Carilend review

Carilend targets a return of 8.05% to 9.45% on the loans it places. That sits near the peer lending median of 9.2%, so the headline figure is in line with the wider category rather than above it.

The minimum investment is BBD 5,000, which is low against a category high of €100,000 but still above the lending median of €50. Larger commitments spread the risk across more loans.

The buyback guarantee is no, so there is no promise to repurchase a loan before it ends. The secondary market is also no, so there is no place to sell your share either. Plan for your money to stay committed to the full term.

No regulator or licence is listed for Carilend, so there is no named regulatory status or protection scheme to point to. Check the current terms yourself before committing, since peer lending puts capital at risk without a deposit guarantee.

Carilend is run by Carilend Ltd and was founded in 2016. It is based in Barbados, and it lends to businesses rather than offering a trading account or a savings product.

Support runs on email, phone and help centre, so you can reach the team by email or phone, and a help centre is available for common questions. The category is thinner on chat, which is a gap if you prefer instant messaging.

Mintos targets 9.2% against Carilend's 8.05% to 9.45%, so returns are close. The bigger difference is structure: Mintos runs a broader marketplace, while Carilend keeps funds locked to the term with no secondary market.

You are lending to businesses, so missed payments and defaults reduce your return rather than leaving you with your capital intact. With the buyback guarantee at no, you absorb those losses directly, and peer lending sites overall show retail loss rates around 70.15%.