Lending Club has announced that Google has acquired a minority stake in the company as part of a secondary transaction whereby new and existing investors acquired shares from existing investors. Buyers include Google and existing investor Foundation Capital.

"Lending Club is using the Internet to reshape the financial system and profoundly transform the way people think of credit and investment," said Google’s David Lawee. "We are excited to be a part of it."

"Few companies have such an in-depth understanding of the Internet as Google," said Lending Club CEO Renaud Laplanche. "We believe our relationship with Google will be very helpful in better serving our customers. We couldn’t be more excited to have them on board."

Lending Club facilitated more than $1.65 billion in loans since inception including over $350 million in the last quarter.

[Editor's note: see also this TechCrunch story on this latest round of financing for Lending Club.]

On the web:

• UK Company Offers Mobile Wallet Fraud Insurance - NFCNews
• Mobile Banking Changes Everything, or Nothing - NetBanker
• Struggling Nokia to Roll Out 'Mobile Money' Service to Revive Fortune - The Economic Times
• MasterCard to bring NFC payments to Georgia - NFCNews

On the wires:

• Renasant Bank Joins the Secure Vault Payments Network
• U.S. Bank and SkoreIt! Introduce Co-Branded Visa Gift Card for Penny Auction Bidders
• Admeris Partners With Omnego to Deliver Secure Mobile Payments on Leading Mobile Wallet Platform
• Lending Club Announces $25 Million Round Led by Union Square Ventures
• New Mercator Report on Prepaid as Best Bet for Financial Inclusion
• Cardtronics Buys LocatorSearch to Enhance Convenience Marketing Capabilities

Lending Club and PerkStreet Financial have announced the launch of a 'Shred Your Credit Card' contest.

The contest inspires consumers to end the cycle of credit card debt once and for all by destroying their credit cards. Rewards of up to $1,000* will go to the contestants who devise the most creative way to destroy their credit cards and share the video. Entries can be submitted and viewed at www.shredyourcreditcard.com.

* All prizes will be paid with Visa Gift Cards, terms and conditions apply.

Lending Club has announced closing a $24.5 million investment round led by Foundation Capital with participation by existing investors Morgenthaler Ventures, Norwest Venture Partners and Canaan Partners. READ MORE »

LendingClub.com, a peer lending network that brings together investors and creditworthy borrowers, has announced that it has closed a $12 million Series B round of funding. Morgenthaler Ventures led the round and is joined by existing investors, Norwest Venture Partners and Canaan Partners. Rebecca Lynn, a Morgenthaler Principal, is joining Lending Club’s board of directors. READ MORE »