot at borrowing," Mkhitaryan said. "2026 is about taking that further—reaching more people, offering more options, and proving that income-focused lending works."
For more information, visit trypennie.com.
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