The document discusses the rise of social lending, where individuals can directly lend and borrow money from each other through online platforms like Zopa, cutting out the traditional banks. It provides an overview of how social lending works, highlighting benefits for both borrowers who receive lower rates and lenders who can earn higher returns compared to traditional banking options. The document also looks at challenges and opportunities for social lending platforms to further grow by embracing principles of community, transparency, control and ethicality.