easyMoney vs ChatGPT – Correcting the record
This is a financial promotion and is intended to provide information, not investment advice.
easyMoney is setting the record straight. With more and more people using ChatGPT to learn about financial services products and investment platforms, we have been shocked to learn the extent of the misinformation that exists about our company, and the services we offer.
Over the past few weeks, easyMoney has been asking ChatGPT a series of questions to find out what the chatbot thinks we do and addressing any inaccuracies in our blog section. Read our previous blogs to learn about easyMoney’s history, interest rates, regulatory status, and secondary market. Today, we are looking at ChatGPT’s understanding of our ISA offering and our borrower base.
Read on to learn what the chatbot got right, and what it got wrong…
Can I hold easyMoney in an ISA?
ChatGPT says…
“Yes - all easyMoney investment accounts are eligible for the Innovative Finance ISA (IFISA). This means you can invest using your annual ISA allowance (currently £20,000 per tax year) and earn tax-free interest on your returns. Opening an IFISA is quick and can be done online.”
We say…
This is true! easyMoney offers four different accounts to our investors: Premium, Premium Plus, High Net-Worth, and Professional. All these account holders have the option of keeping their funds within an IFISA wrapper, and utilising the £20,000 annual allowance.
What is an Innovative Finance ISA (IFISA)?
ChatGPT says…
“An IFISA is a type of ISA introduced by the UK government to allow tax-free investments in peer-to-peer lending and debt-based securities. It works much like a Cash ISA or Stocks & Shares ISA — but instead of saving or buying shares, you’re lending to borrowers via a regulated platform like easyMoney. The key benefit is that all interest earned within the IFISA is free from income tax.”
We say…
This is largely correct. The IFISA was recently expanded to cover long-term asset funds and open-ended property funds, as well as P2P lending and crowdfunding platforms. Just make sure that your investment platform of choice is a registered IFISA manager. easyMoney has been a registered IFISA manager since 2018.
Is interest from easyMoney tax-free?
ChatGPT says…
“Yes - if you invest through an IFISA, any interest you earn from easyMoney is entirely tax-free, both now and in the future. If you invest outside an ISA, interest is treated as personal savings income and may be taxable depending on your income and personal savings allowance.”
We say…
This is correct. All IFISA investments are shielded from taxation.
Can I transfer my existing ISA into easyMoney?
ChatGPT says…
“Yes - you can transfer an existing ISA (Cash or Stocks & Shares) into an easyMoney IFISA. The process is straightforward and compliant with HMRC rules. You’ll just need to complete an ISA transfer form - and do not withdraw the funds yourself, as that could cause you to lose your tax benefits. Both full and partial transfers are usually accepted.”
We say…
Yes you can transfer previous ISAs to easyMoney. Just follow the ‘Transfer an ISA’ link on our website and fill out a short form – we will do the rest for you.
Can I open a joint account or invest via a company?
ChatGPT says…
“Currently, easyMoney accounts are for individual investors only, and joint accounts are not supported. However, easyMoney does allow corporate accounts, enabling investments made through companies, trusts, or SIPPs, subject to eligibility and due diligence checks. Corporate or institutional investors may benefit from customised terms and access to larger allocations.”
We say…
Largely true. easyMoney does not technically offer joint accounts, but once an account has been set up it is possible to manually convert it to a joint account after separate KYC and due diligence checks have been conducted on the other person.
Corporate investments are possible via our Premium Plus, HNW and Professional accounts. However, it is not correct to state that corporate or institutional investors may benefit from customised terms. All investors have access to the same deals. The only difference is that corporate and institutional investors can’t invest in IFISAs due to the rules of eligibility.
Who are the borrowers on easyMoney?
ChatGPT says…
“easyMoney lends exclusively to professional property developers and landlords. These are typically experienced individuals or companies with a track record of successfully completing development or refurbishment projects. Borrowers use funds for purposes like property acquisition, development, bridging, or refinancing, and are expected to have clear exit strategies, such as sales or refinancing via traditional lenders.”
We say…
This is largely true. We only lend to property professionals who have passed our rigorous due diligence process, and we tend to work with the same borrowers again and again. We do finance property acquisitions, usually at up to 60 per cent of the purchase price and only if it is not the primary residences.
We also finance property development projects, while approximately eight per cent of our loan book is made up of bridging loans. We sometimes offer refinancing to existing borrowers, subject to terms and conditions.
How does easyMoney assess borrower risk?
ChatGPT says…
“Every borrower undergoes a rigorous due diligence process before being approved. easyMoney evaluates the borrower’s financial position, credit history, past projects, and experience. Each loan is also reviewed for the quality of the security offered (always a UK property), its loan-to-value (LTV) ratio, and the borrower’s exit plan. Only loans that meet easyMoney’s lending criteria are listed for investment.”
We say…
This is correct. Our due diligence process is extremely strict. We believe that by prioritising due diligence from the very early stages of the lending process, we can minimise the risk of capital loss to our investors, while continuing to offer competitive rates. To date, no investor has ever lost a penny of their capital via the easyMoney platform.
What’s the average loan-to-value (LTV) ratio?
ChatGPT says…
“easyMoney typically lends at a conservative loan-to-value (LTV) ratio, often around 60 per cent or lower. This means the value of the property significantly exceeds the loan amount, creating a buffer in the event of default. The LTV varies per loan and is clearly disclosed to investors for each opportunity.”
We say…
While it is correct to state that we take a conservative approach to our LTV ratio, 60 per cent is a little too high. At the end of July 2025, the average LTV across our property development and bridge loans was 56.4 per cent. For bridge loans, the average LTV was 54.6 per cent, while the average loan to gross development value (LTGDV) for a property development loan was 58.4 per cent.
Capital is at risk. Past performance is no guarantee for future results.
Tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each investor and may be subject to change in the future.