Low interest lending option for SMEs. Peer-to-Peer Lending emerged following the worldwide recession in 2007. With interest rates at 0.5% (March 2012) and SME borrowing rates rarely below 12%, there is an opportunity for SMEs to lend to their peers at terms attractive to both lenders and borrowers alike. These networks can offer more efficiency than traditional banks that, in any case, are often reluctant to lend to SMEs.