Viainvest AI Overview on 09/2025

Overview of VIAINVEST Platform

VIAINVEST is a regulated Latvian P2P investment platform (launched Dec 2016) run by SIA VIAINVEST of the VIA SMS Group. It enables EU investors to buy portions of asset-backed securities based on short-term consumer loans originated by VIA SMS Group subsidiaries. The platform offers up to 11–13% annual returns on loans (paid 9–12% interest monthly plus a bonus at maturity). Its key advantages include buyback guarantees (origins repurchase overdue loans), regulated status with investor protection (up to €20 000 for uninvested funds), and no investor fees. Main risks are borrower defaults (beyond the 30-day buyback), platform illiquidity (no secondary market), and concentration in group-originated loans. Investors should also note market and currency risks, and that all loans are Euro-denominated.

VIAINVEST Products & Investment Model

VIAINVEST lets investors fund consumer loan bundles from VIA SMS’s non-bank lenders in Europe. Each investment is a portfolio share of already-funded loans (100% pre-funded by originators), structured as asset-backed securities with ISINs. Typical terms are ~5–6 months, though shorter 5-month securities have appeared. The minimum per-loan investment is €50. Interest is paid monthly and principal at maturity; e.g. many loans pay 12%+ per annum. All loans feature a Buyback Guarantee: if any loan payment is delayed by ~30–60 days (policy updated to 30 days) the originator repurchases the loan at par plus accrued interest. Products include short-term cash loans, consumer loans and revolving credit lines. Sector focus is exclusively consumer lending; currently available regions include Latvia, Czechia, Spain, Sweden, Romania (and until 2023 Poland). Major risks: borrower default risk (mitigated by buyback up to ~30 days), no secondary market (illiquid), and platform risk (if VIAINVEST/SIA fails, beyond limited protection).

VIAINVEST Company & Management

VIAINVEST is operated by SIA Viainvest, a Riga-based investment brokerage subsidiary of AS VIA SMS Group. VIA SMS (founded 2009) is an alternative finance fintech in 7 EU countries. Ownership: 80% held via “Red Holding” (Latvian Georgijs Krasovickis) and 20% by “Financial Investment” (Andris Riekstins). The platform is governed by a three-member supervisory board (no single CEO). Eduards Lapkovskis (chair) has led VIA SMS group since 2010; board members include Tatjana Kulapina (legal/banking), Alina Gamidova (AML) and Aleksandrs Puzdrans (platform management). VIAINVEST is licensed as an Investment Brokerage Firm by the Latvian authorities. Since 2021 it is regulated under MiFID II and supervised by the Latvijas Banka (Latvian central bank). License No. 27-55/2023/2 authorizes investment services with segregated client accounts and entitles eligible users to up to €20 000 coverage under the Latvian investor protection scheme.

VIAINVEST Volumes and Performance (2024–2025)

VIAINVEST has seen strong growth. By March 2024 it reported ~€130M total funded; by mid-2024 it exceeded €467M raised; and by mid-2025 it passed €500M in loans funded. In April 2025, monthly originations were ~€12.5M. The platform now serves ~43 800+ investors (as of April 2025) (versus ~38 859 in early 2024). No defaults or repayment delays have been reported to date – thanks to the buyback guarantee, investors have not incurred losses so far. As of early 2025 the platform had paid out €11–15M+ in interest to date (trustpilot cites “€11M” in interest). Advertised gross returns reach ~11–13% p.a. (effective yields up to ~12–14% with bonus); real net investor returns (~10–12%) depend on tax and allocations. Overdue/non-performing loans have not been publicly disclosed; sources note VIAINVEST has not published delay/default rates.

VIAINVEST Risk Approach & Management

VIAINVEST’s project selection is limited to its own group originators. All loan originators are VIA SMS subsidiaries in Europe; each is vetted by due-diligence checks (credit analysis) before listing. Borrowers are typically prime to subprime consumers (non-Gold: mid-to-high risk). The platform offers loan buyback guarantees: if a loan is over 30 days late, the originator must repurchase principal + interest, protecting investors from borrower credit risk up to that point. Investor funds are held in segregated accounts (per EU Directive 97/9/EC). The company’s regulated status adds a safety layer: it follows reporting and capital rules of Latvia’s MiFID regime, and participates in an investor compensation fund (20k EUR coverage on client assets). There are no internal ratings provided to users, but the platform discloses loan country, type, rate, and maturity for filtering. VIAINVEST publishes monthly stats and audited reports. Sector/geography risk is diversified across multiple European countries (though recent exit from Poland in 2023). Overall the main residual risks are platform solvency, systemic shock affecting originators, and the fact that the buyback guarantee relies on originator creditworthiness.

VIAINVEST Platform Features & Functionality

The VIAINVEST web platform (English, Latvian) offers an intuitive dashboard with auto-invest tools. Users set target criteria (interest, term, country/originator) and the algorithm invests in matching loans. Manual investing is also available. No secondary market exists – all exits are via the early-exit feature at reduced rates (predefined notice periods) or only at maturity. Account info is transparent: investors see detailed loan portfolios, expected cash flows, and can download statements. There are no third-party credit insurance products, but the group backing partly serves this role. No official expert rating tools are provided by VIAINVEST (third-party reviews exist). Supported currency is EUR (all SEPA), and customer support operates in multiple EU languages.

VIAINVEST Pricing and Fees

VIAINVEST charges no commissions to investors. There are zero fees for account opening, deposits, investments or exit (minimum withdrawal €50). Inactivity fee: €2/month applies only if no transactions are made for 3+ months, until balance zero. A one-time €20 fee applies for special statements. Failed transfers incur a 2% (min €30) processing charge. Fundraisers (originators) pay origination fees to VIAINVEST, but these are not disclosed publicly. The fee structure is fully listed in the platform’s “Fees” page (openly accessible). In short, investors enjoy free usage with full fee transparency.

Negative Publicity about VIAINVEST

VIAINVEST has largely positive industry feedback, but some concerns are noted. User complaints on Trustpilot cite issues like extended loan durations (some loans taking far longer than their nominal 6 months) and slow customer service or KYC delays. Others note lack of two-factor authentication (2FA) as a security gap. No investor funds have been reported lost, and no regulatory enforcement actions against VIAINVEST are known. The only regulatory “hit” was that the parent withdrew from the Polish lending market due to new laws (platform and originators ceased listing Polish loans by end-2023). This change did not affect existing investors’ paybacks. Aside from routine criticisms in online forums about P2P risks, there are no major scandals or sanctions linked to VIAINVEST. (All scheduled repayments have proceeded on time despite the Poland exit.)

VIAINVEST Success Stories & Milestones

VIAINVEST has hit several milestones. Within 3 years of launch (2016–2019), it funded €130M+ and onboarded 10 000 investors. By June 2025 the platform announced €50M outstanding in active asset-backed securities. Its parent group’s audited reports (2023) show continued growth. The platform has won industry praise: in recent years it ranked top in P2P community polls (in 2025 voted “most popular” platform). On the corporate side, VIAINVEST is a founding exhibitor at major fintech events (e.g. Invest 2025 Expo in Stuttgart). Notable operational achievements include adding new originators – e.g. Swedish lender Viaconto.se (Jan 2019) – to diversify offerings. The company also earned an investment brokerage license in 2021, upgrading all loans to regulated ABS (MiFID II compliance) – a unique achievement in P2P lending.

VIAINVEST Loan Originators (Partners)

VIAINVEST has hit several milestones. Within 3 years of launch (2016–2019), it funded €130M+ and onboarded 10 000 investors. By June 2025 the platform announced €50M outstanding in active asset-backed securities. Its parent group’s audited reports (2023) show continued growth. The platform has won industry praise: in recent years it ranked top in P2P community polls (in 2025 voted “most popular” platform). On the corporate side, VIAINVEST is a founding exhibitor at major fintech events (e.g. Invest 2025 Expo in Stuttgart). Notable operational achievements include adding new originators – e.g. Swedish lender Viaconto.se (Jan 2019) – to diversify offerings. The company also earned an investment brokerage license in 2021, upgrading all loans to regulated ABS (MiFID II compliance) – a unique achievement in P2P lending.

Is VIAINVEST safe and regulated?

Yes – it is a licensed investment brokerage firm under Latvian law and EU MiFID II. Investor funds go into segregated accounts with up to €20 000 compensation coverage for uninvested cash. The parent group is profitable and loan guarantees are backed by it. However, all P2P lending has risk.

What returns can I expect?

Typical loans yield 11–13% p.a. gross. Recent listings often pay 12% interest (plus 2% at maturity). Your net return depends on taxes: VIAINVEST withholds 5% by default for EU investors, 20% for Latvian citizens (tax treaties or local rules may alter rates). Historically, investors have earned around 10–12% after taxes. Past performance (~12% claims) is not guaranteed.

How long is the money locked?

Most loans are 3–9 months (often ~6 months). The platform recently offered 5-month loans for variety. There is no hard early withdrawal – investments end at each security’s term. However, an “early-exit” feature exists (with notice and lower final interest). Consult the platform’s early-exit schedule for each loan to see how your return changes if you withdraw early.

What are the main risks?

The largest risk is loan default beyond 30 days, which would fall back on the originator or VIA SMS Group. While buyback covers up to 30 days late, longer delays or originator insolvency pose loss risk. Platform failure is low risk due to regulation and segregation. Market risks (economic downturns) can impact consumer borrowers. Lack of liquidity is a risk (no quick exit). Currency risk is minimal (EUR-only). Remember, all P2P investments are medium-high risk and not government-insured.