This emergence of online lenders is part of a broader evolution of financial technology—or “fintech"—as seen in a wide range of products and services for both consumers and small 4/7  BIS central bankers' speeches  businesses. I’m not surprised to see this important topic on your conference agenda.
The use of fintech to expand access to credit has great promise and also associated risks. For example, online origination platforms and more sophisticated algorithms may enable credit to be underwritten and delivered in a manner that is still prudent but with greater efficiency, convenience, and lower processing costs.