The eBay of banking

Zopa lets ordinary citizens borrow money from other ordinary citizens -- no bank needed. This service is open to any UK resident over 18 years who clears a credit check. There are 2 categories for borrowers, those who have strong credit history and those who have a weak credit history. Those in the latter category pay higher interest rates. Zopa, meanwhile, takes a 1 percent commission from every borrower's loan. I think the eBay model can be added to many other businesses too and it may well bring the barter system back from the dead.