SoFi Technologies Inc
For the period ended Dec 31, 2024. Filed Feb 24, 2025.
View on SEC.govAbout this filing
A company's yearly report to the SEC, with audited financial statements. It is the fullest account a company gives of its business, its finances and the risks it sees.
FY2024 · Filed Feb 24, 2025
What changed in Risk Factors?
Read the current filingPrevious report: 10-K
Period ended 2023-12-31; filed 2024-02-27.
0001818874-24-000026
Item 1A. Risk FactorsCurrent report: 10-K
Period ended 2024-12-31; filed 2025-02-24.
0001818874-25-000016
Item 1A. Risk FactorsThe baseline is this issuer’s latest earlier reporting period of the same form that was filed before the current report. A previous 10-Q is a different quarter, not a year-over-year comparison. Amendments are excluded.
Compared 523 previous paragraphs and 532 current paragraphs.
378 unchanged; 131 reworded; 18 added; 12 removed; 2 previous and 5 current paragraphs rearranged.
Tables are not compared: 0 previous and 0 current tables excluded. Dates, whitespace, punctuation and numbering changes are ignored; changes to financial figures remain significant.
A changed paragraph is not evidence that risk increased or decreased. An unchanged paragraph does not establish that risk stayed the same.
Added paragraphs (18)
Current report
•inability to increase fee-based, capital-light revenue sources and continue to expand our Loan Platform Business;
Current report
•continue to increase our fee-based revenue within our Loan Platform Business, including fees earned for originating loans on behalf of third-party partners and fees earned for referring loans to be originated by third party partners;
Current report
•social media and other commerce platforms and applications that offer peer-to-peer, in-app and social commerce payment capabilities;
Current report
•our ability to continue to expand the Loan Platform Business with existing and new loan origination partners;
Current report
•our ability to continue to increase our fee-based revenue and diversify our revenue base;
Current report
Increased market volatility and adverse changes in financial market conditions may increase our market risk.
Current report
Our liquidity, competitive position, business, results of operations and financial condition are affected by market risks such as changes in interest rates, fluctuations in equity, commodity and futures prices, the implied volatility of interest rates and credit spreads and other economic and business factors. These market risks may adversely affect, among other things, the value of our securities, the cost of debt capital and our access to credit markets, customer allocation of capital among investment alternatives, and our competitiveness with respect to deposit pricing, and may negatively impact customer confidence in the safety and soundness of banks. In times of market stress or other unforeseen circumstances, previously uncorrelated indicators may become correlated, which may limit the effectiveness of our strategies to manage these risks.
Current report
We may be unable to satisfactorily meet evolving standards, regulations and disclosure requirements related to ESG. For example, a number of state legislators and regulators have adopted or are currently considering proposing or adopting other rules, regulations, directives, initiatives and laws requiring ESG-related disclosures or conduct, including California laws S.B. 253, S.B. 261 and A.B. 1305. The adoption of these and similar laws could require us to, among other things, expend material capital resources in connection with such compliance efforts. Furthermore, there continues to be a lack of consistent proposed climate change and ESG-related legislation and guidance, which creates regulatory and economic uncertainty. Such matters can affect the willingness or ability of investors to make an investment in our Company, as well as our ability to meet regulatory requirements. Any failure, or perceived failure, to meet evolving regulations and industry standards could have an adverse effect on us.
Current report
In addition, in recent years “anti-ESG” sentiment has gained momentum across the U.S., with several states and Congress having proposed or enacted “anti-ESG” policies, legislation, or initiatives or issued related legal opinions, and President Trump having recently issued an executive order discouraging diversity equity and inclusion (“DEI”) initiatives in the private sector. Such anti-ESG and anti-DEI-related policies, legislation, initiatives, litigation, legal opinions, and scrutiny could result in volatility of our stock price and the Company facing additional compliance obligations, becoming the subject of investigations and enforcement actions, or sustaining reputational harm.
Current report
Certain aspects of the services we provide also rely and depend upon the ability of third parties with whom we do not contract directly to perform specified tasks or execute certain functions. For example, our customers access trading venues like securities exchanges through third parties like clearing brokers. If a trading venue experiences a system error and/or a failure of controls, subsequent trades may be impacted, such as trading executed at anomalous pricing. Similarly, if a trading venue experiences an outage, our customer’s ability to place trades or our ability to effect transactions in securities on behalf of customers via our broker-dealer may be impacted. As a result of these impacts, we might experience customer complaints, loss of revenue or other financial loss, or we may have to respond to regulatory inquiries related to such outages.
Current report
If we are unable to successfully manage our assets and liabilities on the balance sheet and our funding costs, including with respect to deposit-based funding, our ability to finance additional loans and introduce new products may be negatively impacted.
Current report
The operation of our rewards program for the SoFi Unlimited 2% Credit Card and the SoFi Everyday Cash Rewards could have a negative impact on the revenue for our Credit Card program. In December 2024, the CFPB published a Consumer Financial Protection Circular, which warned that the CFPB is scrutinizing and taking actions against operators of credit card reward programs, and declared it may be unlawful to devalue earned rewards, use fine print to disclose conditions for earning or redeeming rewards, or change the benefits for which rewards may be earned and redeemed. This guidance could make it more expensive to operate the rewards program and limit our ability to adapt the program to changing economic conditions.
Current report
The U.S. Congress, the Trump administration, or any new administration may make substantial changes to fiscal, tax, and other federal policies that may adversely affect our business.
Current report
The Trump administration has called for significant changes to U.S. trade, healthcare, immigration and government regulatory policy and has begun implementing policy changes at a rapid pace. Changes to U.S. policy implemented by the U.S. Congress, the Trump administration or any new administration have impacted among other things, the U.S. and global economy, international trade relations, unemployment, immigration, healthcare, taxation, the U.S. regulatory environment, inflation and other areas. Although we cannot predict the impact, if any, of these changes to our business, they could adversely affect our business. Until we know what policy changes are made, whether those policy changes are challenged and subsequently upheld by the court system and how those changes impact our business and the business of our competitors over the long term, we will not know if, overall, we will benefit from them or be negatively affected by them.
Current report
We incur significant costs and expend significant time and effort, as a result of operating as a public company, and our management is required to devote substantial time to compliance initiatives and corporate governance practices.
Current report
We and our third-party service providers are at constant risk of cyber-attacks or cyber intrusions via viruses, worms, break-ins, malware, ransomware and other malicious software programs, phishing attacks, hacking, denial-of-service attacks or other attacks and similar disruptions from the unauthorized use of or access to computer systems (including from internal and external sources) that attack our products or otherwise exploit any vulnerabilities in our systems or those of our third-party service providers, or attempt to fraudulently induce our members, prospective members, technology platform clients and the customers of our technology platform clients, third-party service providers or others to disclose passwords or other sensitive information or unwittingly provide access to our systems or data. In addition, we expect the amount and sophistication of the perpetrators of these attacks to continue to expand, which could include nation-state actors. Any such incident could lead to interruptions, delays or website outages, causing loss of critical data or the unauthorized disclosure or use of personally identifiable or other confidential information.
Current report
Laws similar to the CCPA have been passed in numerous other states, a number of which will enter into force in 2025. Further, a number of other states have proposed new privacy laws, some of which would be comprehensive such as the CCPA and others which are more narrowly focused on particular types of data. Such proposed legislation, if enacted, may add additional complexity, variation in requirements, restrictions and potential legal risk, require additional investment of resources in compliance programs, impact strategies and the availability of previously useful data and could result in increased compliance costs and/or changes in business practices and policies. The existence of comprehensive privacy laws in different states in the country would make our compliance obligations more complex and costly and may increase the likelihood that we may be subject to enforcement actions or otherwise incur liability for noncompliance. In addition, laws in all 50 U.S. states require businesses to provide notice to individuals if certain of their personal information has been disclosed as a result of a qualifying data breach. These various privacy and security laws may impact our business activities, including our identification of research subjects, relationships with business partners and ultimately the marketing and distribution of our products. State laws are changing rapidly and U.S. Congress may in the future enact a comprehensive federal data privacy law to which we may likely become subject.
Current report
Separately, as the regulatory framework for machine learning technology and AI evolves, new state laws and regulations are emerging, such as the Colorado AI Act which will go into effect on February 1, 2026, and California’s AB 2013, which requires generative AI developers to post information on their websites regarding the data used to train their AI systems. It is possible that other new laws and regulations will be adopted in the near future, or that existing laws and regulations may be interpreted in ways that would affect our business and the ways in which we may use AI and machine learning technology, our financial condition and our results of operations, including as a result of the cost to comply with such laws or regulations. For example, the EU’s Artificial Intelligence Act (“AI Act”) - the world’s first comprehensive AI law - entered into force on August 1, 2024 and, with some exceptions, will begin to apply as of August 2, 2026. This legislation imposes significant obligations on providers and deployers of high-risk artificial intelligence systems, and encourages providers and deployers of artificial intelligence systems to account for EU ethical principles in their development and use of these systems. If we develop or use AI systems that are governed by the AI Act, it may necessitate ensuring higher standards of data quality, transparency, and human oversight, as well as adhering to specific ethical, accountability, and administrative requirements, some of which may increase our costs and compliance obligations. Further, potential government regulation related to AI use and ethics may also increase the cost of research and development in this area, and failure to properly remediate AI usage or ethics issues may cause public confidence in AI to be undermined, which could slow adoption of AI in our products and services.
Removed paragraphs (12)
Previous report
•increased business continuity and cyber risks due to our hybrid workforce;
Previous report
•regulatory obligations as a result of our business combination with a special purpose acquisition company that may impact us differently than other publicly traded companies;
Previous report
Actual events involving limited liquidity, defaults, non-performance or other adverse developments that affect financial institutions, transactional counterparties or other companies in the financial services industry or the financial services industry generally, or concerns or rumors about any events of these kinds or other similar risks, have in the past and may in the future lead to market-wide liquidity problems and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. For example, Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank were put into FDIC receivership in March 2023 and First Republic Bank was put into FDIC receivership in May 2023. These market developments have negatively impacted customer confidence in the safety and soundness of certain banks. As a result, although we have not observed a decline in our deposits to date, our members may choose to maintain deposits with other financial institutions or spread their deposit funds among multiple financial institutions. The closure of financial institutions, even if such financial institutions are unrelated to our business, may result in a deterioration of consumer confidence in banks and the banking system more broadly as well as declines in the price of our stock or reluctance of our members to use our products and services.
Previous report
Inflation and rapid increases in interest rates have led to a decline in the trading value of previously issued government securities with interest rates below current market interest rates. On March 12, 2023, the Federal Reserve announced the creation of the Bank Term Funding Program, a new emergency lending program for FDIC-insured banks, as well as certain U.S. branches and agencies of foreign banks. Under the Bank Term Funding Program, the Treasury Department provided $25 billion of credit protection to the Federal Reserve Banks, in order to provide loans with terms up to one year secured by certain government securities held by eligible financial institution borrowers. The program was established to reduce the need for eligible borrowers to sell the securities in times of stress, thus, mitigating the risk of potential losses on the sale of such securities. On January 24, 2024, the Federal Reserve announced that the program would cease making new loans, as scheduled, on March 11, 2024. There is no guarantee that the Federal Reserve would establish a similar facility in the future or that the Treasury, FDIC and Federal Reserve will provide access to uninsured funds in the event of the closure of other banks or financial institutions, or that they would do so in a timely fashion.
Previous report
It is likely that, if the banking sector deteriorates, the U.S. and/or other global economies would be adversely affected, including facing the possibility of a recession, the duration and severity of which is difficult to predict. These developments may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Previous report
We offer investment management services through SoFi Wealth, an internet based investment adviser, and SoFi Capital Advisors, which sponsors private investment funds that invest in asset-backed securitizations. Both SoFi Wealth and SoFi Capital Advisors (collectively, the “Investment Advisers”) are registered as investment advisers under the Investment
Previous report
Our management has limited experience in operating a public company.
Previous report
As a result of our business combination with a special purpose acquisition company, regulatory obligations may impact us differently than other publicly traded companies.
Previous report
We became a publicly traded company by completing a transaction with SCH, a SPAC. As a result of this transaction, regulatory obligations have, and may continue, to impact us differently than other publicly traded companies. For instance, the SEC and other regulatory agencies may issue additional guidance or apply further regulatory scrutiny to companies like us that have completed a business combination with a SPAC. Managing this regulatory environment, which has and may continue to evolve, could divert management’s attention from the operation of our business, negatively impact our ability to raise additional capital when needed or have an adverse effect on the price of our common stock.
Previous report
Cybersecurity risks have also subjected us to additional regulation. For example, in July 2023, the SEC proposed new rules and amendments to address certain conflicts of interest associated with the use of predictive data analytics by broker-dealers and investment advisers in investor interactions. If adopted, the proposed rules would require broker-dealers and investment advisers to evaluate and determine whether their use of certain technologies in investor interactions such as analytical, technological or computational functions, algorithms, models, correlation matrices or similar methods or processes that direct or optimize for investment related behavior, involves a conflict of interest that results in the broker-dealer or investment adviser’s interests being placed ahead of investors’ interests. To the extent we determined there were conflicts of interest, we would be required to eliminate, or neutralize the effect of, any such conflicts. The proposed rules would also require us to have written policies and procedures reasonably designed to achieve compliance with the proposed rules and to make and keep books and records related to these requirements.
Previous report
Our warrants are exercisable for shares of common stock, which could increase the number of shares eligible for future resale in the public market and result in dilution to our stockholders.
Previous report
In December 2021, we completed the redemption of outstanding warrants to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock that were issued under the Warrant Agreement, dated October 8, 2020. There are 12,170,990 Series H warrants issued in connection with the Series 1 and Series H preferred stock issuances in December 2019 that remain outstanding and were previously converted into SoFi Technologies common stock warrants. To the extent such warrants are exercised, additional shares of common stock will be issued, which will result in dilution to the holders of our common stock and increase the number of shares eligible for resale in the public market. Sales of substantial numbers of such shares in the public market or the fact that such warrants may be exercised could adversely affect the market price of our common stock.
Reworded paragraphs (131)
Previous wording
•our ability to successfully identify and address the risks and uncertainties we face;
Current wording
•our ability to successfully identify and address the risks and uncertainties we face, particularly with respect to certain rapidly evolving industries;
Previous wording
•demands on our resources, intense and increasing competition, and the success of our business model (including continuing profitability);
Current wording
•demands on our resources, intense and increasing competition, and the success of our business model;
Previous wording
•impact of macroeconomic factors, including regulatory responses, elevated and fluctuating inflation, increased delinquency rates on consumer debt, reduced consumer discretionary spending and economic uncertainty;
Current wording
•uncertainty of macroeconomic conditions and the impact of macroeconomic factors, including changes in governmental policy, regulatory responses, applicable laws and regulations, fluctuating inflation and interest rates, delinquency rates on consumer debt, changes in consumer discretionary spending and economic uncertainty;
Previous wording
•cost and availability of funding in the capital markets and fluctuations in interest rates;
Current wording
•cost and availability of funding in the capital markets and fluctuations in interest rates could impact our ability to operate our business;
Previous wording
•higher than expected payment speeds of loans or longer holding periods of loans could negatively impact our returns as the holder of the residual interests in securitization trusts;
Current wording
•higher than expected payment rates of loans have in the past and could in the future negatively impact our returns as the holder of the residual interests in securitization trusts;
Previous wording
•decreased demand for certain lending products in the face of high interest rates, such as student loans and home loans;
Current wording
•decreased demand for certain lending products due to changes in interest rates, such as student loans and home loans, could negatively impact our results of operations;
Previous wording
•potential and past acquisitions that require significant attention and could disrupt our business and adversely affect our financials;
Current wording
•potential and past acquisitions that require significant attention could disrupt our business and adversely affect our financials;
Previous wording
•our failure to innovate or respond to evolving technological or other changes;
Current wording
•we may fail to innovate or respond to evolving technological or other changes;
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•an increase in fraudulent activity, particularly in connection with our personal loans product, credit card and SoFi Money;
Current wording
•we may experience an increase in fraudulent activity, particularly in connection with our personal loans product, credit card and SoFi Money;
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•increased business, economic and regulatory risks from continued expansion abroad, given our brokerage and investment advisory activity, or related to services provided by our technology platform;
Current wording
•we are subject to increased business, economic and regulatory risks from continued expansion abroad, given our brokerage and investment advisory activity, or related to services provided by our technology platform;
Previous wording
•worsening economic conditions, including general economic uncertainty, elevated and fluctuating inflation and interest rates, market volatility, the cyclical nature of our industry, and our ability to maintain expected levels of liquidity;
Current wording
•we could be adversely impacted by worsening economic conditions, including general economic uncertainty, fluctuating inflation and interest rates, market volatility, the cyclical nature of our industry, and our ability to maintain expected levels of liquidity;
Previous wording
•the failure of our third-party service providers to perform various functions related to the origination and servicing of loans;
Current wording
•the failure of our third-party service providers to perform functions related to the origination and servicing of loans;
Previous wording
•financial issues or liquidity issues experienced by our technology platform clients that could result in termination of, or inability to pay for, their services;
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•financial issues or liquidity issues experienced by our technology platform clients could result in termination of, or inability to pay for, their services;
Previous wording
•our exposure to evolving laws, rules, regulations and government enforcement policies, federal or state loan forgiveness programs, expansion of the federal student loan income-driven repayment plan, and potential enforcement actions, litigation, investigations, exams or inquiries or impairment of licenses;
Current wording
•our exposure to evolving laws, rules, regulations and government enforcement policies, and potential enforcement actions, litigation, investigations, exams or inquiries or impairment of licenses;
Previous wording
•liabilities related to the collection, processing, use, storage and transmission of personal data;
Current wording
•technology challenges related to the collection, processing, use, storage and transmission of personal data;
Previous wording
We operate in rapidly evolving industries which may make it difficult to quickly identify risks to our business and evaluate our future prospects. In addition, in recent years, we have rapidly expanded our operations to include or expand, among other things, deposit accounts, credit cards, investment services, technology solutions, home loan originations, and international operations, and we have limited experience in these areas. In the first quarter of 2022, we acquired a bank charter and face risks as a result of our lack of experience operating a bank and as a bank holding company. We also acquired Technisys in the first quarter of 2022, which furthered our international expansion into Latin America and introduced new risks due to our limited history of operations in certain Latin American countries. In 2023, we acquired Wyndham, a fintech mortgage lender, which expanded our home loan business.
Current wording
We operate in rapidly evolving industries which may make it difficult to successfully identify risks to our business and evaluate our future prospects. In addition, in recent years, we have rapidly expanded our operations to include or expand, among other things, deposit accounts, credit cards, investment services, technology solutions, home loan originations, small business financing solutions, loan platform business solutions, alternative investments, and international operations, and we have limited experience in these areas. In the first quarter of 2022, we acquired a bank charter and face risks as a result of our lack of experience operating a bank and as a bank holding company. We also acquired Technisys in the first quarter of 2022, which furthered our international expansion into Latin America and introduced new risks due to our limited history of operations in certain Latin American countries. In 2023, we acquired Wyndham, a fintech mortgage lender, which expanded our home loan business. In 2024, we adopted our Technology Platform’s Cyberbank Core in connection with the launch of a commercial payment services sponsor bank program.
Previous wording
In addition to the recent events above, we face numerous challenges to our success, including our ability to:
Current wording
In addition to the events above, we face numerous challenges to our success, including our ability to:
Previous wording
•successfully integrate our past and future acquisitions, including continuing to integrate Wyndham’s technology and employees, performing functions in home loans origination, such as home loans processing and underwriting, which we have not previously performed, and managing the origination of new home loan types;
Current wording
•successfully integrate our past and future acquisitions, including continuing to develop Wyndham’s technology, performing functions in home loans origination, such as home loans processing and underwriting, and managing the origination of new home loan types;
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•further establish, diversify and refine our checking and savings, investment and brokerage offerings to meet evolving consumer needs and preferences;
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•further establish, diversify and refine our checking and savings, credit card, investment and brokerage offerings to meet evolving consumer needs and preferences;
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•favorably compete with other companies and banks, including traditional and alternative technology-enabled lenders, financial service providers, broker-dealers, and technology platform as a service providers;
Current wording
•favorably compete as a service provider with other companies and banks, including traditional and alternative technology-enabled lenders, financial service providers, broker-dealers, social media and other commerce platforms and applications that offer peer-to-peer, in-app and social commerce payment capabilities, and technology platform;
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•introduce new products or other offerings, as well as new or improved technologies, to meet the needs of our existing and prospective members or to keep pace with competitive lending, checking and savings, investment, technology and other developments;
Current wording
•introduce new products or other offerings, as well as new or improved technologies, to meet the needs of our existing and prospective members or to keep pace with competitive lending, checking and savings, credit card, investment, technology and other developments;
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•successfully navigate economic conditions and fluctuations in the credit markets, including elevated and fluctuating inflation, interest rates that are higher than those in the recent past, recessionary pressures and economic uncertainty;
Current wording
•successfully navigate economic conditions and fluctuations in the credit markets, including fluctuating inflation and interest rates, and economic uncertainty;
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•successfully navigate the evolving regulatory environment for technology platform-as-a-service providers;
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•successfully navigate the evolving regulatory environment for a technology platform as a service provider;
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•adequately respond to macroeconomic and other exogenous challenges, including continued government efforts to curb inflation, which may impact the overall economy and affect demand for our products and services, market volatility, particularly in the financial services industry, changes in consumer confidence, consumer discretionary spending and loan delinquency rates, pandemics or other health-related crises, the war between Israel and Hamas, and the ongoing war in Ukraine;
Current wording
•adequately respond to macroeconomic and other exogenous challenges, including fluctuating interest rates, market volatility, particularly in the financial services industry, changes in consumer confidence, consumer discretionary spending and loan delinquency rates, pandemics or other health-related crises, escalating conflict in the Middle East, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and significant changes related to governmental policy, rules and regulations or executive actions;
Previous wording
We have a history of net losses prior to the fourth quarter of 2023. We may incur net losses in the future, and such losses may fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter. We will need to generate and sustain significant revenues for our business generally, and achieve greater scale and generate greater operating cash flows from our Financial Services segment, in particular, in future periods, as well as successfully navigate the macroeconomic environment, in order to maintain or increase our level of profitability. We intend to continue to invest in sales and marketing, technology, and products and services in order to enhance our brand recognition and our value proposition to our members, prospective members and clients in our technology platform business, and these additional costs will create further challenges to maintaining or increasing near-term profitability. Our general and administrative expenses have in the past and may in the future increase to meet the increased compliance and other requirements associated with operating as a public company and a bank holding company, operating a bank, and evolving regulatory requirements. See “Regulatory, Tax and Other Legal Risks—As a bank holding company, we are subject to extensive supervision and regulation, and changes in laws and regulations applicable to bank holding companies could limit or restrict our activities and could have a material adverse effect on our operations”.
Current wording
We have a history of net losses prior to the fourth quarter of 2023. We may incur net losses in the future, and any such losses may fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter. We will need to continue to generate and sustain significant revenues for our business generally and achieve greater scale and generate increasing operating cash flows from our Financial Services segment, in particular, in future periods, as well as successfully navigate the macroeconomic environment, in order to maintain or increase our level of profitability. We intend to continue to invest in new products and businesses, which has in the past and may in the future cause us to fund and operate aspects of our business at a loss. We also intend to continue to invest in sales and marketing, technology, and additional products and services in order to enhance our brand, our brand recognition and our value proposition to our members, prospective members and clients in our technology platform business, and these additional costs will create further challenges to maintaining or increasing near-term profitability. Our general and administrative expenses have in the past and may in the future increase to meet the increased compliance and other requirements associated with operating as a public company and a bank holding company, operating a bank, and evolving regulatory requirements and policy changes. See “Regulatory, Tax and Other Legal Risks—As a bank holding company, we are subject to extensive supervision and regulation, and changes in laws and regulations applicable to bank holding companies could limit or restrict our activities and could have a material adverse effect on our operations”.
Previous wording
We are continuously refining our revenue and business model, which is premised on creating a virtuous cycle for our members to engage with more products across our platform, a strategy we refer to as the Financial Services Productivity Loop, and, with respect to our Technology Platform segment, adoption by clients of additional platform as a service offerings. There is no assurance that our revenue and business model or any changes to our revenue and business model to better position us with respect to our competitors will be successful. Our efforts to grow our business may be more costly than we expect, and we may not be able to maintain or increase our revenue sufficiently to offset our higher operating expenses. We may incur losses and we may be unable to maintain profitability, for a number of reasons, including the risks described in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, unforeseen expenses, difficulties, complications and delays, differences between our assumptions and estimates and results, the effects of macroeconomic conditions and other unknown events.
Current wording
We are continuously refining our revenue and business model, which is premised on creating a virtuous cycle for our members to engage with more products across our platform, a strategy we refer to as the Financial Services Productivity Loop, and, with respect to our Technology Platform segment, adoption by clients of additional platform as a service offerings. There is no assurance that our revenue and business model, or any changes to our revenue and business model to better position us with respect to our competitors, will be successful. Our efforts to continue to grow our business may be more costly than we expect, and we may not be able to maintain or increase our revenue sufficiently to offset our higher operating expenses. We may incur future losses and we may be unable to maintain profitability, for a number of reasons, including the risks described in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, unforeseen expenses, difficulties, complications and delays, differences between our assumptions and estimates and results, the effects of macroeconomic conditions and other unknown events.
Previous wording
We have experienced rapid growth in recent years, including through the addition of new products and lines of business and into new geographies, which may place significant demands on our operational, risk management, sales and marketing, technology, compliance, and finance and accounting resources.
Current wording
We have experienced rapid growth in recent years, including through the addition of new products and lines of business and entry into new geographies, which may place significant demands on our operational, risk management, sales and marketing, technology, compliance, and finance and accounting resources.
Previous wording
Our rapid growth in certain areas of our business in recent years, primarily within our Financial Services and Technology Platform segments, as well as operating a bank and as a bank holding company, has placed significant demands on our operational, risk management, sales and marketing, technology, compliance, and finance and accounting infrastructure, and has resulted in increased expenses, a trend that we expect to continue as our business grows. In addition, we are required to continuously develop and adapt our systems and infrastructure in response to the increasing sophistication of the consumer financial services market, changing technologies, evolving fraud, privacy and information security landscape, and regulatory developments, both domestically and internationally, relating to our existing and projected business activities. Our future growth will depend on, among other things, our ability to maintain an operating platform and management system able to address such growth, our ability to grow and optimize deposit balances, and our ongoing ability to demonstrate to our regulators that our risk management and compliance practices are growing in a commensurate fashion, all of which has required and we expect will continue to require us to incur significant additional expenses, expand our workforce and commit additional time from senior management and operational resources. We may not be able to manage supporting and expanding our operations effectively, and any failure to do so would adversely affect our ability to increase the scale of our business, generate projected revenue and control expenses.
Current wording
Our rapid growth in certain areas of our business in recent years, primarily within our Financial Services and Technology Platform segments, as well as operating a bank and as a bank holding company, has placed significant demands on our operational, risk management, sales and marketing, technology, compliance, and finance and accounting infrastructure, and has resulted in increased expenses, a trend that we expect to continue as our business grows. In addition, we are required to continuously develop and adapt our systems and infrastructure in response to the increasing sophistication of the consumer financial services market, changing technologies, evolving fraud, privacy and information security landscape, and regulatory developments, both domestically and internationally, relating to our existing and projected business activities. Our future growth will depend on, among other things, our ability to maintain an operating platform and management system able to address such growth, our ability to grow and optimize deposit balances, and our ongoing ability to demonstrate to our regulators that our risk management and compliance practices are growing and evolving in a commensurate fashion, all of which has required, and we expect will continue to require, us to incur significant additional expenses, expand our workforce and commit additional time from senior management and operational resources. We may not be able to manage supporting and expanding our operations effectively, and any failure to do so would adversely affect our ability to increase the scale of our business, generate projected revenue and control expenses.
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•our ability to monetize our member base, including through the use of additional products by our existing members;
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•our ability to further monetize our member base, including through the use of additional products by our existing members;
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•other content providers for subscribers to our financial services content, including content from alternative providers available to our subscribers through our Lantern Credit service, which is a financial services aggregator providing marketplace lending products, and various enterprise partnerships; and
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•other content providers for subscribers to our financial services content, including content from alternative providers available to our subscribers through our Lantern service, which is a financial services aggregator providing marketplace lending products, and various enterprise partnerships; and
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•the impact of macroeconomic conditions, including the impacts from current efforts to curb inflation, stock market volatility, changes in consumer confidence, consumer discretionary spending, and any changes in loan default rates, and related developments on the lending and financial services markets we serve; and
Current wording
•the impact of macroeconomic conditions, including changes in interest rates, stock market volatility, changes in consumer confidence, consumer discretionary spending, and any changes in loan default rates, and related developments on the lending and financial services markets we serve; and
Previous wording
We have invested significantly in our brand and believe that maintaining and enhancing our brand identity is critical to our success. Our ability to attract members depends in large part on the success of these marketing efforts and the success of the marketing channels we use to promote our products. Our marketing channels include, but are not limited to, earned media through press, social media and search engine optimization, as well as paid advertising, such as online affiliations, search engine marketing, digital marketing, social media marketing, influencer marketing, offline partnerships, out-of-home, direct mail, lifecycle marketing and television and radio advertising. Our ability to compete for, attract and maintain members, lending counterparties, marketing partners and other partners relies to a large extent on their trust in our business, our reputation and the value of our brand. While our goal remains to increase the strength, recognition and trust in our brand by increasing our member base and expanding our products and services, if any of our current marketing channels becomes less effective, if regulatory requirements, including the FDIC’s advertising rules, restrict or diminish our ability to use these channels, if we are unable to continue to use any of these channels, if we receive negative publicity or fail to maintain our brand, if the cost of using these channels significantly increases or if we are not successful in generating new channels, we may not be able to attract new members or increase the activity of our existing members on our platform in a cost-effective manner. If we are unable to recover our marketing costs through increases in the size, value or the overall number of loans we originate, or member selection and utilization of other SoFi products such as SoFi Money, SoFi Invest and SoFi Credit Card, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and future prospects. In addition, negative publicity can adversely affect our reputation and damage our brand, and may arise from many sources, including actual or alleged misconduct, errors or improper business practices by employees, employee claims of discrimination or harassment, product failures, existing or future litigation or regulatory actions, inadequate protection of consumer information by us or our third-party service providers, data breaches, matters related to or affecting our financial reporting or compliance with SEC and Nasdaq listing requirements and media coverage, whether accurate or not. Negative publicity or allegations could reduce demand for our products, result in a decrease in the price of our stock, undermine the loyalty of our members and the confidence of our lending counterparties and technology platform clients, impact our partnerships, reduce our ability to recruit and retain employees or lead to greater regulatory scrutiny, all of which could lead to the attrition of our …
Excerpt shortened here; the source contains the full paragraph.
Current wording
We have invested significantly in our brand and believe that maintaining and enhancing our brand identity is critical to our success. Our ability to attract members depends in large part on the success of these marketing efforts and the success of the marketing channels we use to promote our products. Our marketing channels include, but are not limited to, earned media through press, social media and search engine optimization, as well as paid advertising, such as online affiliations, search engine marketing, digital marketing, social media marketing, influencer marketing, offline partnerships, out-of-home, direct mail, lifecycle marketing and television and radio advertising. Our ability to compete for, attract and maintain members, lending counterparties, marketing partners and other partners relies to a large extent on their trust in our business, our reputation and the value of our brand. While our goal remains to increase the strength, recognition and trust in our brand by increasing our member base and expanding our products and services, if any of our current marketing channels becomes less effective, if regulatory requirements, including the CFPB and FDIC’s advertising rules, restrict or diminish our ability to use these channels, if we are unable to continue to use any of these channels, if we receive negative publicity or fail to maintain our brand, if the cost of using these channels significantly increases or if we are not successful in generating new channels, we may not be able to attract new members or increase the activity of our existing members on our platform in a cost-effective manner. For example, in February 2024, the CFPB released a Consumer Financial Protection Circular, warning digital comparison-shopping tool operators and lead generators that marketing practices that take unreasonable advantage of a consumer’s reasonable reliance on the operator or lead generator to act in the consumer’s interests may violate the CFPA prohibition on abusive acts or practices. Such unreasonable advantage can include distorting the shopping experience for a consumer financial product or service by giving preferential treatment to an operator or lead generator’s own or other products or services through steering or enhanced product placement, for financial or other benefits. If we are unable to recover our marketing costs through increases in the size, value or the overall number of loans we originate, or member selection and utilization of other SoFi products such as SoFi Money, SoFi Invest and SoFi Credit Card, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and future prospects. In addition, negative publicity can adversely affect our reputation and damage our brand, and may arise from many sources, including actual or alleged misconduct, errors or improper business practices by employees, employee claims of discrimination or harassment, product failures, existing or future…
Excerpt shortened here; the source contains the full paragraph.
Previous wording
Reputation risk, or the risk to our business, earnings and capital from negative public opinion, is inherent in our business and has increased substantially because of our size and profile in the financial services industry. Moreover, negative public opinion has in the past and could in the future result from actions by the financial services industry generally, including due to the failure of one or more additional banks, or by certain members or individuals in the industry and can adversely affect our reputation with no actual or alleged actions on our part. For example, public opinion of the financial services industry was negatively impacted following the closure of Silicon Valley Bank and generally resulted in decreases in the stock prices of financial services companies.
Current wording
Reputation risk, or the risk to our business, earnings and capital from negative public opinion, is inherent in our business and has increased substantially because of our size and profile in the financial services industry. Moreover, negative public opinion has in the past and could in the future result from actions by the financial services industry generally, including due to the failure of one or more additional banks, or by certain members or individuals in the industry and can adversely affect our reputation with no actual or alleged actions on our part. For example, public opinion of the financial services industry was negatively impacted following the 2023 closures of Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank, and First Republic Bank and generally resulted in decreases in the stock prices of financial services companies.
Previous wording
There is an increasing focus from regulators, certain investors, and other stakeholders concerning ESG matters, both in the United States and internationally. We communicate certain ESG-related initiatives and/or commitments regarding our employees, diversity, equity and inclusion goals, and other matters in our ESG Report, on our website, in our filings with the SEC, and elsewhere. These initiatives and commitments could be difficult to achieve and costly to implement. We could fail to achieve, or be perceived to fail to achieve, our ESG-related initiatives, or commitments. In addition, we could be criticized for the timing, scope or nature of these initiatives, goals, or commitments, or for any revisions to them. To the extent that our required and voluntary disclosures about ESG matters increase, we could be criticized for the accuracy, adequacy, or completeness of such disclosures. Our actual or perceived failure to achieve our ESG-related initiatives, goals, or commitments could negatively impact our reputation, result in ESG-focused investors not purchasing and holding our stock, or otherwise materially harm our business.
Current wording
We communicate certain ESG-related initiatives regarding our employees, climate-related commitments and goals, and other matters in our ESG Report, on our website, in our filings with the SEC, and elsewhere. These initiatives and commitments could be difficult to achieve and costly to implement. We could fail to achieve, or be perceived to fail to achieve, our ESG-related initiatives or commitments. In addition, we could be criticized for the timing, scope or nature of these initiatives, goals, or commitments, or for any revisions to them. To the extent that our required and voluntary disclosures about ESG matters change, we could be criticized for the accuracy, adequacy, or completeness of such disclosures. Our actual or perceived failure with respect to our ESG-related initiatives, goals, or commitments could negatively impact our reputation, result in ESG-focused investors not purchasing and holding our stock, or otherwise materially harm our business.
Previous wording
Although we have begun to hold loans on-balance sheet for longer periods, when we sell our personal loans, student loans and home loans, we sell to a concentrated number of whole loan purchasers. There are inherent risks whenever a large percentage of a business is concentrated with a limited number of parties. It is not possible for us to predict the future level of demand for our loans by these or other purchasers. In addition, purchases of our loans by these purchasers have historically fluctuated and may continue to fluctuate based on a number of factors, some of which may be outside of our control, including economic conditions, the availability of alternative investments, changes in the terms of the loans, loans offered by competitors, prevailing interest rates and a change in business plan, liquidity or strategy by the purchaser. If any of these purchasers significantly reduces the dollar amount of the loans it purchases from us, we may be unable to sell those loans to another purchaser on favorable terms or at all, which may require us to reduce originations or hold additional loans on balance sheet and may reduce our flexibility in making financing decisions. In addition, the loss of one or more significant purchasers of our loans could increase the volatility of the mark-to-market methodology we use to determine the fair value of the loans we hold on balance sheet. This may have a material adverse effect on our revenues, results of operations, capital requirements, liquidity and cash flows.
Current wording
Although we continue to hold loans on-balance sheet for longer periods, when we sell our personal loans, student loans and home loans, we sell to a concentrated number of whole loan purchasers. There are inherent risks whenever a large percentage of a business is concentrated with a limited number of parties. It is not possible for us to predict the future level of demand for our loans by these or other purchasers. In addition, purchases of our loans by these purchasers have historically fluctuated and may continue to fluctuate based on a number of factors, some of which may be outside of our control, including economic conditions, the availability of alternative investments, changes in the terms of the loans, loans offered by competitors, prevailing interest rates and a change in business plan, liquidity or strategy by the purchaser. If any of these purchasers significantly reduces the dollar amount of the loans it purchases from us, we may be unable to sell those loans to another purchaser on favorable terms or at all, which may require us to reduce originations or hold additional loans on balance sheet and may reduce our flexibility in making financing decisions. In addition, the loss of one or more significant purchasers of our loans could increase the volatility of the mark-to-market methodology we use to determine the fair value of the loans we hold on balance sheet. This may have a material adverse effect on our revenues, results of operations, capital requirements, liquidity and cash flows.
Previous wording
We rely on certain third-party computer systems or third-party service providers, including cloud technology providers such as AWS, internet service providers, payment services providers, market and third-party data providers, regulatory and compliance services providers, clearing systems, market makers, exchange systems, banking technology systems, co-location facilities, communications facilities and other facilities to run our platform, facilitate trades by our members and support or carry out certain functions. For example, to provide our checking and savings account, cash management account, credit card and other products and services, we rely on third parties that we do not control, such as payment card networks, our acquiring and issuing processors, payment card issuers, various financial institution partners, systems like the ACH, and other partners. We rely on these third parties for a variety of services, including the transmission of transaction data, processing of chargebacks and refunds, settlement of funds, and the provision of information and other elements of our services. In addition, external content providers provide us with financial information, market news, charts, option and stock quotes, digital assets quotes, research reports and other fundamental data that we provide to our members. Any interruption in these third-party services, or deterioration in the quality of their service or performance, could be disruptive to our business. Furthermore, third parties may rely on artificial intelligence or machine learning for the services they provide us and, given that the regulatory framework relating to the use of machine learning and artificial services in the provision of financial services is still developing, the third parties’ use of such technologies may impact their ability to carry out certain functions or impact the quality of their service or performance.
Current wording
We rely on certain third-party computer systems or third-party service providers, including cloud technology providers such as AWS, internet service providers, payment services providers, market and third-party data providers, regulatory and compliance services providers, clearing systems, market makers, exchange systems, banking technology systems, co-location facilities, communications facilities and other facilities to run our platform, facilitate trades by our members and support or carry out certain functions. For example, to provide our checking and savings account, cash management account, credit cards and other products and services, we rely on third parties that we do not control, such as payment card networks, our acquiring and issuing processors, payment card issuers, various financial institution partners, systems like the ACH, and other partners. We rely on these third parties for a variety of services, including the transmission of transaction data, processing of chargebacks and refunds, settlement of funds, and the provision of information and other elements of our services. In addition, external content providers provide us with financial information, market news, charts, option and stock quotes, digital assets quotes, research reports and other fundamental data that we provide to our members. Any interruption in these third-party services, or deterioration in the quality of their service or performance, could be disruptive to our business. Furthermore, third parties may rely on artificial intelligence or machine learning for the services they provide us and, given that the regulatory framework relating to the use of machine learning and artificial services in the provision of financial services is still developing, the third parties’ use of such technologies may impact their ability to carry out certain functions or impact the quality of their service or performance.
Previous wording
Because we are a bank holding company subject to regulation, supervision and examination by the Federal Reserve, and because SoFi Bank is subject to regulation, supervision and examination by the OCC and the FDIC, and SoFi Bank and its affiliates are subject to regulations issued by the CFPB, our and SoFi Bank’s oversight of third-party service providers is also subject to regulatory oversight. If a regulatory authority found our or SoFi Bank’s service provider oversight to be lacking, the regulatory authority could require that we or SoFi Bank implement corrective action, including limiting or terminating certain relationships with service providers, which could be costly and disruptive to our business.
Current wording
Because we are a bank holding company subject to regulation, supervision and examination by the Federal Reserve, and because SoFi Bank is subject to regulation, supervision and examination by the OCC and the FDIC, and SoFi Bank and its affiliates are subject to regulations issued by the CFPB, our and SoFi Bank’s oversight of third-party service providers is also subject to regulatory oversight. In 2024, the Federal Reserve, OCC and FDIC increased their focus on regulating banks’ relationships and oversight over third-party service providers. For example, these agencies published interagency guidance and a joint statement on banks’ vendor management practices and arrangements with third parties to deliver bank products and services in May 2024 and July 2024, respectively, and these and other regulatory authorities continued to scrutinize and take enforcement actions against banks and their business partners for insufficient third-party management programs in 2024. In addition, because Galileo provides technology services to SoFi Bank, we are subject to additional regulatory scrutiny under Regulation W which requires, among other things, that arrangements between a bank and its affiliates are on market terms. If a regulatory authority found our or SoFi Bank’s service provider oversight to be lacking, the regulatory authority could require that we or SoFi Bank implement corrective action, including limiting or terminating certain relationships with service providers, which could be costly and disruptive to our business.
Previous wording
Our third-party service providers are susceptible to operational, technological and security vulnerabilities, including security breaches, which may impact our business, and our ability to monitor our third-party service providers’ data security is limited. In addition, these third-party service providers may rely on subcontractors to provide services to us that face similar risks.
Current wording
Our third-party service providers are susceptible to operational, technological and security vulnerabilities, including security incidents and breaches and outages, which may impact our business, and our ability to monitor our third-party service providers’ data security is limited. In addition, these third-party service providers may rely on subcontractors to provide services to us that face similar risks.
Previous wording
Failures or security breaches by or of our third-party service providers or their subcontractors that result in an interruption in service, unauthorized access, misuse, loss or destruction of data or other similar occurrences could interrupt our business, have in the past and could in the future cause us to incur losses, result in decreased member or client satisfaction and increase member or client attrition, subject us to member or client complaints, significant fines, litigation, disputes, claims, regulatory investigations or other inquiries and harm our reputation. Through contractual provisions and third-party risk management processes, we take steps to require that our providers, and their subcontractors, protect our data and information, including personal data. However, due to the size and complexity of our technology platform and services, the amount of data that we store and the number of members, technology platform clients, employees and third-party service providers with access to personal data, we, our third-party service providers and their subcontractors are potentially vulnerable to a variety of intentional and inadvertent cybersecurity breaches and other security-related incidents and threats, which could result in a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Any contractual protections we may have from our third-party service providers may not be sufficient to adequately protect us against such consequences, and we may be unable to enforce any such contractual protections.
Current wording
Failures or security incidents or breaches by or of our third-party service providers or their subcontractors that result in an interruption in service, unauthorized access, misuse, loss or destruction of data or other similar occurrences could interrupt our business, have in the past and could in the future cause us to incur losses, result in decreased member or client satisfaction and increase member or client attrition, subject us to member or client complaints, significant fines, litigation, disputes, claims, regulatory investigations or other inquiries and harm our reputation. Through contractual provisions and third-party risk management processes, we take steps to require that our providers, and their subcontractors, protect our data and information, including personal data. However, due to the size and complexity of our technology platform and services, the amount of data that we store and the number of members, technology platform clients, employees and third-party service providers with access to personal data, we, our third-party service providers and their subcontractors are potentially vulnerable to a variety of intentional and inadvertent cybersecurity breaches and other security-related incidents and threats, which could result in a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Any contractual protections we may have from our third-party service providers may not be sufficient to adequately protect us against such consequences, and we may be unable to enforce any such contractual protections.
Previous wording
If a service provider fails to provide the services required or expected, or fails to meet applicable contractual or regulatory requirements such as service levels or compliance with applicable laws, the failure could negatively impact our business. Such a failure could also adversely affect the perception of the reliability of our networks and services and the quality of our brand, which could materially adversely affect our business and results of operations. Further, if there were deficiencies in the oversight and control of our third-party relationships, and if our regulators held us responsible for those deficiencies, it could have an adverse effect on our business, reputation and results of operations.
Current wording
If a service provider fails to either provide the services required or expected or meet applicable contractual or regulatory requirements such as service levels or compliance with applicable laws, the failure could negatively impact our business. Such a failure could also adversely affect the perception of the reliability of our networks and services and the quality of our brand, which could materially adversely affect our business and results of operations. Further, if there were deficiencies in the oversight and control of our third-party relationships, and if our regulators held us responsible for those deficiencies, it could have an adverse effect on our business, reputation and results of operations.
Showing the first 40 of 131 pairs. Open the source sections for the rest.
Rearranged current paragraphs (5)
Current report — wording carried from elsewhere
•an inability to maintain a competitive annual percentage yield on deposits could cause members to transfer checking and savings account balances to our competitors;
Current report — wording carried from elsewhere
There can be no assurance that we will maintain compliance with all financial and other covenants included in our warehouse facilities in the future.
Current report — wording carried from elsewhere
Wyndham's liability to its loan investors and loan insurers for mortgage loans originated by Wyndham, including repurchase obligations that might not be contingent upon the investor proving an error by Wyndham.
Current report — wording carried from elsewhere
See also “Lawmakers, regulators and other public officials have signaled an increased focus on new or additional laws or regulations that could impact our broker-dealer business and require us to make significant changes to our business model and practices and could result in significant costs to our business or loss of current revenue streams”. Compliance with each of these rules, when applicable and if required, would impose additional costs on our business. To the extent such proposals affect the equity market structure more broadly, our ability to generate revenue may be impaired. There is also the risk that, despite our best efforts, the SEC or FINRA does not view our compliance measures as sufficient. This risk is substantially elevated where regulators adopt a substantial number of new rules in a short time frame. In addition, non-compliance with any adopted requirements would likely result in enforcement action by the SEC or FINRA.
Current report — wording carried from elsewhere
The annual internal control assessment required by Section 404 of Sarbanes-Oxley has diverted, and may in the future divert, internal resources and we have and may experience higher operating expenses, higher independent auditor and consulting fees in the future. To comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the requirements of being a reporting company under the Exchange Act and any new or revised accounting rules in the future, as necessary, we have, and may in the future further, work to upgrade the Company’s legacy information technology systems; implement additional financial and management controls, reporting systems and procedures; and hire additional accounting and finance staff. If we are unable to hire the additional accounting and finance staff necessary to comply with these requirements, we may need to retain additional outside consultants.
Rearranged previous paragraphs (2)
Previous report — wording carried elsewhere
Adverse developments affecting the financial services industry, such as actual events or concerns involving liquidity, defaults, or non-performance by financial institutions or transactional counterparties, could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Previous report — wording carried elsewhere
If we are unable to retain and/or increase our current sources of funding, including deposits, and secure new or alternative methods of financing, our ability to finance additional loans and introduce new products will be negatively impacted.